Nicosia: Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides is traveling to France and Belgium for the informal EU leaders' retreat and inauguration of exhibitions, in the framework of Cyprus EU Presidency, a written statement by Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis says. The President is departing for Paris on Tuesday to inaugurate two important exhibitions that highlight the cultural heritage of Cyprus and its timeless ties with France and Europe. He will be accompanied in Paris by his spouse Philippa Karsera Christodoulides.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the exhibitions are a collaboration between Cyprus Deputy Ministry of Culture, the Louvre Museum and the National Library of France, with the participation of Cypriot institutions, and include selected archaeological and historical documents, as well as modern digital applications that highlight the timeless cultural presence of Cyprus. The President of the Republic will inaugurate the exhibition at the National Library of France on the afternoon of February 10, in the presence of high-ranking guests and officials.
The exhibition, which was co-curated by the Cultural Foundation of the Bank of Cyprus and the National Library of France (BnF), will run until June 14. Later on the same day, he will inaugurate the exhibition of Cypriot exhibits at the Louvre Museum. For the implementation of the exhibition, which will be open to visitors until June 22, there was a collaboration between the Deputy Ministry of Culture and the Louvre Museum, the University of Cyprus and the CYENS Center of Excellence.
On Wednesday, the President of the Republic will travel to the area near the Alden Biesen Castle, in Belgium, where on February 12 he will participate in EU leaders' informal retreat to discuss European competitiveness. Before the informal European Council, President Christodoulides will participate in a meeting of a group of European leaders, convened by the German Chancellor and the Prime Ministers of Italy and Belgium, also on the subject of competitiveness.
The full-day informal European retreat will begin with the leaders' customary exchange of views with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola. This will be followed by interventions by former Italian Prime Ministers Mario Draghi and Enrico Letta, in separate working sessions, where they will present their views on strengthening European competitiveness and deepening the single market, following the reports they had submitted in 2024. The President of the Republic will be accompanied by the Government Spokesperson, the Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna and officials.
In Paris, the President of the Republic will also be accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou. He returns home on the evening of February 12.