Nice: Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides is travelling to Nice, France, to participate in the 3rd United Nations International Conference on Oceans (UNOC3).
According to Cyprus News Agency, a written statement by the Director of the President’s Press Office, Victoras Papadopoulos, confirms that the President will attend the Plenary Session of the Conference on Monday morning, alongside the UN Secretary-General. He is set to make various interventions within the Conference framework and in other meetings on the sidelines.
The Conference, themed ‘Accelerating action and mobilising all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean,’ will focus on the ratification of the BBNJ Agreement (on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) and negotiations for an International Agreement against Plastic Pollution. It also aims to promote the blue economy as part of implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goal, through innovative financing mechanisms and enhancing scientific research and innovation for the ocean.
Papadopoulos highlighted that the Republic of Cyprus, as an island and maritime state, supports the objectives of UNCLOS, its institutions, and its implementing agreements, including the BBNJ Agreement. Cyprus signed the Agreement in 2023 and ratified it in 2025, demonstrating its commitment to these objectives.
On the Conference’s sidelines, President Christodoulides will engage in a bilateral meeting with King Abdullah of Jordan. He will also address a European Commission event, initiated by Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, in collaboration with the Governments of France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Ireland, and Cyprus. During this event, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will officially present the European Ocean Pact, a collective commitment calling for immediate action.
Later in the afternoon, the President will participate in the Mediterranean-Gulf Summit, titled “For a Connected Mediterranean,” organized under the initiative of France’s President, Emmanuel Macron. The Summit aims to enhance cooperation for developing land, sea, and digital connectivity to foster common prosperity.
In Nice, President Christodoulides is accompanied by several officials, including the Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panagiotou, the Director of his Press Office, Victoras Papadopoulos, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Andreas Kakouris, and the Director of the Diplomatic Office of the President, Doros Venezis, among other governmental officials.