Nicosia: President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides held a meeting on Wednesday afternoon with President of Lebanon, Joseph Aoun, focusing on stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, regional developments, and the strengthening of EU and Southern Neighborhood cooperation channels. President Aoun arrived at the Presidential Palace with the First Lady of Lebanon, where they were welcomed by President Christodoulides and First Lady Philippa Karsera Christodoulides. President Aoun will later attend the official opening ceremony of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, along with other dignitaries.
According to Cyprus News Agency, President Christodoulides highlighted that this meeting marks the fifth encounter between the two leaders since President Aoun's election, signifying not only their personal friendship but also the strong relations between Cyprus and Lebanon. A key priority for the Cyprus Presidency of the EU is the enhancement of EU-Lebanon relations. President Christodoulides expressed satisfaction with the declaration of the Association Council, which mentions the initiation of discussions between the EU and Lebanon. Cyprus is committed to leading these discussions to establish a comprehensive and strategic agreement.
President Christodoulides also mentioned the upcoming visit of the President of the European Commission to Lebanon, which will be the second visit, along with the President of the European Council's first visit to Lebanon during the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council. Meanwhile, earlier in the afternoon, President of the European Council Antonio Costa, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the Presidential Palace for a joint meeting on Ukraine with President Christodoulides.
President Christodoulides remarked on the significance of the day for Cyprus and emphasized the country's readiness to collaborate with the EU Commission and Parliament for an autonomous EU open to the world. He also held a bilateral meeting with the President of the European Council to align efforts on European priorities for the semester, aiming to bolster the Union's cohesion in the face of global challenges and to enhance Europe's strategic autonomy, security, and resilience.
Later in the day, a ceremony at the Cyprus Theatre Organization building in Nicosia marked the opening of the Cyprus EU Presidency, attended by heads of European institutions, state leaders, and representatives from various organizations and countries. Notable attendees included the President of the European Council Antonio Costa, the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, and other distinguished leaders. President Christodoulides will host an official dinner for the heads of the 14 official delegations at the Leventis Gallery in Nicosia.
Cyprus, an EU member since 2004, assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU for the second time on January 1st, 2026.