Raouna: Deputy Minister of European Affairs Marilena Raouna and British Minister for the Constitution and European Union Relations Nick Thomas-Symonds have expressed their readiness to continue their close cooperation during the Cyprus EU Presidency, with the aim of maintaining the momentum in EU-UK relations and further strengthening them for the mutual benefit of both sides.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the UK official is paying Cyprus a working visit in anticipation of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, which will commence in January 2026. The discussions primarily focused on EU-UK relations and exploring prospects for their further strengthening in mutually beneficial areas.
During their meeting, both parties confirmed the excellent level of bilateral relations and emphasized the deepening of ties within the framework of their strategic cooperation. They exchanged views on enhancing EU-UK relations and considered ways to build on the momentum created by the positive outcomes of the EU-UK Summit held last May in London.
The press release highlighted that emphasis was placed on the implementation of existing agreements and achieving tangible outcomes on the agreements reached at the Summit. Key areas of common interest discussed included security and defence, citizen contacts, and migration.
The discussions also covered the SAFE Regulation, UK’s participation in the Erasmus+ programme, youth mobility, sanitary and phytosanitary cooperation, and issues concerning EU-UK trade relations. Both sides reiterated their willingness to maintain close cooperation during the Cyprus Presidency to sustain and strengthen EU-UK relations for mutual benefit.
Raouna additionally briefed the UK official on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus issue and the efforts by the Greek Cypriot side to resume negotiations based on relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. She also updated on the progress towards Cyprus’s full integration into the Schengen area, as stated in the press release.