Meeting with the President of the European Council, António Costa, as part of his tour of the capitals of EU member states, will take place on Friday morning at the Presidential Palace.
Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letympiotis stated during a briefing with media representatives on Thursday that Mr. Costa will arrive at the Presidential Palace tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., followed by a private meeting between the two Presidents and then broader talks. At 10:35 a.m., the two Presidents will make statements to the media.
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The visit is taking place at a particularly important time for the European Union, Mr. Letympiotis noted, and at a critical juncture for efforts to resume substantive negotiations on the Cyprus issue. “The talks will focus on the new Multiannual Financial Framework—that is, the European budget for the period 2028–2034. During the Cypriot Presidency, substantial progress was made, and the groundwork was laid for the final phase of political negotiations, with the aim of reaching an agreement by the end of 2026.”
At tomorrow’s meeting, she continued, and speaking in her national capacity, the President will present specific positions and clear demands. “We are calling for an ambitious and fair European budget that responds to new challenges, such as security and competitiveness, recognizes the specific needs of small island states, and provides substantial support for development and social cohesion,” he said.
“We attach particular importance to safeguarding national allocations for Cohesion Policy, the Common Agricultural Policy, and Migration,” stated the Government Spokesperson.
The talks will also address, he continued, the enlargement of the European Union, competitiveness, migration, and developments in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Gulf.
Cyprus Issue
The Spokesperson also noted that the President of the Republic will brief President Costa on the latest developments, efforts to resume substantive negotiations, the recent visit of the United Nations Secretary-General to Cyprus, and the enhanced European engagement, including the role of EU Special Envoy for Cyprus assumed by European Commission Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fito.
“Our position is clear: The process is taking place under the auspices of the United Nations, and the European Union can play a supportive and catalytic role, by leveraging its political clout, resources, and incentives,” said Mr. Letympiotis.
In this context, he added, further progress in EU-Turkey relations can provide the tools for Turkey to contribute substantially to the resumption of negotiations and to the effort to resolve the Cyprus issue, always within the framework of the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
“The Republic of Cyprus is a member state of the European Union, and a reunified Cyprus will continue to be a member state of the Union. The solution, therefore, must ensure a functioning European state, fully compatible with the European acquis, the principles, and the values of the Union,” he said.
Mr. Letympiotis noted that Friday’s meeting represents yet another opportunity for substantive dialogue on the major issues facing Europe and, at the same time, on issues of particular importance to Cyprus.
