The profile of the new figure in the Cyprus issue and the real weapons he has in his arsenal  

The past week was one of the most decisive in recent years regarding the Cyprus issue. In addition to the announcement of Antonio Guterres’s visit to Cyprus—16 years after the last visit by a UN Secretary-General to the island— the European Commission also announced Raffaele Fito as the new point person on the Cyprus issue. The President of the Republic had been advocating for his appointment for quite some time through behind-the-scenes consultations with the President of the European Commission. Nikos Christodoulides requested the appointment of a person with the caliber, knowledge, and institutional standing within the EU—someone with connections on the international political stage, capable of pulling strings—when and where necessary—and whose voice would leave a resounding mark.

In short, the intention of Nikos Christodoulides—and subsequently that of the European Commission—was to avoid appointing another Johannes Hahn. That is, a figure who was largely viewed with indifference both in Cyprus and in the EU regarding his involvement in the Cyprus issue.

Fito was among Nikos Christodoulides’ top choices when he heard directly from the Commission President the names she had in mind. According to information from “Alpha on Sunday,” the President of the Republic had known days in advance about the appointment of the new envoy and had informed his close associates accordingly. On June 25, Mr. Fito and other European officials took a walk and were given a tour of downtown Paphos by Nikos Christodoulides, while the camera captured them together. At the Presidential Palace, he is described as a good friend of the President with whom he maintains excellent relations.   

Raffaele Fito is an experienced politician who stands alongside Italian Prime Minister Meloni. Since 2022, he has served as the Italian government’s Minister for European Affairs and is now a commissioner and one of the six vice-presidents of the European Commission. She therefore holds an institutional role.

Fito appears to differ from Johannes Hahn, who resigned after his appointment as president of the Austrian National Bank and was not a figure of political stature. He was a capable technocrat and European Commissioner. His international contacts were limited,  which eventually caused some dissatisfaction in Nicosia, as he played more of an observer role and limited himself to mere formal meetings that may not have ultimately had a substantive impact on the Cyprus issue. When Mr. Hahn was carrying out his duties as a special envoy on the Cyprus issue, he was no longer an EU commissioner, whereas Fito is currently an EU official. 

Terms of Reference

Mr. Fito’s intentions will become clear during his first visit to Cyprus, which is expected to take place in early August. His terms of reference are to assist the President of the Commission in the process of resolving the Cyprus issue, always under the auspices of the UN. The Special Envoy carries out this task in close cooperation with the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy and will receive first-hand updates on developments directly from Ms. Olgin.

The Vice President will maintain close contact with all parties involved, including both the guarantor powers and the two leaders, as part of his current portfolio. It is important to note that Fito already bears political responsibility, by virtue of his position, for overseeing the implementation of the Aid Program for the Turkish Cypriot community, as well as for the implementation of the Green Line Regulation governing the movement of goods, people, and services.

In the coming period, he is expected to visit the guarantor powers as well, reiterating to Turkey that the EU and Cyprus go hand in hand. He will also be called upon to highlight to the Turkish president the benefits of Turkey’s accession, both in terms of customs and its defense program, at a time when the EU is placing unprecedented emphasis on its defense future. 

It should be noted that his services regarding the Cyprus issue are provided without additional compensation, in the sense that he receives nothing more than his salary as a European Commissioner/Vice President.

His Italian heritage: A blessing or a curse? 

The more cautious observers view the appointment of the new envoy—who hails from Italy—with a touch more skepticism, a country that, like Germany, maintains excellent relations with Turkey through multifaceted cooperation.

There are no doubts about him personally, but concerns arise due to Italy’s foreign policy toward Turkey.

Italy has long maintained close economic and trade ties with Erdogan’s country. The two countries cooperate on defense, industry, energy, and managing migration flows. Rome has traditionally advocated keeping channels of communication open with Ankara, even during periods of tension. In fact, it is one of the countries that did not push for sanctions against Turkey when the issue was periodically considered due to violations of the sovereignty and sovereign rights of Cyprus and Greece.  

In this light, a leading Italian politician is likely to approach the Cyprus issue from a pragmatic perspective, placing greater emphasis on safeguarding relations between Ankara – EU and Euro-Turkish relations than on exerting pressure on Turkey.

The presidential office, however, has made it clear that it is not concerned about such a stance being taken. On the contrary, it believes that through the good relations between the two countries, pressure can be exerted or an additional mediating role can be assumed, as was attempted—albeit without significant results—in the past with Germany and Merz.   

The “ceiling” on the government’s mandate

The government, primarily for public relations reasons, may be attempting to present a more prominent role than is actually appropriate for a European envoy, who in reality plays a more supportive role in the developments. Of course, it is said that people fill the seats and positions, not the other way around, so it cannot be ruled out that if Mr. Fito is genuinely willing to help, he will do so by going above and beyond.  

The debate that has arisen around his appointment highlights a critical issue that often causes confusion in public discourse.  The responsibility for managing and resolving the Cyprus issue lies with the UN.

The European Union has a different role and is not an international security and peace organization—like the UN—nor does it have general authority to resolve international conflicts. Its operation is based on the principle of conferred competence. In other words, the Union acts only within the competences conferred upon it by the member states through the Treaties.

Consequently, the EU does not operate in parallel with or in competition to the UN. However, it has the capacity to formulate common positions, exert diplomatic influence, and employ political tools.

The EU and its respective envoy can provide support for the process, prepare the European acquis for the implementation of a potential solution, use their tools in relations with Turkey, and act as political agents of pressure and incentives for EU-Turkey relations. The appointment of Raffaele Fito must also be assessed within this legal framework.