The EU-Turkey agenda and efforts to restart Cyprus talks were treated as linked issues during a meeting in Brussels between President Nikos Christodoulides and European Council President António Costa, according to government sources.
The meeting, held on Thursday afternoon, took place as Brussels prepares for further discussion on the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU and as diplomatic activity around the Cyprus problem continues. Government sources said the EU wants to be present and actively involved in the UN Secretary-General’s initiative on Cyprus “at all stages” of the process.
According to the same sources, Costa made clear that any progress in EU-Turkey relations is connected to corresponding movement on the Cyprus problem. An EU source confirmed the positive climate of the meeting, while also noting that Turkey’s status as a candidate country means the wider equation includes other criteria, such as the rule of law and the economy.
Holguín to Meet Costa in Brussels
Government sources also said UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus María Angela Holguín, who is visiting Brussels, is expected to meet Costa.
Costa reportedly informed Christodoulides that he had spoken twice with UN Secretary-General António Guterres as part of efforts to support the UN initiative on Cyprus. The EU, according to the same account, supports the UN Secretary-General’s initiative and wants to see substantive progress.
The message from the European side, as relayed by government sources, was that Brussels does not want to enter the process at a later stage, but to be involved from the beginning in a way that supports the restart and advancement of negotiations within the framework set by UN Security Council resolutions.
Turkey’s Interest in the EU Track
The discussion also touched on Turkey’s interest in the EU-Turkey agenda, particularly issues such as the Customs Union, visa liberalisation and SAFE.
Government sources said there is a clear understanding within the EU that this agenda cannot move forward in isolation from the Cyprus problem or from Turkey’s obligations towards the Republic of Cyprus and the EU.
The European acquis was described as a central element in any process and as a factor that could help unlock progress on substantive issues. The EU’s position, according to the same sources, is that it wants to be present, active and meaningfully involved from the earliest stage, given that any eventual arrangement would operate within the European institutional framework.
Costa Praises Cyprus Presidency
The first part of the meeting focused on the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, with Costa congratulating Christodoulides on what he described as the “excellent work” carried out during the presidency and on the high level of cooperation throughout the six-month period.
According to government sources, Costa referred in particular to progress on complex and politically sensitive files, including issues that had remained open for years and on which the Cyprus Presidency helped deliver results.
Christodoulides thanked Costa for his cooperation and support, saying Cyprus had approached the presidency with seriousness, consistency and a full awareness of the responsibility it had assumed. He also said he felt proud of what had been achieved, describing the effort as a national mission.
The meeting also covered the structure of Thursday’s European Council discussion, including Christodoulides’ expected review of the Cyprus Presidency, as well as the debate on competitiveness and the “One Europe, One Market” plan.
Source: CNA
