Cyprus and Austria reaffirmed their strong bilateral ties during a high-level meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stöger in Nicosia on August 22, 2025. The discussions underscored the countries’ shared commitment to enhancing cooperation across various sectors, including migration, security, economy, education, and culture.
President Christodoulides highlighted Austria’s longstanding support for Cyprus, particularly its contributions to the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) since 1964, noting that over 10,000 Austrian peacekeepers have served, with 16 having lost their lives in the line of duty. He also acknowledged Austria’s principled stance on Cyprus' sovereignty during the 1974 Turkish invasion. The President emphasized that Austria is not just a friendly nation but a reliable and valuable partner within the European Union, sharing common values and approaches on EU matters and the future of Europe.
Chancellor Stöger reciprocated, describing Cyprus as a significant partner in the region with a multifaceted relationship. He expressed Austria’s desire to continue strengthening bilateral relations, particularly in areas such as security, economy, tourism, and education. Both leaders discussed innovative initiatives by Cyprus in refugee and asylum seeker returns to their countries of origin, with Austria expressing interest in learning more about this expertise.
Looking ahead, the two leaders exchanged views on priorities for Cyprus's upcoming Presidency of the EU Council in the first half of 2026. They agreed on the importance of European solidarity in addressing migration challenges and other pressing EU issues, including enlargement, competitiveness, and energy. Both countries aim to collaborate closely to advance these shared objectives within the EU framework.
This meeting marks a significant step in deepening the partnership between Cyprus and Austria, reflecting their mutual dedication to addressing regional and global challenges through cooperative efforts.