The European Commission is preparing for potential developments in the Cyprus issue ahead of an informal conference scheduled for July, while also monitoring regulations governing movement across the Green Line.
Under the radar
Giulia Bertezzolo, head of the Cyprus Settlement Support unit at the Commission, visited Cyprus less than three weeks after the Geneva meeting, conducting several low-profile meetings as part of Brussels’ preparations for the upcoming informal conference.
According to sources, the Commission is closely monitoring developments in the Cyprus issue broadly, as well as specific topics currently on the agenda between the two leaders.
Bertezzolo functions primarily in a technical rather than political capacity, which explains why her meetings and contacts typically receive minimal publicity.
Timing of the visits
Her visits, both to Geneva on March 17 and to Nicosia this week, coincide with key developments in the Cyprus issue. In Geneva, she attended the informal conference, while her Nicosia visit followed the first meeting between the two leaders since the talks in Switzerland.
Confidence-building measures
The confidence-building measures (CBMs) being discussed between the two leaders represent a key area of interest for the Commission, both at political and technical levels, as some measures require specific decisions.
The Commission has expressed readiness to provide financial support for certain measures, including the creation of a photovoltaic park in the buffer zone.
One significant issue requiring Commission involvement concerns decisions about crossings along the Green Line. Special interest exists regarding the opening of new crossing points, which would necessitate amendments to the Green Line Regulation through consultations between the Republic of Cyprus and the European Commission.
Preparation for July
While attention remains focused on Nicosia and New York regarding Cyprus developments, Brussels is conducting parallel preparations for the next informal conference, which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has announced for late July. As part of this preparation, the Commission has strengthened its Cyprus office with new staff.
Government circles in Nicosia indicated that depending on developments in the Cyprus issue, EU presence should be considered certain in July. The representation level will depend on the format of the next Geneva meeting.
During last Wednesday’s meeting, Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar insisted on separate electrical connections for a proposed photovoltaic park in the buffer zone, following a “two states” logic. President Christodoulides explained this was impossible, as energy must flow through the Republic’s electricity authority since the two networks are already interconnected.
For the Cypriot government, these incidents demonstrate how the EU provides safeguards against Turkish efforts to frame discussions as cooperation between two separate state entities.
These safeguards were clearly outlined in the March 17 letter from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and former European Council President Antonio Costa to Guterres – a document Christodoulides and his associates frequently reference.
Read more:
