President Christodoulides is in Brussels for talks with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the Cyprus problem, alongside a full schedule at the European Council summit.
Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis outlined the programme at his regular press briefing at the Presidential Palace on Tuesday.
The Guterres meeting — sought by Christodoulides himself via a personal letter to the UN chief — will take place Wednesday afternoon. Letymbiotis said it reflects the Secretary-General’s personal commitment to resuming negotiations. Christodoulides will reaffirm Cyprus’s readiness to restart talks from where they broke off at Crans-Montana, on the basis of the agreed settlement framework, relevant UN Security Council resolutions, and EU law and principles. The current deadlock is not an option, Letymbiotis said, and time is making the need for progress more urgent. He added that convening an enlarged conference under the Secretary-General’s auspices could prove catalytic in breaking the impasse.
Earlier on Wednesday, Christodoulides will speak at a European Policy Centre event, laying out the vision and priorities of the Cypriot EU Council Presidency before meeting Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Their talks will cover regional developments, the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and support measures for those affected, and the latest efforts to restart Cyprus problem negotiations.
Christodoulides will also attend the Tripartite Social Summit — co-hosted by the European Council and Commission presidents — in his capacity as leader of the EU Council Presidency state, where he will address quality jobs and competitiveness as foundations for a resilient European economy. A joint press conference with institutional presidents follows.
On Thursday, Christodoulides attends the European People’s Party leaders’ meeting ahead of the summit, then a separate gathering on migration convened by Italy, Denmark and the Netherlands, before the European Council session itself opens.
The summit — the third during the Cypriot Presidency and the first regular session — takes place against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions. Christodoulides will highlight the impact of regional developments on the Eastern Mediterranean and press for the EU to strengthen its strategic autonomy. The agenda also covers Ukraine, competitiveness and the Single Market, and the new Multiannual Financial Framework, a Cypriot Presidency priority. Leaders will hold a working dinner with Guterres on multilateralism, followed by the Eurozone Summit.
Christodoulides returns to Nicosia on Friday. He has called a National Council meeting for Monday, 23 March to brief party leaders on the outcome of his contacts.
Letymbiotis said the support shown by EU member states and partners toward Cyprus was not merely a gesture of solidarity but a strong political statement about how the European Union understands its collective security and cohesion. Cyprus is not on Europe’s edge but where Europe proves its role, he said.
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