European Union leaders have begun arriving at Ayia Napa marina for the first Informal European Council summit under Cyprus’s EU Council Presidency, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attending as an invited guest.
President Nikos Christodoulides will receive heads of state and government from 24 EU member states, alongside Zelenskyy, European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Hungarian outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker will not attend.
In a doorstep statement ahead of the summit, Christodoulides outlined the key agenda items: a meeting with Zelenskyy, developments in the Middle East, the activation of Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty — the mutual defence clause — on which he said Cyprus will table specific proposals, and measures to address the impact of the energy crisis.
What is on the agenda
The central discussion will focus on geopolitical developments and the EU’s role in de-escalating current crises. Leaders will also address the bloc’s readiness to respond to security challenges, including aspects relating to Article 42.7. Von der Leyen is expected to present proposals for measures to address the impact of the energy crisis.
Schedule
Leaders are expected to make statements on arrival. The family photograph is scheduled for 7:15pm, followed at 7:30pm by a consultation between EU member state leaders and Zelenskyy. A working dinner is scheduled for 8:15pm and is expected to last around two hours. The first day of the summit is expected to conclude by 11pm.
Security and media
Police have announced enhanced security measures and traffic restrictions across Nicosia, Larnaca and Famagusta districts for the duration of the two-day summit. Periodic short-duration road closures are planned on urban roads in all three districts as well as on the Nicosia-Larnaca and Larnaca-Ayia Napa motorways.
The use of drones is strictly prohibited across all of Cyprus for the two-day period. The Search and Rescue Coordination Centre, in coordination with police, has issued a NAVTEX notice for Ayia Napa marina covering the period from 4pm to 11pm on April 23.
More than 350 journalists are present at the press centre set up at Ayia Napa marina, with the Filoxenia Conference Centre able to accommodate up to 420 journalists on the second day of the summit.
