The implementation and progress of the Cyprus-France Strategic Partnership, the full integration of the Republic of Cyprus into the Schengen Zone, as well as the Cyprus issue were at the focus of the meeting between President Nikos Christodoulides, and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, in Paris.
According to a written statement by Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, the President of the Republic held a meeting with Macron in Paris on the afternoon of Tuesday, 10 February, in the context of the presence of France’s President at the inauguration of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU exhibition at the National Library of France.
“The French President’s presence at the inauguration is tangible proof of the close and exceptional bilateral relations between the two countries and of the relationship between the two leaders”, he notes.
During the meeting, the Spokesperson said, the implementation and progress of the Cyprus-France Strategic Partnership Agreement and the accompanying Action Plan, which was signed between the two Presidents in Paris on December 15, 2025, were discussed, with an emphasis on the productive implementation of the agreed actions. The implementation of the individual aspects of the Strategic Agreement will contribute significantly to further strengthening the cooperation between the two countries in a range of areas of common interest and mutual aspirations, he adds.
The Spokesperson said that the President Christodoulides and President Macron “reaffirmed their close cooperation and France’s political support for the full integration of the Republic of Cyprus into the Schengen Area, following the signing of the Declaration of Intent on Schengen last December in Paris.
The two leaders also exchanged views in relation to “the particularly important” informal leaders’ summit to be held on 12 February at Alden Biesen Castle, in Belgium, on European competitiveness, he said. “There was a common view that it is imperative to accelerate efforts to strengthen European competitiveness and the Union’s strategic autonomy, priorities that are also high on the agenda of the Cyprus Presidency, during which important legislative files concerning EU competitiveness are being promoted,” Letymbiotis said.
President Christodoulides also briefed his French counterpart on the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU and, discussed “at length” the informal leaders’ summit to be held in Cyprus on April 23 and 24, as well as the participation, on the sidelines of the Summit, of the Southern Neighbourhood countries in the context of the implementation of the Pact for the Mediterranean, he adds.
“Strengthening EU relations with the states of the region is a strategic priority of the Cyprus Presidency and the Summit next April is expected to be an important milestone for the substantial progress of the rapprochement of the 27 Member States and the EU institutions with the states of the region, through the start of the implementation of specific cooperation projects,” the Spokesperson notes.
Nicosia and Paris, he said, “jointly place synergies and multilateralism at the forefront of their efforts and, in particular, following the important EU-India trade agreement, the practical implementation of the plan for the India-Middle East-Europe corridor (IMEC), for which the Republic of Cyprus constitutes a natural and diplomatic bridge for its implementation.”
President Christodoulides also briefed President Macron on the latest developments on the Cyprus issue and on the efforts being made to resume negotiations from the point where they have been suspended, with a view to achieving a comprehensive solution, in accordance with international law, UN Security Council Resolutions and the principles, values and law of the EU, he adds.
France remains a steadfast partner in the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus, as the only EU member state that is also a Permanent Member of the UN Security Council, the Spokesperson notes.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.
(Source: CNA)
