The European Commission, through its spokesperson, appeared ready to play an “active role” in the process of resolving the Cyprus issue “with all the means and tools at its disposal,” stressing that it is also ready to participate in “all the relevant meetings,” in response to questions about its position on the expanded 5+1 meeting that UN Secretary-General António Guterres intends, subject to conditions, to convene following his visit to Cyprus on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Commission spokesperson for Cohesion, Maciej Berezstecki, noted that “the EU is firmly committed to the reunification of Cyprus on the basis of a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation, and in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, as well as in line with the principles, values and legislation of the EU.”
Regarding the EU’s position at the table of future negotiations, the spokesperson said on behalf of the Commission that “we are ready to play an active role in this process with all the means and tools at our disposal, and we are also ready to participate in all the relevant meetings.”
“In this context, on 13 July, the European Commission appointed Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto as Special Representative for Cyprus,” the spokesperson added, noting that Fitto “will contribute to the settlement process within the UN framework, in close cooperation with the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, María Ángela Holguín, and will also engage with all relevant stakeholders and interlocutors in order to prepare the ground for the resumption of negotiations aimed at a comprehensive and lasting solution for all of Cyprus.”
The spokesperson recalled that Fitto will visit Cyprus today and tomorrow, for the first time in his new role as EU Special Representative.
Asked how the EU intends to be constructive so that a solution to the Cyprus issue can be reached soon, the Commission spokesperson repeated that “the EU is firmly committed to the reunification of Cyprus, you’ve heard it many times from us.”
On the five-party meeting, he reiterated on behalf of the EU that “we are ready to play an active role in this process with all the means and tools at our disposal, and we are also ready to participate in all the relevant meetings.”