About this Summary
This summary was created with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) to help readers quickly understand the key points of the article.
It has been reviewed by our editorial team before publication. For complete information and full details, please read the full article.
- Christodoulides said Cyprus would raise energy costs, the EU budget, regional security and migration at the European Council.
- Cyprus wants flexibility on national measures to ease energy costs and supports suspending the EU’s ETS2 emissions rules.
- Christodoulides said Cyprus would support an EU mission in Lebanon by serving as its operational hub, citing its location and training infrastructure.
- On migration, he said Cyprus’s measures cut arrivals by more than 90% and increased returns by 180% compared with 2022.
Cyprus could take a decisive step towards joining the Schengen Area in December, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday, as he arrived for a European Council meeting in Brussels.
Christodoulides said the technical work on Cyprus’ application had been completed and expressed hope that the issue would be discussed by the relevant Council in December, allowing final political decisions to be taken.
He said he had already discussed the matter with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and would have the opportunity to raise it with fellow EU leaders.
Energy costs and emissions rules
Christodoulides identified five key issues for discussion at the European Council, including energy costs, the EU’s long-term budget, regional security and migration.
On energy, he called for greater flexibility for member states to introduce national measures to ease costs for households and businesses. He also backed a further suspension of the EU’s Emissions Trading System 2 (ETS2), saying several member states supported the request.
The president also said Cyprus would raise the geopolitical, energy and economic importance of the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), which is intended to link the electricity grids of Greece and Cyprus. He said the discussions would also address what he described as Turkey’s illegal actions relating to the project and its memorandum of understanding with the Turkish Cypriot side.
EU budget deal sought by year-end
Christodoulides said Cyprus supported strengthening new EU priorities, including defence, security, competitiveness and migration. However, he stressed that these should not come at the expense of the Common Agricultural Policy or cohesion funding, which benefit European citizens.
He welcomed a new proposal from the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, which builds on a proposal put forward during Cyprus’ own presidency.
The president said a political agreement on the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) was needed by the end of 2026. He expected an extraordinary European Council meeting in November and warned that political developments in member states could make an agreement more difficult.
Christodoulides said the Irish proposal included an 8% reduction compared with the European Commission’s proposal, a figure Cyprus did not support. He suggested the reduction could increase to 10%, 11% or 12% as negotiations continued, but said reaching an agreement was the main priority.
He described the negotiations as primarily political, arguing that the long-term budget must reflect the EU’s priorities for the coming years.
Cyprus offers to support EU mission in Lebanon
The president welcomed plans for an EU mission in Lebanon and said Cyprus was ready to serve as its operational hub because of its proximity to the country, its existing relations with Lebanon and its training infrastructure.
He highlighted the CYCLOPS training centre, established in Cyprus in cooperation with the United States, which has trained personnel from 50 countries in the region.
Christodoulides said Cyprus was prepared to take on what he described as an important role in supporting the mission.
Cyprus migration measures presented as a model
On migration, Christodoulides said Cyprus’s approach could serve as a model for other EU member states.
He said the measures had resulted in a reduction of more than 90% in arrivals and an increase of 180% in returns compared with 2022.
He also supported the creation of an EU emergency mechanism, expected to be proposed by the European Commission, particularly in cases where migration is used as a political or strategic tool.
EU response to regional instability
Christodoulides said the EU needed measures that could quickly ease the impact of regional instability on households and businesses, alongside longer-term steps to reduce the bloc’s dependence on the region.
He referred to the situation around the Strait of Hormuz and the expansion of conflict towards the Red Sea, including activity by Yemen’s Houthi movement. He said improving citizens’ disposable income should also form part of the response.
The president also expressed concern that the EU had not been informed of or involved in the reported Trump-Putin agreement, saying closer coordination between Washington and Brussels would have been preferable.
On China, he said he expected a more unified EU approach and did not anticipate particularly difficult discussions on the issue.
Cyprus backs closer EU ties with Gulf states
Christodoulides said Cyprus supported closer relations between the EU and Gulf countries, including through concrete agreements and cooperation.
A decision was still pending on whether an EU-Gulf Cooperation Council summit would take place. He said Cyprus would attend if it went ahead.
He also argued that European and Gulf security were interconnected and that the EU should play a more active role in regional security and other areas of cooperation.
Asked whether he would welcome the United Kingdom back into the EU, Christodoulides replied that Cyprus would be ready to welcome it if Britain were prepared to return.
Also read: Cyprus “technically ready” for Schengen – political agreement remains
For more videos and updates, check out our YouTube channel
