January 7, 2026, 1:00 p.m
Geographically, Cyprus is closer to the Middle East than to the European Union: the coast of Syria is around 100 km away, Israel around 200 km, the Greek islands 400 km. Politically, however, it moved to the center of Europe on January 1st by taking over the EU Council Presidency from Denmark on a rotating basis. In the coming half-year, the third-smallest member state will set and continue to pursue central priorities in European politics. Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, wants to strengthen the EU’s strategic position. He speaks of autonomy, competitiveness and security as the most important goals. The diplomat and former foreign minister also wants to deepen international relations and trade partnerships with neighboring countries on the Mediterranean. An informal EU summit is planned for April, to which Turkey will also be invited.
However, it is questionable whether cooperation with Turkey can be successful. When Cyprus last held the presidency in 2012, Turkey boycotted talks with the EU. For over fifty years, Cyprus has been divided: into the predominantly Greek-speaking Republic of Cyprus in the south and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which declared itself independent in 1983 but is only recognized by Turkey. In 1974, the Greek military junta supported a coup against the Cypriot president and wanted to force unification with Greece. Turkey then sent the military and occupied the northern part of the island, where it still has around 30,000 soldiers present today. A ceasefire agreement is monitored by the UN peacekeeping force UNFICYP. A 180 kilometer long buffer zone, the “Green Line”, runs across the island and through the capital Nicosia. Negotiations between the North and the South repeatedly failed.
A meeting between Nikos Christodoulides and Tufan Erhürman, who was elected President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in October 2025, seemed all the more hopeful. There was talk of a change of power in Northern Cyprus, and even of a political upheaval. The social democrat Erhürman is considered pro-European and an advocate of a reunified Cyprus – unlike his predecessor, Ersin Tatar, who is close to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and calls for a two-state solution across the board with Turkey.
Tufan Erhürman hopes that Northern Cyprus will come closer to the EU. Since its accession in 2004, the entire territory of Cyprus has been part of the European Union, but EU law only applies in the south. “There can be no solution to the Cyprus question against Turkey’s will,” emphasizes Hubert Faustmann, head of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation office in Nicosia. Northern Cyprus is not least financially dependent on Turkey. Both Christodoulides and Erhürman had agreed to continue discussions. However, it is questionable how far the respective sides can go. “Christodoulides is supported by parties that take a more hardline position,” says Faustmann.
What is everyday life like for people on the divided island? What expectations do you have of politics and the EU? What role does Cyprus play in the Mediterranean? How will Europe’s international relations develop during the Cypriot Presidency? Marina Wetzlmaier talks about these and other questions with Hubert Faustmann and Paul Schmidt, Secretary General of the Austrian Society for European Policy. Call 0800 22 69 79 (free within Austria) or write an email to punkteins(at)orf.at.
