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Thank you, Vice-President, Honourable Members of the European Parliament, 

During his visit last week to the so-called, internationally unrecognised “Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus”, President Erdogan has reiterated well known Turkish position on the Cyprus issue, advocating for a two-state solution. Needless to say, that the EU will never accept this. It would go against the UN-led process and Resolutions and the UN framework for Cyprus settlement, which propose a bi-communal bi-zonal federation, the BBF. The EU supports a process that aims for the two communities to agree on a solution on how to live together on the island. 

Today, the Republic of Cyprus, an EU Member State, remains divided, which has far-reaching implications first and foremost for the people of Cyprus. 

The Cyprus problem and its settlement remains a focal issue for the EU. The EU Leaders in several European Council Conclusions, latest in April 2024, have emphasized the importance of it. 

The EU line on Cyprus issue is very clear: we fully back the UN-led process, and we are ready to support it. We support this, in accordance with relevant UNSC resolutions and in line with the principles on which the EU is founded and the acquis. 

We have continued to take concrete action against any attempts to address the Cyprus issue outside the UN-framework. 

High Representative/Vice-President Kallas (HR/VP) has raised the issue many times with Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Fidan, including during HR/VP Kallas’ visit to Türkiye end of January. Türkiye’s constructive approach to the Cyprus issue is key for advancing the EU-Türkiye agenda, as the European Council Conclusions of April 2024 lay out. 

We need a sustainable solution for Cyprus, for both communities in Cyprus. They have lived on the island for centuries, and they will have to live on it in the future.

This is why, the only sustainable solution is the solution that is agreed by both sides. 

I welcome the appointment of the UN SG Personal Envoy. She has already done an excellent work during her first mandate last year. We look forward to continuing our cooperation with her and her team. 

I also welcome the fact that the leaders of two communities met on 5 May and discussed the issues of common concern. These are the issues that they had agreed to work on at the last informal UN facilitated meeting in Geneva on 17-18 April. 

This process needs to continue. It is not Türkiye, nor the EU who will govern the island or live on the island of Cyprus in the future. It is the people of Cyprus, Greek and Turkish Cypriots, who have to live together and find solutions to common challenges. 

I look forward to your contributions to the debate.  

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-271770

Closing remarks 

Thank you, Madam Vice President, thank you Honourable Members for your contributions to this debate. 

A debate which illustrates the importance of the Cyprus problem and its settlement for the European Union. 

We have no time to lose. The solution to the Cyprus issue cannot wait another 50 years. This is why the EU fully and actively supports the UN efforts.  

The world is becoming increasingly unstable as we speak. The region finds itself in a very challenging geopolitical situation. That is why it is time to find solutions, and not to escalate. 

The EU stands ready to help these efforts.  

Thank you. 

Link to the video: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/I-271771