"We are counting on you," Antonio Costa tells President Christodoulides

"We are counting on you," said the President-elect of the European Council, Antonio Costa to the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, during their meeting on Wednesday morning at the Presidential Palace, noting that "we have a very ambitious agenda and together we will put it in motion."

Costa, who is paying a working visit to Cyprus, arrived at the Presidential Palace around 10 am.

President Christodoulides, welcoming Costa, congratulated him for his election to the presidency of the Council. "Having in mind your extensive experience, that you are coming from a relatively small Member State, you're coming from the Mediterranean. I am sure that you are going to be a successful President", he said, noting that he is looking forward towards their deliberations and how "we can be much more effective in the European Council, how we can have much more strategic discussions, instead of spending time on drafting European conclusions, and I'm sure you know very well what I am referring to".

The President noted that Costa is visiting Cyprus in a very important year, since 2024 marks 50 years since the Turkish illegal invasion in 1974 and 20 years of Cyprus membership in the European Union. "It was the biggest success for the people of Cyprus since 1960, since our independence," he stressed.

He also said that he will brief Costa on his recent meeting with the Secretary General of the UN and they will also discuss Cyprus' upcoming presidency of the Council, in the first half of 2026. "The European Council will have a great role to play in these very challenging times. You know you are visiting Cyprus, a Member State of the European Union, but part of the Middle East," he said.

"We need to work for the European Union to be much more strategic, for the strategic autonomy of the European Union, and when we talk about strategic autonomy is not just defence and security, it's also energy. We need to be independent; competitiveness is also an issue that we need to take measures. So, I'm certain with your experience that the next five years are going to be much more results-oriented. Our discussions with the European Union are going to be much more result-oriented", he underlined.

Costa thanked President Christodoulides for his warm support. "We count on you", he said, "because as you said, we are living in very challenging times. But we have a very ambitious agenda and together we will put this agenda in motion, and that's why I am here and we 're looking forward for your presidency in 2026. Together we will be stronger".

Costa, in preparation for his formal inauguration in December, is visiting EU Member States to shape policies and common approaches for the upcoming critical period for the EU institutions.

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. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended conclusively.   

(Source: CNA)