Cyprus’s President Nikos Christodoulides has said he is ready to pursue a closer relationship between the European Union and Turkey, marking a notable shift in tone from Nicosia as it prepares to assume the EU’s rotating presidency in January.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Christodoulides said the time had come for a more pragmatic approach to Ankara, emphasising that geography and shared interests make cooperation both necessary and beneficial for Europe’s long-term stability.
“We cannot change our geography. Turkey will always be a neighbour of Cyprus, so I prefer a neighbour that is close to the European Union,” he said.
A Shift in Strategy
Christodoulides confirmed that under Cyprus’s EU presidency, he wants to open channels of dialogue with Ankara and rebuild trust that has eroded over years of political stalemate.
He suggested inviting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan or Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to informal EU meetings during his presidency — a move that would be highly symbolic given the decades of tension between the two nations.
“This is an EU presidency, not just a Cypriot presidency,” he noted. “It would give a positive message for EU-Turkish relations.”
The outreach marks a new direction for Cyprus, which has often taken a hard line on Ankara due to the ongoing division of the island since 1974, when Turkey invaded in response to a coup supported by Greece’s military junta. The northern part of Cyprus remains under the control of the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, recognized only by Turkey.
Renewed Hopes for Peace Talks
Christodoulides expressed optimism that negotiations to reunify the island could restart following the election of Tufan Erhürman, a self-described “pro-solution” Turkish Cypriot leader.
He said future talks should resume where they left off at the 2017 Crans-Montana peace conference, rather than restarting the process from scratch.
“We came so close. If we start from where we stopped, it is possible,” he said.
The president also welcomed the appointment of former EU commissioner Johannes Hahn as special envoy for Cyprus peace talks, saying that the EU should have “a seat at the table” during negotiations.
“Only the EU can offer Turkey incentives strong enough to make a deal worthwhile,” he added.
Step-by-Step Confidence Building
Christodoulides outlined several small but practical steps that could improve relations between the EU and Turkey.
One proposal includes granting visa liberalisation for Turkish businesspeople, while Turkey in turn could reopen its ports to ships bearing the Cypriot flag — a restriction in place since 1987.
“Step by step, we can start to see the benefit of positive news,” he said.
However, the Cypriot leader acknowledged that his vision may face resistance from some EU member states that are wary of closer engagement with Ankara.
“The [European] Commission might be prepared. I’m not quite sure if the member states are, or if they’re hiding behind Cyprus,” he remarked.
Cyprus’s Balancing Role in the EU
Taking over the EU presidency gives Cyprus an opportunity to shape Europe’s foreign policy agenda, particularly in areas where its regional experience provides strategic leverage.
Christodoulides has already positioned his country as a bridge between the EU, the Middle East, and North Africa, with projects like the Amalthea humanitarian corridor from Cyprus to Gaza and energy initiatives linking Greece, Israel, and Egypt.
His willingness to open a dialogue with Turkey fits into this broader vision of pragmatic diplomacy — one aimed at reducing tensions and strengthening Europe’s influence in its southern and eastern neighbourhoods.
“We cannot afford isolation,” he said. “Our presidency should reflect an EU that is open, engaged, and able to deal constructively with all its neighbours — including Turkey.”
A New Tone Amid Old Divisions
Christodoulides’s comments reflect a growing recognition in Brussels that Turkey, despite its strained relations with Europe, remains a vital partner on issues such as migration, energy, and regional security.
Whether his initiative can gain traction among EU leaders remains to be seen. Yet the Cypriot president’s message is clear: in an increasingly unstable geopolitical landscape, dialogue — not distance — is the path forward.
