EU reaffirms support for comprehensive, sustainable settlement of Cyprus issue

The EU continues to support a comprehensive, fair and sustainable settlement of the Cyprus issue and the reunification of the island based on a bi-zonal, bi-communal federation in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions, according to European Commission spokesperson Maciej Berestetski, Report's European bureau informs.

"The EU's priority remains unchanged - to achieve a comprehensive, fair and lasting settlement for all Cyprus," Berestetski said.

According to him, the European Commission is ready to play an active role in the process, using all the means and tools at its disposal. As part of these efforts, the Commission has appointed Vice President Raffaele Fitto as the EU Special Representative for Cyprus.

At the same time, Berestetski declined to comment on the August 26 meeting between the leaders of the two Cypriot communities - President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides and President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Tufan Erhurman. Both leaders described the meeting as "positive."

In July, following UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' first visit to the island, he pledged to step up efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue under the auspices of the United Nations and again called for confidence-building measures between the sides.

The European Commission spokesperson also declined to assess reports about decisions by the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus preventing events from being held in the northern part of the island. In particular, following protests by the TRNC authorities, football club Barcelona cancelled plans to hold youth training camps (Barça Academy) in Lefkosia, in the northern part of the island.