Statements by the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, following the Informal Meeting of EU and Regional Partners

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Nikos Christodoulides, following the Informal Meeting of EU and Regional Partners on 24 April 2026, at Filoxenia Conference Centre in Lefkosia, made the following remarks to media representatives:

"Let me begin by extending our deepest appreciation to the leaders of Egypt, Lebanon and Syria, and for the presence of the His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of Jordan, as well as the Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for joining us today, for an important, timely and necessary discussion with the European Union.

Today, we listened. We exchanged.  

And, most importantly, we focused on solutions.

At a time of heightened tensions across our wider region, the need for sustained de-escalation through diplomacy and dialogue has never been more urgent.

We are experiencing in real time how quickly instability can transcend borders, threatening civilians, disrupting our economies and exposing critical infrastructure to risk.

And today, we sent a clear and united message:

Restraint must prevail over escalation.

Diplomacy must remain at the forefront.

And dialogue is the only path to restoring stability.

We also stressed that the EU is present, engaged and working closely with its partners, in this part of its neighbourhood, committed to advancing our shared goals of stability, security and prosperity. This is a core pillar of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.

In this context, we expressed solidarity with partners in the Gulf and Jordan.

We commended Egypt’s mediation efforts for a ceasefire.

The Gulf countries have proven yet again that no matter the context, they are reliable partners to Europe.

And let me underline in the clearest terms – their security is also Europe’s security. Cyprus has been and will remain the strongest advocate for the closest cooperation between the EU and the GCC.

We also commended President Aoun’s resilient leadership and reaffirmed our strong support for Lebanon and its sovereignty, stressing the importance of engagement between Lebanon and Israel, and we reiterated our commitment to support Syria’s inclusive recovery.

Dear friends,

The evolving challenges we face are multiple and complex, and they are not confined within borders. They affect us all and, at the same time, they connect us. They require concrete cooperation and, above all, trust.

And today’s discussion proved two things: a shared understanding of risks and a shared willingness to act.

During our discussion, we identified specific areas where our cooperation can be strengthened and we agreed on concrete ways to address these challenges – together, as partners, for the benefit of our countries, our Union and our wider region.

Because it is absolutely clear to all of us here, that the security and stability of this region is interlinked with that of Europe’s. That is a vital neighbourhood, and it is the EU’s neighbourhood. 
Our Union engages in the world in a 360-degree manner – we have never been and never will be a single-issue EU.

In this context, we also discussed how to take forward our engagement with the Southern Neighbourhood. The Pact for the Mediterranean presented by the European Commission is a dynamic and greatly important tool, and its importance is now magnified by the developments in our region.

From the outset, Cyprus has supported the Pact as the most serious effort, in two decades, to reset the EU’s engagement with the Southern Neighbourhood.

The Pact is not declaratory in nature – it is operational. And it delivers results and benefits. That is why we are focusing on implementation through its Action Plan.

Dear friends,

I truly hope that today’s meeting will be the beginning of a more consistent, more results-oriented dialogue between the EU and its partners.

A dialogue with a clear, shared objective:

A stronger European Union, hand in hand with a stronger, more stable region. And partnerships that deliver.

Cyprus, as the member state of the EU in the region, at the crossroads of three continents, will continue to act as a bridge.

A bridge between the EU and our wider region.

A bridge that connects and delivers.

Always consistent with our role as an enabler of security and stability.

Because crises and challenges pave a path for opportunities. And that is the path we are walking today.

Thank you."

Video of the statement