Committee of Ministers of Council of Europe rules on Cyprus v. Turkey property case

On June 11, 2026, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe reviewed the enforcement of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruling regarding the Fourth Interstate Application of the Republic of Cyprus against Turkey. The session focused on the property rights of displaced persons. Turkey failed to demonstrate compliance with the court's judgment to the satisfaction of the Committee. During the proceedings, the Committee voted in favor of continuing the supervision of the implementation of the ECHR ruling, thereby rejecting Turkey's request to close the case. Furthermore, the Committee adopted a proposal by Cyprus to refer an interpretative question to the ECHR. This decision is viewed as a significant procedural step, as it marks the first time the Court will be asked to interpret one of its own previous judgments. Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos described the outcome as a successful diplomatic effort, while acknowledging that further work is required. The decision followed a series of procedural debates where the Turkish delegation's attempts to block the process were unsuccessful.