EU envoy Raffaele Fitto visits Cyprus to advance peace process

Following the recent visit of UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to Cyprus, newly appointed EU Special Representative for the Cyprus problem, Raffaele Fitto, arrived on the island on July 30, 2026, to engage in diplomatic efforts. On July 31, Fitto held meetings with President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman. These discussions mark the beginning of preparations for a potential new 5+1 expanded meeting, which Guterres aims to convene once sufficient progress is made on confidence-building measures and negotiation methodology.

President Christodoulides has convened the National Council for next Monday to discuss the intensified diplomatic activity. The EU has stated its readiness to play an active, substantive role in the UN-led process, aiming to support reunification based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation. This commitment spans both the content of a potential settlement and broader EU-Turkey relations. Fitto stated that he intends to return to the island in the coming months to continue these consultations and help prepare the parties for formal negotiations. Both the President and the EU representative characterized their initial meeting as constructive, signaling a period of focused diplomatic activity throughout August.