Turkish Cypriot leader Unal Ustel rejects EU progress report

On November 5, 2026, the Turkish Cypriot leader Unal Ustel issued a statement rejecting the European Commission's latest progress report on Turkey. Ustel accused the European Union and the United Nations of losing their neutrality, describing them as mouthpieces for Greek and Greek Cypriot political agendas.

The criticism centers on the Commission’s negative assessments regarding Turkey's policy on the Cyprus issue, the status of the fenced-off city of Varosha, and planned energy projects between Turkey and the self-proclaimed Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Ustel specifically challenged the EU to move away from what he described as biased reporting, calling instead for the removal of the isolation of Turkish Cypriots and the formal recognition of their political equality and sovereign rights.

Ustel maintained that the future of the Turkish Cypriot community will not be determined by unilateral documents produced in Brussels. He reiterated the long-standing position advocating for a two-state solution, asserting that the EU’s stance continues to hinder a fair and impartial approach to the Cyprus problem.