Cypriot Deputy EU Affairs Minister Marilena Raouna has defended the recent appointment of European Commission Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto to the role of the EU Commission's special representative for Cyprus. Raouna characterized Fitto as a significant political figure who is well-positioned to support the island's ongoing reunification efforts.
Speaking on the Europe Today programme, Raouna addressed the fierce condemnation from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which labeled the appointment as entirely unacceptable. She emphasized that the Cyprus question is a fundamental European issue, noting that the reunification of the European Union's last divided member state would be transformative not only for the island but for the entire Eastern Mediterranean region. According to Raouna, the initiative is designed to support reunification for the benefit of all Cypriots and to improve EU-Turkey relations rather than to take sides.
The Turkish government issued a statement online alleging that the selection process lacked approval from the Turkish Cypriot side. Turkey further described the move as a provocative step that highlights the EU's biased stance, claiming the bloc is attempting to revive a defunct model that serves only to maintain the status quo favored by the Greek Cypriot side. Cyprus has remained divided since 1974, following a Greek-backed coup and the subsequent Turkish military intervention.
The European Commission announced Fitto's appointment on Monday. Commission spokesperson Louise Bogey stated that the role involves engaging with stakeholders to build trust and prepare for a potential resumption of formal reunification negotiations. The primary objective is to reach a lasting solution to the 52-year impasse within the existing UN framework.
This diplomatic friction occurs during a delicate period for EU-Turkey relations. Recently, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for a working dinner following the NATO summit in Ankara. Following the meeting, von der Leyen emphasized the importance of the partnership between Brussels and Ankara and reiterated the need to advance a settlement for the Cyprus issue through the UN-led process, a sentiment aligned with a broader diplomatic effort led by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
