The European Commission is seeking to link a potential upgrade of the EU–Turkey Customs Union to the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus issue, using a longstanding economic demand by Ankara as a diplomatic incentive.
According to information obtained by the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), European Commission Executive Vice-President and EU Special Representative for Cyprus Raffaele Fitto will present the proposal to Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan during a visit to Ankara on November 20.
The EU proposal concerns the opening of discussions on upgrading the Customs Union, rather than an immediate upgrade, and is conditional on the resumption of negotiations on the Cyprus issue.
The initiative was discussed on November 11 on the sidelines of COP31 in Antalya, during talks between President Nikos Christodoulides and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
According to the same information, von der Leyen also informed UN Secretary-General António Guterres of Fitto’s upcoming visit. Guterres is reportedly seeking to resume negotiations before the end of his term. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is also reported to have played a mediating role in arranging the visit to Ankara.
On the sidelines of COP31, Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman met briefly and shook hands. According to CNA, an intervention by EU Ambassador to Turkey Aivo Orav prevented the use of the designation “South Cyprus” on signage identifying the Cypriot delegation.
Christodoulides and von der Leyen had also agreed to leave the official group photograph together if Erhürman participated, but he ultimately did not take part.
Source: Kathimerini Cyprus
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