We are working hard in order to make 2026 the year of Schengen for Cyprus,” Greek Cypriot leader , Nikos Christodoulides, said, during his meeting with the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia on Saturday morning.
On her part Metsola, who is paying Cyprus a working visit at the invitation of Christodoulides on the occasion of Europe Day and ahead of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, during the first six months of 2026, reassured the President that the European Parliament will be “as always” by Cyprus’ side.
She noted that this is her fourth visit to Cyprus since the assumption of her duties as President of the European Parliament and added that, in fact, Cyprus is the EU member-state she has visited the most during this time.
Christodoulides thanked Metsola for the acceptance of his invitation to exchange views with the youth of Cyprus. He also noted that this visit is merely eight months before the assumption of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
“We are working intensively in order to have an ambitious, result-oriented presidency that will lead us closer to more integration, a more autonomous European Union, the European Parliament has a vital role to play and I’m certain that we will work together for a successful presidency,” he said.
He also spoke of EU’s potential role in the efforts to resume negotiations for the Cyprus problem. “The European Union has a very important role to play,” he said and added that “it has the tools in order to lead us to a successful outcome. And I wanted to thank you for your clear position and long-lasting support”.
Concluding, he said that” we’re working hard in order to make 2026 the year of Schengen for Cyprus,” noting that 2026 is going to be 40 years since Schengen. “We rely on your support not just for It reaching this strategic goal for Cyprus and the EU,” he added.
On her part the President of the European Parliament, among other things, expressed on behalf of herself
and the institution she represents the commitment “towards your leadership and towards the very bright future that we can work together towards.”
Metsola noted that “last year, Cypriots went to very large numbers to vote in the European Parliament elections, and that we see as a commitment of membership in the EU, as a belief in the fact that solutions can be found at the European level, and that Cyprus and its citizens feel part of the Union as integral citizens”.
“From our end, you know that the European parliament will stand always by your side,” Metsola said, thanking the President for the attempts towards resolving the Cyprus problem and reaffirming her support “with regards to making sure that we work within the U.N. Framework for a bi-zoned and bi-communal integration.”
“I look forward also to discussing this with young people here today, as I’ m sure that that is going to be one of the questions, as will of course be opportunities,” she added.
Metsola also spoke of the upcoming assumption of the European Council Presidency by Cyprus. “We are very much looking forward to your presidency,” she said. “Our countries have been in the European Union now for 21 years, and I think we can no longer call ourselves new member states,” she continued and added that “we can see that the experience that you bring, also throughout your career as representing Cyprus but now as its head of state, will bring a breath of fresh air in the way the presidency is run, in the way priorities are chosen and in the ways they are delivered”.
On Schengen Metsola reassured Christodoulides that the European Parliament will be “as always” by Cyprus’ side. “We will support, we will be vocal in doing so, and we will make sure that you will have absolutely no concerns with anybody in the European Parliament in this regard”, she concluded.
( Source:CNA )
