The European Commission is sending Raffaele Fitto to prepare for the resumption of negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus.

The Executive Vice-President of the European Commission will represent the institution in the process conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. Raffaele Fitto will discuss with the parties involved, support confidence-building measures, and work with the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General to prepare for the resumption of negotiations.

The European Commission has appointed Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto as special representative for Cyprus, with the mission to contribute to the reunification process conducted under the auspices of the United Nations. He will seek to prepare for the resumption of negotiations and support dialogue between the parties involved.

In short Raffaele Fitto will represent the European Commission in the international process for resolving the Cyprus issue. His role is to support the negotiations conducted within the framework established by the United Nations, not to replace UN mediation.

Fitto will work closely with María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar, the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Cyprus. The two will coordinate contacts and efforts aimed at preparing the return of the parties to the negotiating table.

The Commission's representative will discuss with all parties and individuals involved in the process. One of his tasks will be to support measures that can build trust ahead of the resumption of political negotiations. The Commission supports a comprehensive, functional, and viable solution based on the resolutions of the UN Security Council. Any agreement must also respect the principles, values, and legislation of the European Union. The appointment does not mean that negotiations have resumed and does not establish a timeline for an agreement. Fitto must first prepare the ground for the return to negotiations and support efforts to bring the parties closer together. Raffaele Fitto will add the Cyprus file to his responsibilities as Executive Vice-President of the European Commission. The Commission presents him as its representative in the resolution process and asks him to contribute to preparing a new stage of negotiations.

The process will continue under the framework of the United Nations. This is the international structure in which negotiations regarding the reunification of Cyprus are conducted, and the European Commission will have a supportive and cooperative role.

Fitto will work with María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar, the personal envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Cyprus. Cooperation between the two must avoid the emergence of parallel processes and coordinate European involvement with UN efforts.

The first announced task is to prepare the ground for the resumption of negotiations. The Commission did not specify when these might begin or whether the parties have already agreed on a new timeline.

Fitto is set to hold discussions with all parties and relevant individuals. The formulation includes political and institutional actors who need to be involved for negotiations to be resumed.

The Commission also assigns him a role in building trust. Such measures are intended to enable cooperation in concrete areas and reduce tensions ahead of negotiations on a comprehensive political solution.

The stated objective is the reunification of Cyprus through a functional and viable agreement. The Commission does not propose a new model for resolution in the statement and does not announce a change to the existing framework. The solution must respect the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council. The Commission also calls for compatibility with the principles, values, and legislation of the European Union, as Cyprus is a member state of the EU. Fitto will use his experience in European governance, regional cooperation, and institutional dialogue. The Commission has not announced a separate team, budget, or fixed duration for the mandate.

The designation shows that the institution seeks a more direct political involvement in supporting the UN-led process. The power to negotiate and accept an agreement remains with the parties involved, and the resumption of discussions depends on their willingness.

The next steps will consist of consultations with relevant interlocutors and coordination with the UN envoy. The Commission has not set a date for the resumption of negotiations or for presenting results.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/news/comisia-europeana-il-trimite-pe-raffaele-fitto-sa-pregateasca-reluarea-negocierilor-pentru-reunificarea-ciprului