President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides presented on Friday the Cypriot initiative concerning the implementation of the Gaza Agreement during a videoconference of the heads of state and government of the European People’s Party (EPP), which also included the Presidents of the European Commission and the European Parliament. The meeting was held ahead of the European Council summit scheduled for October 23.
According to a written statement by Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis, the discussion focused on the issues on the agenda of the upcoming European Council, including the latest regional developments. Emphasis was placed on the agreement reached on Gaza and its signing at the Peace Summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, as well as on matters of European defence, security and competitiveness.
President Christodoulides gave an overview of the recent developments in the Middle East, underlining the importance of the Gaza Agreement and the need for its swift and full implementation, based on the 20-point plan presented by the President of the United States.
He also outlined Cyprus’s six-point initiative, proposed by the Republic of Cyprus during the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit and previously shared with the President of the European Commission during a telephone conversation on October 12.
The President of the European Commission thanked the Republic of Cyprus for the document outlining the Cypriot initiative and expressed her intention to include it on the agenda of the upcoming MED9 Summit, which will take place in Slovenia on October 20, it is added.
The six points of the Cypriot initiative are structured around three dimensions – humanitarian aspect, security, and reconstruction – and are designed to contribute to the implementation of specific aspects of the US President’s 20-point plan, the statement reads.
President Christodoulides said he would present the Cypriot initiative to the leaders of the EU member states at the European Council meeting, pointing out the key role the European Union must play in the next phase of the Agreement’s implementation. He also expressed confidence that the upcoming Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, during the first half of 2026, can substantially contribute to strengthening the EU’s role in the region, including the implementation of the Agreement.
On the topic of EU defence and security, the President welcomed the initiatives already undertaken and stressed the importance of further targeted actions. He underlined that strengthening defence and security is a national priority for the Republic of Cyprus, noting the significant initiatives already underway using EU instruments and programmes, such as the SAFE Mechanism. He added that Cyprus is taking all necessary steps to fully utilise the funds secured under the programme.
Regarding competitiveness, President Christodoulides welcomed the European Commission’s simplification packages, which will be a focus of work during the Cypriot EU Presidency.
He also referred to the housing issue, which affects all EU member states and has been identified as a national priority for Cyprus. He informed participants about the initiatives already implemented at the national level and announced Nicosia’s intention to convene an informal Council of Ministers in Cyprus dedicated specifically to this issue during the Cypriot Presidency.