Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are expected to discuss the Cyprus issue, Cyprus’ EU Council Presidency in the first half of 2026, bilateral ties, during a meeting they will have in Berlin, on Friday, reliable sources have said.
The President’s visit in Berlin, they note, ‘constitutes a crucial moment in promoting Cypriot priorities ahead of the EU Council Presidency.’
‘It offers an opportunity of enhancing the bilateral strategic relationship and allows Cyprus to put forward in a clear way its positions on matters which directly affect European security, stability and political cohesion,’ they point out.
The same sources add that Germany constitutes a crucial partner in the planning and the success of the European agenda for Cyprus who is getting ready to assume the EU Council Presidency in the first half of 2026.
The visit, will offer the possibility of coordination with one the most powerful European capitals at a moment when decisions for the EU future, security, enlargement and the EU-Turkey relationship will define Europe’s course for the coming years, they add.
‘The timing of the meeting, two weeks after the German Chancellor’s visit to Ankara is of particular importance,’ they note.
President Christodoulides will be accompanied to the meeting by Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, Cyprus’ Ambassador to Germany Maria Papakyriacou and head of his Diplomatic Office Doros Venezis.
As far the Cyprus issue is concerned, the President is expected to brief Merz of the most recent developments after the new Turkish Cypriot leader assumed his duties and ahead of the visit of UN Secretary General’s Personal Envoy Maria Angela Holguin to Cyprus in the first ten days of December in the framework of preparations for a multilateral meeting.
‘In the context of the European Council’s Conclusions in 2024 about EU – Turkish relations, their clear connection with substantive progress in the Cyprus issue will be stressed and ways of achieving further progress by breaking Turkey’s intransigent stance on the Cyprus issue are expected to be discussed,’ the sources say.
The President is expected to underline, they add, that the solution of the Cyprus problem does not just concern Cyprus but is intrinsically linked with the EU south-eastern borders’ security and stability, while the importance of a more active EU engagement will also be stressed, in particular following the appointment of Johannes Han as EU Envoy.
In the context of the discussion, they say, the Cypriot side would expect to be informed about the outcomes of the visit, while the leading role Turkey has played in circumventing sanctions against Russia, a matter which is very important for European agencies and had been brought up by President Christodoulides in the latest European Council, will be raised.
Referring to the Cypriot Presidency, the sources note that Germany places particular weight in its priorities.
It focuses, they add, on enhancing the European economy’s competitiveness, on the basis of a letter on simplification an initiative of Germany signed by 22 EU leaders including President Christodoulides, as well as on the Multiannual Fiscal Framework which Germany considers a very important matter the Cypriot Presidency will be called upon to manage.
On the Cyprus side, they point out, the MFF’s prioritization and the readiness to have by June a mature negotiating framework with indicative figures, will be confirmed.
At the same time, the Presidency’s key priorities will be presented such as the EU’s strategic autonomy, resilience, the single market’s deepening, energy diversification and enhancing relations with important regions such as the Middle East and the Gulf as well as promoting the enlargement programme.
At the same time, President Christodoulides and Chancellor Merz are expected to discuss bilateral relations and the need to further enhance them.
The sources point out that the ties between the two countries have been significantly enhanced at a political, economic and European level and this is ‘reflected both on a change in Germany’s stance in favour of Cyprus at the Council of Europe as well as on how often there are high level contacts.’ Germany, they say, has in the last two years supported Cyprus in the Council of Europe in particular as regards the matter of property rights of the displaced.
They refer to the excellent defence and security cooperation between Cyprus and Germany, the fact that in 2024 a total of 228,355 German tourists chose Cyprus for their holidays, recording an 8.11% increase on an annual basis, the fact that German presence in the shipping sector in Cyprus is significant as German companies manage about 170 vessels under Cypriot flag, as well as that Cypriot schools will enter the international network PASCH through a German language course.
On immigration, they say, a Joint Action Plan is being implemented with experts provided by Germany and in the context of which there is an exchange of best practices.
During the meeting, the need to further enhancing cooperation in other sectors such as trade, investments, energy and renewables will be put forward, they note.