European Commission spokesperson for climate, Anna-Kaisa Itkonen, has stressed that ‘the exclusion of a United Nations member state from the preparation process of the UN COP31 climate conference is not acceptable,’ following criticism over the exclusion of the Republic of Cyprus from a preparatory meeting for the COP31 summit held at the United Nations headquarters in New York. The global climate conference is expected to take place at the Antalya Expo Center in Antalya, Turkey, from 9 to 20 November 2026.
Responding, on Thursday, to a question by CNA, during the European Commission’s midday press briefing in Brussels, on whether the exclusion of Cyprus – also in its capacity as the country holding the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU – undermines European representation, Commission spokesperson for climate Anna-Kaisa Itkonen stressed that ‘the exclusion of a United Nations member state from the preparation process of the UN COP31 climate conference is not acceptable.’
Itkonen explained that the Commission had raised concerns regarding the handling of the COP31 briefing organized by Turkey at the United Nations in New York on March 27, during which the Republic of Cyprus ‘was not allocated a seat.’
She noted that ‘Cyprus is a UN member state and also a signatory to the UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement,’ adding that the Commission is ‘in contact with the authorities of Turkey and we have made it clear that the exclusion of a United Nations member state from the preparation process of the UN COP31 climate conference is not acceptable.’
According to Itkonen, ‘Turkey has assured us that Cyprus would not be excluded from future preparatory meetings for COP31.’ She further noted that the Commission is also in contact with the United Nations on the matter, as well as with Australia, which is chairing negotiations for the upcoming COP in Antalya.
Concluding her remarks, she stated that “we trust that the COP31 process will be transparent and inclusive, including all, and then will include all the United Nations member states as well as the parties to the Paris Agreement, and we will continue to very closely follow this issue.’