Austrian chancellor agrees with EU role for Cyprus (Updated)

President Nikos Christodoulides and Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer agreed on Wednesday on the importance of the EU taking a more active role at the negotiating table once Cyprus talks resume.

“Cyprus is an EU member state, it is in the EU’s interest to ensure that reunified Cyprus will remain a viable and fully functional EU partner,” Nehammer said.

“EU membership constitutes the best guarantee for the security and prosperity of Cyprus and all its people.”

Christodoulides was in Vienna and a working lunch with Nehammer where, according to an official announcement, they discussed the Cyprus issue, bilateral relations, and other matters on the European agenda.

In particular, they held extensive discussions on the continued effort to resume negotiations for a comprehensive settlement on the Cyprus problem, in accordance with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with EU law, values and principles.

On bilateral relations, Christodoulides and Nehammer discussed ways to further enhance and expand ties in several areas, including security, education, tourism, digital transformation and culture.

Moreover, as the two EU member states with the highest amount of asylum requests per capita, they also discussed illegal migration, which a joint statement called “a major challenge that requires a European response addressing both the specific needs of member states, as well as the root causes of migratory flows.”

Finally, the two leaders reaffirmed their unwavering support to the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and the importance of continued EU support to the country, for as long as necessary.

Accompanying him in the visit are government spokesperson Constantinos Letymbiotis, the head of the president’s office Marilena Raouna and the director of the president’s press office Victoras Papadopoulos.