Nicosia will be one of the stops on European Council president Antonio Costa’s annual ‘Tour des Capitales’ starting on Tuesday, focusing on defence, competitiveness, enlargement and support towards Ukraine.

Costa is expected to be in Cyprus between September 1 and 4, right after Greece.

The purpose of the contacts is also to hear the views of heads of state and government, particularly regarding the multiannual financial framework and preparations ahead of European councils and international summits.

“These exchanges provide a vital 360-degree view of member states’ priorities and expectations, ensuring that the work of the European Council continues to reflect Europe’s realities,” Costa said in a statement.

On Tuesday, Costa will be meeting with Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava and Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal.

On Wednesday he will be travelling to Riga for a meeting with the Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs, before continuing to Vilnius to meet with the president of Lithuania Gitanas Nausėda.

The last meeting of the week will be on Thursday with prime minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babiš in Prague.

Costa is in Kyiv on Monday to part in the Coalition of the Willing summit representing the EU. Late on Sunday, he met with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham during their train journey to the Ukrainian capital for the 35th anniversary of independence celebrations.