Erhurman rejects EU role in Cyprus talks and sets conditions for engagement

Politics Cyprus problemTop NewsTufan Erhurmanturkey Erhurman rejects EU role in Cyprus talks and sets conditions for engagement E39a6774 1536x1024 (1) Relevant News Erhurman rejects EU role in Cyprus talks and sets conditions for engagement 7 August 2026 Christodoulides uses cabinet reshuffle to reinforce centre-right agenda ahead of 2028 7 August 2026 The story behind the song ‘Limassol’ and four other Cyprus-linked tracks 7 August 2026 Andreas Bimbishis 7 August 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber Tufan Erhurman rejected a formal role for the European Union in negotiations on the Cyprus issue, saying the bloc must address a series of concerns affecting Turkish Cypriots before confidence between the two sides could improve. Speaking in an interview with a Turkish Cypriot media outlet, Erhurman argued that the EU could not act impartially in the Cyprus negotiations because the Republic of Cyprus is an EU member state with veto powers. He nevertheless said the bloc could assume responsibility for a range of issues affecting the daily lives of Turkish Cypriots. Among the issues he said the EU should address were obstacles to the Green Line Regulation, restoring the Direct Trade Regulation to the EU agenda, what he described as concerns over the impact of the Schengen area, and what he described as the loss of rights experienced by younger Turkish Cypriots. Erhurman argued that EU institutions had deepened mistrust by failing to take Turkish Cypriots into account. As examples, he cited European Parliament resolutions which, he said, referred only to missing Greek Cypriots, and the decision of an EU rapporteur preparing a report on the events of 1974 to hold meetings only in areas under the control of the Republic of Cyprus. “There is a need for confidence-building measures between the EU and the Turkish Cypriot people because these practices undermine trust in the EU.” Erhurman said the Turkish side did not accept the EU as one of the parties to the Cyprus negotiations because, in his words, the “south of Cyprus” was an EU member. “The south of Cyprus has veto power.” He argued that this made it impossible for the EU to act impartially, while adding that it could nevertheless take responsibility for many issues affecting the everyday lives of Turkish Cypriots. Erhurman also acknowledged that his position was aligned with that of Turkey, with which he said he remained in consultation. His remarks followed an initial refusal to meet European Commission Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto before he later reversed his position and held talks with him in the north. According to the article, the initial refusal reflected the long-standing Turkish position opposing a formal EU role in the Cyprus issue. Despite his criticism of the EU’s role in the negotiations, Erhurman said he intended to travel to Brussels and other European capitals because, he said, there were numerous problems and rights violations affecting Turkish Cypriots that he wanted to raise. On the recent visit by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Erhurman said Guterres had secured the agreement of both sides and the three guarantor powers to hold a new expanded five-plus-one meeting, provided the necessary preparatory work was completed first. He added that this would not mean negotiations would automatically resume from the point at which they ended at Crans-Montana. According to reports in the Turkish Cypriot press, Erhurman also referred to agreements between the Republic of Cyprus and Israel, France and the United States, while defending what he described as Turkey’s rights in the eastern Mediterranean. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Christodoulides uses cabinet reshuffle to reinforce centre-right agenda ahead of 2028 The story behind the song ‘Limassol’ and four other Cyprus-linked tracks Weekend guide: Cocktails, beach dining and stargazing under the Troodos sky More than one-third of ambulance workload involved non-urgent transfers, report finds 40 degree peak and yellow weather warning for Friday Spy case extradition hearing delayed again after Azerbaijani interpreter fails to appear Teen arrested over suspected arson at historic Corner Pub in Nicosia Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.