**EU Set to Name New Envoy for Cyprus Problem**
The European Commission is poised to announce a new envoy for the Cyprus problem, according to President Nikos Christodoulides. This statement was made on Thursday as he arrived at the ongoing summit of EU leaders in Brussels. The two-day European Council is scheduled to conclude on Friday.
During a press briefing, President Christodoulides indicated that discussions regarding potential candidates for the role have taken place. He noted, “We shall have a new appointment on the part of the European Union. Today we discussed some names, subsequent to previous discussions, and very soon the President of the Commission [Ursula von der Leyen], having gone through the necessary internal deliberations, will make a public announcement.”
The position of the EU special envoy for the Cyprus problem has been vacant since the resignation of former European Commissioner Johannes Hahn in March 2026. The European Commission is actively seeking a replacement to facilitate coordination with the United Nations and to help resume negotiations aimed at the reunification of the island.
In his remarks, Christodoulides emphasized the EU's critical role in the ongoing efforts to revive peace talks regarding Cyprus. He stated that the EU has “the most decisive role” in the current initiative to bring about a resumption of negotiations. The last significant attempt at direct talks on a Cyprus settlement ended without success in the summer of 2017.
The appointment of a new envoy is seen as a crucial step in addressing the longstanding division of Cyprus and fostering dialogue between the involved parties. The island has been divided since 1974, following a Turkish invasion prompted by a coup aimed at uniting Cyprus with Greece. Since then, various attempts at negotiation have been made, but a comprehensive settlement has yet to be achieved.
The upcoming announcement from the European Commission is anticipated to be a pivotal moment in the EU's involvement in the Cyprus issue, as it seeks to reinvigorate discussions that have stalled for several years. As the situation develops, the international community will be watching closely to see how the new envoy will approach the complexities of the Cyprus problem and work towards a peaceful resolution.