Nicosia, Cyprus. The European Union’s 26 commissioners toured the Green Line separating Cyprus’ two sides in Nicosia’s old town on Friday. The visit was led by European Affairs Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna and Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos.
Tour led by Cypriot officials
The commissioners were guided around the area by Raouna and Kombos, as well as other ministers. The tour concluded with the commissioners being offered Cypriot coffee and zivania, among other Cypriot delicacies.
Commissioners’ reactions
Fisheries commissioner Costas Kadis, a Cypriot national, said his colleagues “are seeing in practice what is happening in Cyprus, what it means to live in a divided homeland, what it means for a European country to have a divided capital”.
“I would say that they did not believe what they were seeing. That is, they did not believe how intense what people experienced here in Cyprus was,” he said.
Transport commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikkostas congratulated the Cypriot government for choosing to show the college of commissioners the Green Line, saying it “sent a loud and strong message that we will each fight and battle until we achieve a just and sustainable solution for our Cyprus”.
He said the visit would allow “everyone to understand clearly that right now, in 2026, there is still a member state of the European Union which is under occupation”.
“This is unacceptable and we all must fight with all our might to achieve this, to achieve a just and sustainable solution,” he said.
Cyprus EU Council presidency
Tzitzikkostas described Cyprus’ six-month term as the holder of the Council of the European Union’s rotating presidency as “a very important six months for our Cyprus”.
“I am certain that the Cyprus presidency will be crowned with success and that it is also an opportunity during these six months to highlight this very important message and problem for all of Europe,” he said, adding that the island will “be at the forefront of Europe” during its six-month term.
Impact on efforts to address the Cyprus problem
Asked whether he believes the tour will aid the EU in “exerting more pressure” to solve the Cyprus problem, Tzitzikkostas said he is certain it will, “because, believe me, speaking with them, no one had understood the magnitude of the problem”.
What do you think the commissioners’ visit will change in the EU’s approach to the Cyprus problem?