Ayia Napa, Cyprus. EU leaders began a two-day informal council in Cyprus on Thursday, with talks focused on the European Union’s strategic and energy autonomy amid current geopolitical developments.
Agenda and venue
“Now is the time, given regional and global developments, to give substance to our common goal for achieving strategic autonomy for the EU,” President Nikos Christodoulides said in his first remarks to the media.
The meeting, which concludes on Friday, brings together EU heads of state or government to discuss issues shaped by current geopolitical developments, primarily the war in the Persian Gulf.
The opening day session was held at the Ayia Napa marina, with meetings set to move to the Filoxenia conference centre in Nicosia on Friday.
Cyprus hosting role and participants
It is the first informal EU Council hosted by Cyprus since the country acceded to the bloc in 2004.
Informal councils are held outside formal summit structures to discuss strategic priorities and geopolitical challenges in a less protocol-heavy setting, and they do not adopt legal acts.
Cyprus is hosting leaders from 24 EU states, along with President of the European Council Antonio Costa and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is also attending.
Statements on Ukraine support and sanctions
In a statement ahead of the meeting, Costa said the EU had taken “two very important steps” to strengthen Ukraine, including “delivering on our €90 billion loan” to support Ukraine this year and next year, and “increasing the pressure on Russia, with our 20th package of sanctions.”
Costa said the next step was “to open formally the first clusters of negotiations for the European accession of Ukraine to the European Union.”
Arrivals
Foreign leaders began arriving at the Ayia Napa venue around 6.30pm and were greeted by Christodoulides.
What do you think the informal council will prioritise next in discussions on strategic autonomy?
