Nicosia, Cyprus. European Commission envoy Raffaele Fitto will engage with both communities in Cyprus as part of efforts to prepare the ground for the resumption of negotiations, commission spokeswoman Louise Bogey said on Tuesday. The European Union remains strongly committed to the reunification of Cyprus, she said.
Engagement with stakeholders
Bogey said Fitto will engage with all relevant stakeholders and counterparts to support the establishment of trust among the parties.
“This includes, in particular, both communities in Cyprus,” she said.
Fitto will contribute to the solution process in close cooperation with United Nations envoy Maria Angela Holguin, Bogey added.
Commission assessment
Commission deputy chief spokesman Olof Gill described Fitto as a highly experienced senior politician with extensive experience in governance, regional cooperation and institutional dialogue.
“He was appointed for a specific reason. We believe he possesses the necessary skills and experience to move the process forward,” Gill said.
Current role and previous statements
Unlike his predecessor, Austrian diplomat Johannes Hahn, Fitto is a current member of the European Union’s college of commissioners. He was appointed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as executive vice president for cohesion in 2024.
In that role, Fitto oversees, among other responsibilities, the Commission’s directorate-general for regional and urban policy, DG-Regio, which operates the Cyprus settlement support unit.
Speaking to the European Parliament in November last year in his capacity as cohesion commissioner, Fitto said the EU recognises only the Republic of Cyprus as a subject of international law and has repeatedly stated that reunification is the only solution for Cyprus.
Turkish Cypriot leadership
Despite belonging to the European Conservatives and Reformists group, the same European political grouping as Elam, Fitto praised Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman.
He said the change in leadership in the Turkish Cypriot community could open a new window of opportunity to move forward.
Fitto also said the Commission is continuing work on the ground to create conditions for future reunification, with the aim of fostering engagement, cooperation and inclusion between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.