Nicosia, Cyprus. Austrian diplomat Johannes Hahn has resigned as the European Commission’s special envoy for the Cyprus problem, according to a commission spokesperson. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will decide on next steps regarding a potential replacement.
Commission confirms resignation
Commission spokesperson for cohesion Maciej Berestecki said Hahn resigned due to other outstanding commitments. He said the commission respects Hahn’s decision and thanked him for his contribution to the settlement process over the past year.
Next steps to be decided
Berestecki said von der Leyen “will decide on the next steps in due course” regarding the question of appointing a new envoy.
Notifications to Commission and United Nations
The Cyprus News Agency reported that Hahn informed both the European Commission and the United Nations of his decision in a letter.
Resignation follows reported investigation context
Hahn’s resignation comes a month after Belgian police raided properties belonging to the European Commission as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in the sale of real estate assets conducted under Hahn’s watch.
The Financial Times reported that the investigation, being carried out by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO), is centred on the sale of European Union real estate between 2019 and 2024, when Hahn was serving as budget commissioner. The report said the investigation concerns 23 buildings acquired from the EU by the Belgian sovereign wealth fund SFPIM in 2024 for €900 million.
A European Commission spokesperson previously said the commission was aware of the EPPO investigation concerning the sale of 23 commission buildings to the Belgian state in 2024 and said it believed the law had been followed. The spokesperson said the sale followed established procedures and protocols and that the commission was confident the process was conducted in a compliant manner.
Appointment and visits
Hahn was appointed as the commission’s envoy for the Cyprus problem in May last year and visited the island twice, meeting President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on both occasions.
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