Christodoulides to Europe: “The EU Has All the Tools to Solve Cyprus”

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides delivered a highly symbolic and politically charged address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, sending a clear message: the Cyprus problem is not a frozen regional dispute, but a European responsibility.

His visit, marked by a formal welcome with the Cypriot national anthem and the EU’s “Ode to Joy”, went beyond protocol. It was a carefully staged political signal aimed at placing the Cyprus issue firmly back at the heart of the European agenda.

“Europe has the tools – what’s needed is political will”

Addressing MEPs, Christodoulides stated unequivocally that the European Union possesses all the institutional, diplomatic and political instruments required to contribute decisively to a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem.

“Cyprus knows from first hand experience what insecurity means,” he said, stressing that sovereignty, territorial integrity and respect for international law are not abstract principles, but lived realities for EU member states.

The subtext was unmistakable: a divided EU member state undermines the credibility of Europe’s foreign and security policy.

Symbolism with intent

The decision to combine the Cypriot national anthem with the European anthem inside the hemicycle was widely read as a deliberate act of political messaging. It framed Cyprus not as a peripheral issue, but as an integral part of the European project, whose unresolved status exposes the limits of EU strategic autonomy.

In Brussels and Strasbourg corridors, diplomats noted that this was not a ceremonial flourish, but a reminder that European unity is tested where Europe hesitates to act.

Cyprus Presidency and broader ambitions

Christodoulides also outlined the priorities of Cyprus’ upcoming EU Council Presidency, placing emphasis on:

• Security and defense
• Strategic autonomy
• Competitiveness and resilience
• EU enlargement
• A stronger global European role

These priorities align closely with the growing debate in Europe over how independent the EU can – or should – be in an era of geopolitical fragmentation, war in Ukraine and renewed transatlantic uncertainty.

The political subtext

Behind the formal language, the message was sharp:

• Cyprus is positioning itself as a credible European stakeholder, not a passive agenda-taker.
• The EU is being gently but firmly reminded that neutrality and inaction are also political choices.
• And the Cyprus problem is framed as a test case for Europe’s strategic maturity.

In a period when Europe speaks increasingly about values, autonomy and global responsibility, Christodoulides’ intervention asked an uncomfortable question: Can the EU claim geopolitical relevance while one of its own member states remains divided?

The Strasbourg appearance was not just a speech, but a strategic intervention. By blending symbolism, institutional language and geopolitical realism, Christodoulides sought to reframe Cyprus as a European issue demanding European answers.

Whether Brussels will move from tools to action remains the open question.

Source: pagenews.gr