Nikos Hristodulidis, the President of Cyprus, extended an invitation to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to participate in discussions related to upcoming European Union meetings, according to statements released in late December 2025 and January 2026. The invitations are linked to Cyprus’s upcoming presidency of the EU Council, scheduled to commence in the first half of 2026.
Hristodulidis initially announced his intention to invite Erdoğan and Fidan in December, framing the potential participation as crucial for discussions surrounding the EU’s agenda. He specifically mentioned a planned regional summit focused on the Middle East, stating, “Erdoğan will certainly be invited to this summit,” as reported by Cumhuriyet newspaper on June 30, 2025. The president emphasized that Turkey, as a neighbor to Cyprus, would inevitably be involved in regional discussions.
However, subsequent reports indicate that the initial response from the Turkish side was not positive. Speaking to SKAI television on January 21, 2026, Hristodulidis acknowledged the lukewarm reception, but affirmed that Cyprus would continue its efforts to foster positive developments. “The Turkish side’s first response was not positive, but we will continue our efforts for positive developments,” he stated, according to Haberkibris.
The invitations come as Cyprus prepares to assume the EU Council presidency, a role Hristodulidis described as a “national duty” for a small member state. During a meeting with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Lefkosia, Hristodulidis outlined key priorities for the presidency, including strengthening the EU’s strategic autonomy and enhancing capacity in areas such as entrepreneurship, security, and migration. Metsola, in turn, stated that “the Cyprus issue is similarly a problem for Europe,” signaling European Parliament support for a resolution to the ongoing dispute.
Hristodulidis also highlighted Cyprus’s ambition to act as a bridge between the EU and the United States during its presidency. This role was emphasized in a statement following a meeting with Metsola, where he noted that Cyprus would seek to facilitate cooperation between the two blocs. The potential for Cyprus to serve as a diplomatic hub is further underscored by the planned regional summit on the Middle East, which aims to address issues of regional stability.
As of late January 2026, it remains unclear whether Erdoğan will accept the invitation to the planned summit in April 2026. The Turkish president has not previously visited the Greek Cypriot administration.
