European Commission President Ursula von den Leyen visited on Thursday the buffer zone in the divided capital of Cyprus, Nicosia, writing on X afterwards that it was a “moving visit” and noting that “a comprehensive, fair and lasting settlement for Cyprus and for all Cypriots remains an absolute priority for the EU.”

Von den Leyen who is in Cyprus on a College of the Commissioners’ visit, as the divided island holds the current EU Presidency, was accompanied by President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides.

During her stay in the area, the President of the European Commission visited an exhibition of the Press and Information Office titled “Cyprus Question” and had the opportunity to listen to Cypriot songs performed by a choir of students from the Pancyprian High School.

She toured the streets of the walled-in city and spoke with shopkeepers in the area.

The President of the Commission was accompanied by Titina Loizidou, a refugee from Kyrenia, who won an appeal against Turkey at the European Court of Human Rights for deprivation of her property and the right to return.

Von der Leyen, the President of the Republic and their delegation had their coffee at a café in the area of Faneromeni church, a historical church in the capital.

Von den Leyen posted on her X account that this was a very moving visit to the Green Line in Nicosia.

”I want to be clear. A comprehensive, fair and lasting settlement for Cyprus and for all Cypriots remains an absolute priority for the EU. So I hope that 2026 will bring new momentum towards the reunification of Cyprus”, she posted.

FM Constantinos Kombos, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna and Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis accompanied EC Head and President Christodoulides.