The European Union will be represented at the informal meeting on Cyprus in a broader format that will take place in Geneva next week, European Commission spokesperson Maciej Berestecki said on Thursday, responding to a question of the Cyprus News Agency, during Thursday’s midday briefing in Brussels, without, however, clarifying at which level the EU will be represented.

Berestecki, the European Commission’s spokesperson on cohesion and reforms, welcomed the fact  that this informal summit in a broader format will take place and confirmed “that the EU will be represented at this meeting.”

Asked by CNA about the level at which the EU will be represented, and whether that would be through the presence of a Commissioner, Berestecki said that ”I don’t have any other information that I can share at this stage οn this specific matter”.

The Commission’s chief spokesperson, Paula Pinho, added that “the final name still to be confirmed on our side”.

Responding to a follow-up question on the expectations that the EU and more specifically the Commission has about this meeting and if they have any messages for the interested parties, Berestecki reiterated that “we welcome the organisation of the meeting and we welcome the continuation of the process led by the UN, but I wouldn’t be able to say at this stage what are our expectations yet”.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced an expanded meeting, in Geneva, on March 17 and 18, to exchange views with the Cyprus President and the Turkish Cypriot leader on ways of achieving progress on the Cyprus issue, following their informal dinner on October 15, 2024, in New York. Representatives from Greece, Turkey and the UK are also expected to attend the meeting.