After the completion of the 2nd Cyprus-Greece Intergovernmental Summit, a joint communique was issued.
The leaders of the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to the institutionalisation of intergovernmental meetings, which contributes to ensuring stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and further strengthens the bilateral cooperation between Greece and Cyprus.
In the joint communique, it is noted, among other things, that there was a discussion on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue and the cooperation of the two countries in a number of sectors.

“On November 27, 2024, the President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulidis and the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic Kyriakos Mitsotakis co-chaired the 2nd Intergovernmental Summit of the two countries.
In the midst of an ever-changing geopolitical environment, with wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, the change of administration in the US and the start of the new institutional round in the EU, President Christodoulidis and Prime Minister Mitsotakis reaffirmed their commitment in the institutionalization of intergovernmental meetings, which contributes to ensuring stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and further strengthens the bilateral cooperation between Greece and Cyprus.

The work of this year’s session was primarily concerned with the latest developments in the Cyprus conflict, in a year which marked the 50th anniversary of the illegal invasion and continued occupation by Turkey. The two leaders welcomed the mobilization within the United Nations, the dinner in New York under the Secretary-General on 15 October and his intention to convene a multilateral conference in the near future. The two leaders emphasised once again that the solution to the Cyprus issue can only be based on the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and expressed the expectation that Turkey will contribute substantially to the resumption and conduct of the talks, within the agreed framework, in order to have progress also in Euro-Turkish, in accordance with the Conclusions of the European Council of April 17-18.

The Summit focused particularly on cooperation to improve everyday life and upgrade the quality of life of the citizens of the two countries. In this context, it was decided to expand cooperation to new related areas, such as labour and social policy, to complement the already existing areas of cooperation in education and health.

In the field of Education, the progress achieved was reviewed, which includes the signing of the new cooperation program 2023-2027 and the ratification of the Agreement on the Mutual Academic Recognition of University Degrees.

The important progress in the cooperation between the two states in health matters was recognized, which includes the signing of the agreements concerning the cross-transplantation of kidneys and the transplantation of lungs. In addition, it was agreed to speed up actions for the implementation of the action concerning cooperation in the pharmaceutical market.

In the field of labour and social security, it was decided to strengthen the cooperation and the exchange of know-how and good practices between the competent services of Cyprus and Greece in the matters of the payment of shared pensions, the achievement of the common goal of further strengthening employment, upgrading the necessary skills of human resources and combating undeclared work.

In matters of social policy and welfare, the expansion of intergovernmental cooperation was agreed to strengthen the protection of vulnerable citizens. In this context, it was decided to conclude a Memorandum of Cooperation in the areas of family support, benefit policy for vulnerable social groups, support for people with disabilities and their families, as well as child protection.

In terms of digital policy, significant progress was made in the development of the Cypriot application of the Digital Citizen through the transfer of know-how from the Greek side in the context of the implementation of the relevant agreement signed between the two sides.

In the field of energy, the significant progress made in promoting the implementation of the Cyprus-Crete electrical interconnection project, Great Sea Interconnector, with the signing of the Framework of Understanding between the two competent ministries and the next steps, was discussed. Satisfaction was also expressed for the interest shown in participating in the project by investment funds from various countries. At the same time, it was decided to strengthen cooperation in the issues of the operation of the competitive market, natural gas and RES.

It was also decided to cooperate on environment and climate change issues, with an emphasis on the exchange of know-how on a number of issues, among which the development and management of water resources and the voluntary carbon market mechanism stand out. In addition, the significant progress of civil protection actions, such as the emergency number 112 and the utilisation of Cyclops training center programs, was recognized. The excellent cooperation in the repatriation of nationals of the two countries from Lebanon last October was also welcomed.

In the field of justice, the exchange of know-how was agreed on matters of judicial reform, fighting corruption and strengthening the rule of law, while in tax policy, the fight against tax evasion. The signing of the memorandum of cooperation in the fields of preventing and combating violence against women last October was also welcomed.

Regarding the cooperation of the two states in public administration and governance, it was decided to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus and the Office of the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic for the transfer of know-how from the Greek side, with the aim of creating a Long-Term Planning Unit (Foresight) at the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus.

In the defence sector, the establishment of a Political Body for Consultation and Interoperability was discussed and the joint use of European tools for innovative initiatives in defence industry issues was considered. In addition, multilateral security and defence cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean was examined.

In matters of research and innovation, support for the joint program for funding research and innovation projects through the call for proposals that has just recently been announced by the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation and the Greek General Secretariat for Research and Innovation was reaffirmed, as well as the expansion of possibility of cooperation for the creation of a Cypriot platform on the basis of the Greek Elevate Greece with subsequent development of interoperability of the two information systems for the benefit of both businesses of the two States. Furthermore, it was decided to cooperate at the European level to create artificial intelligence infrastructures.

In the shipping sector, the significant progress achieved in the promotion of maritime education, the exchange of know-how regarding the digitization of services of the registers of the two countries, the creation of prospects for the sustainable operation of the Cyprus-Greece maritime passenger link was confirmed as well as the competitiveness of European shipping, through the joint actions and initiatives that have been carried out. It was agreed, the further strengthening of cooperation through the working groups that have been set up.

As far as Culture is concerned, a review was made of the progress achieved, which includes the signing of the first Agreement between Cyprus and Greece in the field of Culture, and ways of strengthening cooperation in matters related to the illegal trafficking of cultural goods were discussed, in capturing the socio-economic impact of Culture through studies and rational development of resources,
as well as ways to strengthen the relations in the context of European and international cooperation, both between the two countries and with their partners in Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.

In addition, on the basis of the Memorandum of Cooperation signed on 18/10/2021 between the two states with the aim of implementing infrastructure projects for the reconstruction and upgrading of the areas of Eastern Attica affected by the wildfires in 2018, the possibility of the remainder of the sponsorship of of the Republic of Cyprus to be allocated for the partial coverage of infrastructure projects.

Finally, it was agreed that the next Intergovernmental Summit should take place in Greece in 2025, with a topic that will be mutually determined.”

PM Mitsotakis: We remain steadfast in matters of sovereignty, compliance with international law and the law of the sea

“The two countries are aligning their national aspirations. This second intergovernmental meeting is a special event”, stressed Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in his statements after the completion of the 2nd Greece-Cyprus intergovernmental meeting at the Presidential Mansion in Nicosia on Wednesday.
“My friend Nikos and I had set the goal from our first meetings to strengthen the close relationship between Greece and Cyprus and to give it an institutional character. These are discussions of substance and not communication,”Mitsotakis said.

He referred to some of the areas in which there is close cooperation. In education with the mutual recognition of academic courses and with the prime minister estimating that “the great leap that Greece is making by attracting branches of foreign universities, will find interest from Cypriot institutions”. In health with joint drug purchases and cooperation in transplants, in civil protection where there is good cooperation at the operational level and this extends to the formation of European policy towards the climate crisis. Also, in digital governance where Greece offers expertise in issues related to digital transactions and in relation to business and citizen relations with the state.

On the energy, he spoke of  the strategic project of the electrical interconnection of the two countries. “A project that also enjoys strong European support”, he pointed out and also talked about cooperation on environmental issues.

On the major geopolitical challenges, Mitsotakis said that Greece and Cyprus are pillars of stability and security and acquire more and more stronger voice. He expressed his satisfaction with the truce that seems to have been reached in southern Lebanon and noted that Greece and Cyprus are fighting from the very beginning so that the crisis does not take on the characteristics of a regional flare-up. The prime minister spoke of a positive development and wished for a corresponding truce in the Gaza Strip.

Regarding developments in the Cyprus issue, he stated that there is a favourable dynamic for the resumption of talks. “We have signs of progress. Our constant pursuit is the fair and sustainable solution based on the decisions of the UN Security Council. Greece will be a non-permanent member in the two years 2025-2026 and it is an opportunity to bring the national rights of the divided Cyprus to the international spotlight. There is absolute alignment of the two governments”, he stressed.

He also stated that the good climate in Greek-Turkish relations does not imply a change in Turkiye’s positions. “We remain steadfast in matters of sovereignty, compliance with international law and the law of the sea. Anyone who has strong arguments should not hesitate to present them in public honest debate. We face with confidence the calm waters in Greek-Turkish relations, in the perspective that calm horizons will also open”, he underlined.

He pointed out that Turkiye-EU relations are also examined through the attitude of the neighbouring country towards Greece and Cyprus and that there is a strict framework of criteria that Ankara must fulfill, among which is its attitude towards the Cyprus issue.

The prime minister called the 2nd Greece-Cyprus intergovernmental meeting productive and said he is looking forward to the 3rd meeting next year in Athens.
On his part Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides stated “I am particularly satisfied not only for the institutionalisation of intergovernmental cooperation and the presence of so many ministers, but more for the important and tangible things that have emerged”. Christodoulides stated that the long-term cooperation between the two countries is expanding for the benefit of the societies.