The MED9 group needs to be further strengthened in order to enhance the voice of Mediterranean EU member states, the French Minister Delegate for European Affairs Benjamin Haddad and Cyprus’ Deputy Minister for European Affairs European Marilena Raouna, agreed on Thursday. During a bilateral meeting, Haddad also expressed support to Nicosia’s efforts to resume Cyprus settlement talks.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the MED9 Meeting of the EU Ministers and State Secretaries for EU Affairs, which took place on the 2nd and 3d of October, in Nicosia, an announcement issued here today says.

The two sides reaffirmed the excellent level of their relations, and the close cooperation Cyprus and France have on a wide range of issues, while exchanging views on the prospects of further enhancing and deepening relations, the announcement adds.

The Deputy Minister thanked her French counterpart on the steady principled position of France on the Cyprus issue and referred to the efforts by Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides to resume settlement talks on the basis of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, it is noted. “From his part Haddad expressed full support to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus and to efforts by the President of the Republic” to resume talks, the announcement adds.

Important issues dominating the European agenda, such as the new institutional cycle of the EU, enlargement, EU competitiveness, migration and the new Multiannual Financial Framework, were also discussed. In this framework, they agreed to further enhance cooperation with the EU, ahead of the Cyprus EU Presidency in the first term of 2026.

“The two Ministers also agreed that the MED9 configuration needs to be further strengthened in order to enhance the voice of Mediterranean member states within the EU and face common challenges” it is added.

Regional developments were also part of the discussion, with Raouna informing her French counterpart that the Republic of Cyprus is ready to evacuate citizens from crisis zones in the region, in line with the “Estia” plan. The two Ministers also reaffirmed their full support to Ukraine in the face of Russia’s aggression.

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. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.