Nicosia (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The European Council’s President-designate Antonio Costa is to visit Cyprus.
Former Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Costa’s visit comes as a component of a European tour being carried out before he officially takes over from incumbent president Charles Michel in December, with visits to all 27 European Union member states scheduled.
What are the goals of Antonio Costa’s Cyprus visit?
The stated objective of Costa’s visit is to “formulate policies and common practices for the next critical period for the EU’s institutions”. Costa will be received by President Nikos Christodoulides at the presidential palace, where they will hold a private discussion.
What discussions are expected between Costa and Christodoulides?
Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis stated that the Costa will visit Nicosia’s old town and will give a tour along the Green Line, before holding a working lunch with his delegation and one from Cyprus’ government. Letymbiotis expressed the visit “takes place at a time when the EU itself is called upon to define the main preferences of the next period, and also at a time when the United Nations secretary-general [Antonio Guterres] took an initiative intending to resume negotiations on the Cyprus issue.”
To this end, he stated that within Guterres’ plans, “the EU’s supporting role in this new initiative will be decisive and essential”. Costa will officially become European Council President on December 1, having performed for eight and a half years as prime minister of Portugal before his resignation in April. His assignment is his second job within the EU’s institutions, with him having performed as a member of the European parliament and one of its 14 vice presidents for nine months between 2004 and 2005 before being appointed as Portugal’s interior minister.
