Cyprus Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos visited Berlin and took place in the Ministerial Conference "A bigger, stronger Union – making the European Union fit for enlargement and candidate countries fit for membership".

The Conference was hosted by German FM Annalena Baerbock with whom Kombos discussed the situation in the Middle East and Cyprus' initiative for a maritime humanitarian corridor to Gaza. The two FMs also discussed about EU-Turkey relations and the Cyprus issue.

An MFA press release says that during his intervention in a debate, under the theme "Reforming the EU", the Minister noted that the EU is called upon to reform the way it operates in the midst of the challenges we are experiencing in the geopolitical environment. He pointed out that EU reform must go ahead, stressing the need for realistic expectations.

Regarding the respect of fundamental rights and the principles and values of the Union in an enlarged EU, Kombos referred to the need for strict adherence to the Copenhagen criteria by the acceding countries, stressing the importance of strengthening and expanding the tools that the EU has in its hands, such as the Dialogue on the Rule of Law, and in relation to candidate countries.

During his stay in the German capital, the Minister of Foreign Affairs met with his counterpart Annalena Baerbock. There was an exchange of views on the latest developments in the Middle East, with the discussion focusing on the initiative of Cyprus to create a safe and sustainable maritime humanitarian corridor from Cyprus to Gaza, but also on the role of Cyprus as a factor of stability in the region.

A discussion was also held in relation to EU-Turkey relations and the Cyprus issue, during which the Minister of Foreign Affairs informed his German counterpart about the latest developments.

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.