The Cyprus problem, immigration, competitiveness and EU priorities were discussed in the meeting held on Wednesday between the President of the Republic with the newly-elected President of the European Council.

A written statement by Director of the Press Office of the President of the Republic, Viktoras Papadopoulos, regarding the working lunch between the Cypriot President and the newly elected President of the European Council, states that President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, had a private meeting with the next President of the European Council on Wednesday, Antonio Costa, who will assume his duties on the 1st of December and is making a tour of the capitals of the EU Member States before the start of his term.

Furthermore, it is noted that Costa is discussing with the leaders the working methods of the European Council and the priorities of the member states for the next institutional cycle.

At noon, the President of the Republic hosted a working lunch for Costa, in the coastal town of Larnaca. Both during their private meeting at the Presidential Palace and during the working lunch- in addition to the working methods of the European Council and the priorities that the Republic of Cyprus has for the next institutional period- the Cyprus issue was also discussed.

The written statement says that President Christodoulides briefed on the latest developments in the national problem, following the dinner between the President, the Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar and the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in New York. He referred to the decisions of the European Council last April, which say that any progress in the EU- Turkey relations is clearly linked to the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem.

Regarding the working methods of the European Council, the President of the Republic expressed the positions of the Republic of Cyprus and made recommendations, stressing that we should have a Europe that is more strategically autonomous, more competitive and better equipped and flexible, to face immediate and future challenges.

On the priorities for the new institutional cycle of the 2024-2029 strategic agenda, the President of the Republic underlined that the priorities should be to strengthen the EU's international role, strengthen its security and strengthen its strategic autonomy and the competitiveness of the Union. The President of the Republic also emphasized that the goal of this strategic agenda for the next five years should be the consolidation of the green and digital transition.

Immigration was also one of the topics of discussion. President Christodoulides pointed out that it should continue to concern the EU during the new institutional cycle, and noted that a strategic discussion should be held on the situation in Syria as soon as possible, since this issue affects a number of EU policies and in particular Migration.

President Christodoulides also said that, alongside continuing EU support to Ukraine, special emphasis should be placed on the Southern Neighborhood and the Middle East, with the EU taking on a more leading role.

Regarding Competitiveness, which will be the dominant issue within the EU in the coming period, the President of the Republic outlined the positions of the Cypriot Government for the reduction of dependencies, the reduction of the administrative burden, the deepening of the new market, the support of small and medium enterprises and connectivity in shipping, electrical and digital connections, the press statement concludes.