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So the 3rd visit of the President, the 3rd time we have managed to fix the interpretation,

so this time within the context of the very successful initiative which was begun by the President of the European Council to visit the Member States of the European Union,

given the very important discussions that you are going to have during the following European Council.

Please allow me to begin by publicly Reiterate what I have said before,

namely that I warmly welcome this initiative by President Costa to visit the capitals of all member states.

It's very, very important because we have a discussion about our priorities and especially.

The very important discussions that we have for the following multiannual framework of the European Union,

and I would like to take this opportunity to thank publicly.

The president and the entire Council team For the particularly close and productive cooperation we enjoyed during the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2026 and without their support,

our presidency would not have these positive results, the results for which we are very proud today.

With regard to the discussions that we had, as was expected, we mainly discussed the new multiannual financial framework, which is of crucial importance for the funding of our collective priorities,

the priorities of the European Union in the coming years, and as is well known,

during our Presidency, we presented the first comprehensive negotiating framework.

With figures and secured the Council's agreement on the main funding instrument, which was an essential step, enabling us to now enter the final phase of the discussions, and our common goal,

which I consider both achievable and necessary, is to reach a political agreement by the end of the year,

and within this framework, I outlined to the President.

The priority for Cyprus and the need to reinforce various sectors which reflect the new priorities of the European Union,

such as competitiveness and defense.

Migration and at the same time the important policies of the European Union. Which also touch our citizens as well.

I am talking about the cohesion policy and the common agricultural Policy, and this is a budget that must take into account the specific circumstances of all Member States,

including the small and island states, and I would like to mention that the initiative of the President of the European Council,

the last The event organized by Cyprus was.

Very important and he said that prior to Cyprus' presidency and therefore for the small and insular countries that this should be taken into account. We have discussed Ukraine.

And Cyprus understands very well what the problems in Ukraine.

Of course our positions stances are very clear in respect of the Charter of the United Nations,

and at the same time,

it is important that European support for the country continues,

including a smooth release.

Of the 90 billion package agreed during the Cypriot presidency.

Today we also had a substantive exchange of views with the President on enlargement on which a strategic discussion has taken place.

To the October European Council, and I would like to remind you that the Cypriot Presidency has taken historic steps opening the first set of chapters for Ukraine, and we are going to continue to advance the accession process for Albania and Montenegro,

and I would like to say it in public that the President of the European Council And I will say it publicly,

is the first president of the European Council who understood the importance of the wider region of the Middle East than he did.

I would like to thank you, dear friend, for the importance you pay to the wider.

Area of the Gulf and it is something very important and I would like to welcome your wish to call the 2nd meeting.

Between, Cyprus, Middle East and the Gulf region, and of course, I will be their president, and I would like to remind you that during our presidency the the Secretary General of the Gulf Council was in Cyprus and he was invited,

to, the, event that we have organized with the leaders of the area and Cyprus is as a member state of.

The European Union, which is close to these other countries, excellent relations,

and so we are here to further reinforce your efforts for upgrading the relations between the EU and the countries of the area.

So the area of competitiveness, and the President of the Council, he said,

he is going to repeat this every time we have taken important decisions.

And also the charter for Europe one market, then you have to go into the following stage, that is to say, to implement everything we've discussed in order to put an end to the obstacles in order to have a deep and Market which of course would reinforce the coness of the European Union and another problem migration,

very important issue and if you wish, given the recent issues we've witnessed in Spain and as I said to the president in Cyprus,

we are very, very proud of the results I mean with regard to migration we have achieved.

A reduction of arrivals by 52% and also increase of returns by 180%,

and this, I mean through a very holistic policy.

Today I have put forward two national issues to the President Costa.

The first one has to do with the wish of the Republic of Cyprus or the readiness of the Republic of Cyprus to enter the Hangen zone,

and this according to the report of the Council,

which supports and suggests the completion.

As a priority and of course we have discussed the Cyprus problem I have informed the president on the recent developments and after the visit of the United Nations Secretary General and I would like to thank publicly Mr.

Costa because he's in contact with the General Secretary of the.

United Nations and Cyprus is a European problem,

and the European Union can play a very important role in order to manage the solution to the Cyprus problem and also the unification of the country on the basis of the laws of the European Union and in this effort as well the importance,

I mean the support.

Of my friend, President of the European Council, dear António, I would like to welcome you once again and for the great joy to have you here in Cyprus for the 4th time,

and it is our joy to have you here.

Presidents the Council of the Union, and once again,

thank you very much for the way that you led our Union in the first half of this year.

Listening to every leader in their own country every year and hearing your views directly,

is very important for me as I prepare our work in the upcoming European Council meetings.

As we move into autumn, we are entering a pivotal period for Europe.

One of the most important decisions ahead of us will be to shape our next long-term European budget for the period 2028-2034.

We need to reach an agreement before the end of this year.

Here I would like to acknowledge the hard work of the Cyprus Presidency on the first draft negotiating box with actual members.

This provided an important input for the discussions between the leaders in June.

We are operating in the fundamentally different geopolitical context from the one we faced when we approved the current budget in 2020.

This new reality calls for a new approach to our budget,

with the new structure and a new way of allocating our resources.

We need a budget that allows us to deliver on our common priorities.

Especially as defense and security, competitiveness,

innovation, and strategic resilience.

The wildfires and droughts this summer, including here in Cyprus,

reminded us again of the need for tools to respond swiftly to unforeseen challenges.

And to the urgent needs to our citizens and businesses, our budget must reflect that.

But at the same time,

We must preserve the key pillars of support to our regions and our citizens,

cohesion and agriculture policies.

Nevertheless, like national budgets,

the European budget must deliver on its priorities within the limits of finite resources.

Most of it is financed through Member States' national contributions.

We need to keep those contributions within reasonable limits.

That is why a balanced and ambitious package of so called new own resources,

the new revenue streams for the European Union,

will be an essential part of an overall agreement.

Thank you, due to its geostrategic position,

Cyprus has a front row perspective on the security challenges affecting our continent.

This includes issues related to maritime security and regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean and in the Middle East.

Developments in the region have implications for Europe's peace and stability as a whole.

They also have a direct impact on our energy security.

For this reason, we need to remain engaged in the region,

and I am grateful for your active role in this regard, Nicos to further strengthen.

In this relationship,

the European Union will be holding a summit with the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council on 24 October. Let me also reaffirm.

The European Union's firm commitment to progress on the Cyprus issue on the basis of the United Nations Security Council resolution and international law.

The European Union is actively supporting the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to advance a negotiated settlement.

This is the objective of the recent appointment of the Commissioner Raffaele Fitto. As a special representative for Cyprus.

In that context, it was important for me to get updates on the latest developments,

in particular in view of the visit by United Nations Secretary General Guterres at the end of July and the further prospects for the process.

To conclude, At a time of such challenging and rapidly changing geopolitical circumstances,

I would like to emphasize the importance of staying united and moving forward together.

Nicos,

I know I can count on you and your country's constructive engagement in shaping a European response to the challenge we face.

I am confident that by joining forces and building On our shared commitment we can make real progress for Europe to continue to build a stronger,

safer, and more united Union. Thank you very much.

We have one question from the CYBC, Mr. Andrés Zaldívar. Mr.

President, allow me to speak in, in Greek.

OK, so, President Costa, President believes the European Union has underlined many times that the solution to the Cyprus problem,

it is a strategic European interest.

So Costa, President,

recently discussed in Ankara both the Cyprus problem as the Turkish relationships with President Erdogan.

Whereas you meet with the Secretary General Mr.

Guterres, so following this contexts,

do you see that there is a margin for a more active role and which specific role can the EU play utilizing of course the EU and Turkish relations for the relaunching of the negotiations? Thank you. OK.

On Yes, I mean,

I said this many times that the European Union can play the most decisive role.

And I'm saying this for two key reasons.

So the first one concerns the fact that the European Union,

it is the only union which has the tools, the necessary tools.

To take us to the solution of the Cyprus problem and via a mutual beneficial situation,

so we are ready as a member state of the European Union and we will continue to be a member state of the European Union after the solution to the Cyprus problem to help us in this direction.

So the second reason concerns that many of the topics of the issues for which there are not any conventions,

I mean, we have disagreements and deviations,

but the solution is the European acquis, and I am very happy.

And I want to remind you all that the president of the Council, together with the President of the President of the Commission in 2025,

they sent a joint letter to the Secretary General of the United Nations.

About let's say the path or the course of Cyprus, a historical letter let's say where they describe the framework of the solution and also how the European Union can specifically help and indeed the upgraded,

I mean the appointment of the vice president of the Commission because it is very clear that the I mean the problem is a European problem,

and we support.

Depend on the support of the European Union and there is a second dimension I mean whether we see positive steps on behalf of Turkey,

which is the reaction on behalf of Turkey, and so on and so forth.

So the message that I want to convey today is that Olof us,

including Turkey and we understand the Republic of Cyprus, the Greek Cypriot side, the Turkish Cypriot side.

All will be judged around the table of negotiations, and that is what I wanted to reiterate today.

The readiness, my readiness to relaunch the negotiations to discuss all these issues for which there are still deviations, and there we will all be judged,

and I would like to repeat, and this is the message that we want to send to the Secretary General,

the need to call or to convene.

A meeting to begin and to relaunch the negotiations and this is how we are going to be judged whether we have the necessary political will. Said Acosta.

Well, it's clear for us that a united Europe needs a reunified Cyprus,

and we support Cyprus' position and we support the efforts led by Secretary General of the United Nations to try to settle by dialogue these issues.

And of course we respect the frame defined to discuss and to lead with this issue,

but we conveyed already President von der Leyen and myself to the Turkish president that we are ready to help and contribute positively to solve this issue,

namely by strengthening our relation bilateral relationships between the European Union.

And and the, and the Turkey,

and I think this could be an important contribution from the European Union to try to help to solve this issue.

Thank you. It.