Statements by the President of the Republic on the informal European Council and the Cyprus issue

In statements at the informal European Council in Dublin on 13 November 2026, the President of the Republic discussed artificial intelligence and the need to use it to strengthen EU competitiveness and strategic autonomy while establishing safeguards for democracies, societies and children. He expressed concern about malicious uses of AI and interference in elections, particularly ahead of electoral processes in 2027, and said that the Republic of Cyprus had adopted its first Artificial Intelligence Strategy 2026-2032. He said technology contributes approximately 15% of the country’s GDP and that he planned to visit the United States at the end of the month to attract companies and Cypriot talent. He also said the 4th Cyprus-Greece Intergovernmental Summit was planned for Wednesday, with 11 ministers and deputy ministers from the Republic of Cyprus and 13 from Greece.

On the Cyprus issue, he said that after the UN Secretary-General returned from the Philippines, a date was expected to be set for a trilateral meeting. Its aims were to announce developments concerning confidence-building measures, methodology and substance, and to set a date for an expanded conference intended to restart talks from where they broke off at Crans-Montana. On the Great Sea Interconnector, he said dredging surveys were continuing normally and cited an EU grant of 657 million, without ruling out further EU funding.

On Ukraine, he said leaders would be briefed on the talks in Abu Dhabi and that no final decision on who would represent the EU would be taken at the informal Council. On Cyprus joining the Schengen area, he said there had been no negative reaction from member states, that the matter was being discussed by a relevant working group in Brussels, and that the technical requirements for full membership had been completed.