Greek Cypriot Leaders Doubt Summer Expanded Talks as Turkey‑EU Negotiations Stall

Greek Cypriot President Nikos Hristodulidis said an informal, expanded 5+1 conference on the Cyprus issue is not expected this summer, citing the lack of a breakthrough at the recent NATO summit in Ankara and the need for conditions such as Turkey’s concrete commitments. The United Nations Secretary‑General’s personal envoy, Maria Angela Holguín, is slated to meet Turkish officials in Brussels and later travel to the island, but no clear timetable for the expanded talks has emerged.

Separately, Greek Cypriot media reported that behind‑the‑scenes discussions are exploring a “bottom‑up” or “staged” approach, looser federal structures and a new security arrangement. Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is said to be open to a renewed negotiation process provided the EU offers specific concessions, while Turkish officials link any return to the negotiation table to progress in Turkey‑EU relations. Both sides caution that without tangible progress, further talks risk delaying a settlement and could deepen the deadlock over Cyprus.