The European Commission has appointed Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto as the EU Special Representative for Cyprus.
In his new role, the Italian politician will coordinate and actively support all efforts aimed at resuming and advancing a settlement of the Cyprus issue — one of the longest-running unresolved conflicts in Europe.
While retaining his position as Executive Vice-President, Raffaele Fitto will take on a key role in the EU’s diplomatic efforts. His responsibilities include:
Coordinating the actions of European institutions on the Cyprus settlement;
Supporting UN-led negotiations;
Strengthening dialogue between the Greek and Turkish communities of Cyprus;
Facilitating confidence-building measures and economic cooperation on the island.
The appointment underscores the priority the European Union places on resolving the Cyprus question. The island has remained divided since 1974 and achieving a fair and sustainable solution remains an important objective of EU foreign policy.
Raffaele Fitto is an experienced politician with extensive expertise in European affairs. He previously served as Italy’s Minister for Regional Affairs and has a reputation as an effective negotiator.
It is expected that the new EU Special Representative for Cyprus will begin active work in the coming days and hold initial consultations with all interested parties.