Source: European Parliament
The High Representative/Vice-President of the Commission (HR/VP) has repeatedly refuted actions and statements aimed at upgrading the international status of the so-called, internationally not recognised, ‘Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’, which undermine efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to create an environment conducive to settlement talks.
The EU recognises only the Republic of Cyprus as a subject of international law, in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
The EU expects the same from its partners, who need to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states within the framework of all international and regional fora, and to refrain from taking any steps that run contrary to this principle.
This message has been clearly conveyed to the Azerbaijani authorities and the EU will continue to raise it at all levels in its political dialogue with Azerbaijan, as it was the case during HR/VP visit to Baku on 25 April 2025.
The EU has monitored with concern developments since the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) Summit in Samarkand, in November 2022, regarding the acceptance of the Turkish Cypriot Community as an observer to this organisation.
A s tatement of the European External Action Service Spokesperson was issued, expressing a clear position about these developments[1]. The EU has actively and continuously expressed these preoccupations to the members of the OTS, at all levels.
This has been done through HR/VP statements, lately in July (after the informal OTS Summit in Azerbaijan)[2] and November 2024 respectively[3].
The EU remains fully committed to ensuring that the above-mentioned UNSC resolutions and generally recognised principles and norms of international law, particularly with respect to the sovereignty, independence and integrity of states, are fully upheld.
- [1] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/cyprus-statement-spokesperson-observer-status-turkish-cypriot-secessionist-entity-organisation_en?s=230.
- [2] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/node/443430_fr.
- [3] https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/ots-statement-hrvp-josep-borrell-attempts-legitimise-turkish-cypriot-secessionist-entity_en.