On November 12, 2025, the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, co-chaired the 3rd Intergovernmental Summit of the two countries.

The 3rd Intergovernmental Summit was attended by the Ministers and Deputy Ministers of the two countries who are in charge of Foreign Affairs, Education, Health, Transportation, Environment, Justice and crime prevention, Civil Protection, Housing Policy, Digital Policy and Technology, and Coordination of Government Policies.

In an environment of geopolitical turmoil, uncertainty, and instability, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Nikos Christodoulides reaffirmed the crucial role of Intergovernmental Summits in further strengthening the cooperation between Greece and Cyprus and contributing to stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

The framework for bilateral cooperation is broad and multi-tiered, encompassing areas such as institutions, defense, the economy, energy, and education. It is constantly expanding in response to contemporary challenges, with results that have a practical impact on the daily lives of citizens and their interaction with the state.

The proceedings of this year’s Summit focused, first and foremost, on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the joint effort to restart talks with the aim of achieving a solution for the reunification of the island on the basis of the agreed framework of the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions. They expressed their expectation that Turkey would contribute substantially to the resumption and continuation of the talks within the agreed framework, in order to advance European-Turkish relations in line with the conclusions of the European Council.

The two leaders also expressed their support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General in the context of the Good Offices Mission entrusted to him by the UN Security Council, ahead of the upcoming informal expanded meeting to be convened by him. They also stressed the crucial importance of the EU playing an active role through its Special Envoy in the context of the existing UN process.

The 3rd Summit focused particularly on cooperation aiming to further improve day-to-day life and improve the life quality of citizens in both countries.

In this context, it was decided to take joint action in the field of the environment to address the serious issue of water scarcity, to manage and utilize reclaimed water, and to transfer expertise on large-scale desalination.

At the same time, the two countries will cooperate to ensure the protection and durability of critical water infrastructure, such as dams, and to promote responsible water use.

In the field of education, it was agreed to exchange expertise and best practices in critical areas such as linking education to the labor market, by strengthening the role of vocational education in both countries. It was decided to promote a common strategy on inclusive education to ensure the right of all children to high-quality, equal, and inclusive education, as well as to support children with disabilities in particular by providing them with skills that will help them become independent, integrate into society, participate equally in social life, and find employment. In addition, it was agreed to enhance cooperation between Greece and Cyprus on the prevention and combating of school violence and bullying, with the aim of creating safe, inclusive, and supportive school environments.

In the field of health, cooperation was agreed on Preventive Screening Test Programs. It was also agreed to sign a Memorandum of Cooperation between the National Public Health Organization of Greece and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Cyprus for the training of health professionals in combating antimicrobial resistance and enhancing health system resilience.

In the crucial area of the operation of hospitals, especially emergency departments (EDs), it was decided to boost cooperation to improve the operation of hospitals, and particularly EDs, which is directly linked to the quality, safety, and effectiveness of the quality of healthcare provided. In this context, the electronic tracking and patient satisfaction questionnaire implemented in Greece, and the fast-track clinics operating in the Accident and Emergency Departments of public hospitals in Cyprus, are key reforms and it was agreed that best practices in this field would be exchanged between the two countries.

In the field of transport, it was decided to take coordinated action to improve road safety. This is an issue that concerns both Greece and Cyprus and comes under the EU Road Safety Policy Framework 2021-2030, which aims to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030, approaching the long-term goal of “Vision Zero” by 2050.

In the field of justice and crime prevention, it was decided to exchange expertise in the important area of judicial reform and speeding up the justice system with the aim of strengthening citizens’ confidence in the institution of justice and the rule of law. The establishment of a modern and reliable mechanism for out-of-court dispute resolution serves the broader strategic objective of strengthening the rule of law and the more effective functioning of the justice system.

Cooperation was agreed to create a united front against economic crime in the wider Eastern Mediterranean region. The need for effective monitoring of flows, utilization of information, and combating crime at its source is emerging as a common priority for Greece and Cyprus.

It was also agreed to strengthen cooperation between Greece and Cyprus on justice and internal security issues, which is a prerequisite for ensuring the rule of law and effectively combating cross-border crime, using EU tools such as the Schengen Information System (SIS) and EU information exchange mechanisms. In this context, it was decided to set up a joint cooperation team between the police authorities of the two countries, focusing on organized crime and the effective exchange and processing of information. The joint course of Greece and Cyprus in the field of justice and security contributes substantially to the strengthening of European security and justice policy.

In addition, Greece and Cyprus agreed to cooperate on the major issue of housing policy, with common technical standards, pilot projects in areas of tension, and coordinated action at EU level to promote social and affordable housing, which is a fundamental right of citizens and an obligation of the State. In this context, it was decided to exchange good practices and know-how, based on the flagship programs “My Home” and “My Home 2”.

In the key area of natural disaster risk assessment, cooperation was agreed through the use of new digital natural disaster risk assessment tools that enable the early identification, forecasting, and mapping of risks from phenomena such as fires, floods, earthquakes, or extreme weather events. It was agreed to transfer expertise and best practices, drawing on the experience and methodology developed in Greece for the design of the national Fire Risk Map, and also of the National Database, through which, for the first time, a unified digital information and action center is being created, where all relevant entities are connected to a common digital environment, exchanging critical data in real time, using artificial intelligence with prognostic models that predict fires, floods, or earthquakes, providing timely warnings for preventive interventions.

In addition, there were discussions on the establishment of the Cyprus Regional Aerial Firefighting Station, an EU regional aerial firefighting hub to be based in Cyprus, and bilateral cooperation was agreed upon for the exchange of expertise in the management of aerial firefighting operations, fleet management, operational planning, and international cooperation within the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and rescEU.

Emphasis was also placed on the importance of the new Pact for the Mediterranean adopted by the European Commission in October 2025, as the basic framework to strengthen cooperation between the EU and the countries of the Southern Neighbourhood. Greece and Cyprus agreed to work closely together to implement it, especially ahead of Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026, during which the implementation of the Pact will begin and the Action Plan will be presented, and also ahead of the Greek Presidency in the second half of 2027, with the aim of continuing and deepening the relevant initiatives. In this context, joint actions and projects of common interest will be promoted, building on and expanding existing cooperation with the Southern Neighbourhood.

With a view to protecting citizens, new actions were decided upon to jointly address and raise awareness on the issue of domestic violence and violence against minors, to support and empower victims, and to actively promote equality in all areas of day-to-day life. These issues are a strategic priority for both countries within a comprehensive framework of policy interventions and actions. Cooperation was agreed upon for the implementation of relevant policies, utilizing technology and private sector cooperation.

Furthermore, it was decided to cooperate in the field of Digital Policy and Technology. This topic is particularly important in view of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU in 2026 and the Greek Presidency in 2027, as it provides an opportunity to formulate common European positions on issues such as Artificial Intelligence and the implementation of the AI Act, the protection of minors, and digital well-being.

It was decided to intensify cooperation between Greece and Cyprus in the areas of digital public policy, innovation, and cybersecurity, which strengthens the role of the two countries as digital hubs in the Eastern Mediterranean, while promoting joint participation in European high-tech initiatives.

It was also agreed to cooperate on promoting digital tools, such as Kids Wallet, as standards for the protection of minors across the EU, with the aim of addressing common challenges, considering the need to adopt digital services to ensure cybersecurity and protect citizens from the risks of the Information Age.

It was agreed that Cyprus would participate in EU’s AI Gigafactories initiative, along with Greece, as a reference point for Digital Europe in the Mediterranean; it was also agreed to deepen cooperation between the two countries on issues of cybersecurity and public service interoperability, with the aim of creating a unified Mediterranean ecosystem of digital governance.

Cooperation in the field of space technology and projects was also agreed upon, with two memoranda of cooperation to be signed shortly by the relevant ministries.

In the field of lawmaking, joint initiatives were discussed for the implementation of the principles of good lawmaking, the use of digital lawmaking tools, and the promotion of modern methodologies for impact analysis and codification of law. This cooperation contributes to the creation of a stable and transparent regulatory environment capable of supporting effective lawmaking.

In addition, issues that will be addressed by the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026 were discussed.

Greece and Cyprus agreed, ahead of the Cyprus Presidency and also the Greek Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2027, to consult and communicate on a number of issues of concern within the EU.

In view of Cyprus’ preparations to fully join the Schengen area in 2026, Greece will represent Cyprus in the issuance of Schengen visas in 19 third countries. In this context, the Foreign Ministers of the two countries signed a Joint Declaration.

The two countries discussed the issue of EU enlargement and expressed their shared belief that enlargement, always based on the applicable intergovernmental procedures and agreed conditionality, is an investment in the security and stability of Europe.

Greece and Cyprus underlined their commitment to contribute as strong pillars of security to stability in the region and that they remain unwaveringly committed to promoting peaceful cooperation and good neighborly relations, with respect for international law and the law of the sea.

The next steps were examined with regard to deepening existing trilateral cooperation frameworks in the Eastern Mediterranean, such as through the recent meeting of the “3+1” (Greece, Cyprus, Israel + USA) to promote critical economic and energy interconnection projects.

Ways for Greece and Cyprus to cooperate in the implementation of development cooperation programs and the provision of humanitarian aid to third countries were also discussed, with joint actions by Hellenic Aid and CyprusAid in countries of priority for both countries.

Finally, it was agreed that the next Intergovernmental Meeting will take place in Cyprus in 2026, with an agenda to be determined jointly.

Source (in Greek): primeminister.gr

TAGS: GOVERNMENT & POLITICS