EditEU shows solidarity with Cyprus as Turkey excludes Nicosia from COP31 events
Ankara says Cyprus had been invited to all COP31-related events under the coordination of the U.N., but not to events organised by Turkey independently
The European Union has issued a strong rebuke to Turkey for excluding Cyprus from preparatory events ahead of the COP31 climate summit, highlighting the bloc’s unwavering solidarity with its member state.
At a meeting of EU climate ministers, Cyprus reported that it had not been invited by Turkey to key preparatory meetings in New York and Tokyo. The EU’s Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra stated clearly that member states “are not going to accept” this behavior, emphasising that “there are 27 member states that need to be treated in the same way… this is a Union of 27, full stop.”
Turkey is set to host the COP31 climate summit in November 2026, where nearly 200 countries will gather for annual UN climate talks on global warming. While Australia will lead the core negotiations, Turkey is organizing high-level side events and pushing initiatives such as a global electricity target.
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Turkish officials have said Cyprus had been invited to all COP31-related events under the coordination of the U.N., including meetings in Bonn and Petersburg, but not to events organised by Turkey independently of COP at a national level, such as a “Zero Waste” event in New York.
“The various contacts and meetings conducted by our country in the lead-up to COP31 are events organised at the national level for purposes of preparation, consultation, and promotion,” a Turkish diplomatic source said.
Several EU countries have even signalled they may boycott the summit in solidarity if Cyprus is further sidelined.
Turkey remains the only country in the world that does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus. Instead, Tureky is the only country in the world recognising the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in the island’s north. This non-recognition, which dates back decades, directly clashes with Turkey’s repeated expressions of interest in EU membership – a process that requires full alignment with EU principles, including respect for all member states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The incident highlights a fundamental paradox: while Turkey hosts a major UN climate summit and seeks deeper ties with Europe on issues like energy and migration, its refusal to acknowledge Cyprus creates recurring diplomatic crises that undermine its credibility as a potential EU partner. EU officials stress that such actions damage not only bilateral relations but also the bloc’s collective standing.
Cyprus still holds the EU’s rotating presidency, which involves running EU countries’ COP31 preparations, until Ireland takes over the role from 1 July.
Irish climate minister Darragh O’Brien told Reuters the situation could be resolved through dialogue with Turkey. “Full solidarity with Cyprus. This situation doesn’t need to escalate,” he said.
Some diplomats hope dialogue can resolve the immediate issue, but the episode serves as a reminder of the broader unresolved tensions that continue to stall Turkey’s EU accession path.
With Reuters
Caption: European Commissioner for Climate, Net Zero and Clean Growth Wopke Hoekstra speaks to the media before the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) meeting in Brussels, Belgium, 5 May 2026. The Council is expected to agree on new rules strengthening the fight against value added tax fraud in the EU, and adopt an implementing decision approving the modified recovery and resilience plan of Denmark, among other topics on the agenda of the meeting. EPA/OLIVIER HOSLET
Updated: June 27, 2026 - 07:40
