Cyprus and Italy will begin work on a joint partnership document outlining shared priorities and challenges, the two countries’ leaders said after meeting in Rome on Thursday.
President Nikos Christodoulides and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said their talks underscored the close ties between the two Mediterranean states and their common strategic outlook. Christodoulides thanked Meloni for what he called a productive discussion that reaffirmed the “excellent cooperation” between Nicosia and Rome, describing the relationship as one built on trust and shared values.
He highlighted cooperation in energy, noting the role of Italian company ENI in Cyprus’s exclusive economic zone, and pointed to joint work in defense and security through exercises and training programs. Christodoulides also briefed Meloni on the latest developments in the Cyprus issue, expressing hope that Italy’s relations with Turkey could help generate momentum.
Meloni said she was pleased the meeting came at a significant moment for both capitals, with Cyprus holding the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union. She said the two countries share a Mediterranean identity shaped by geography and history, and argued that the region can become a bridge between East and West in the coming years, particularly in trade, energy, security and stability.
She added that she and Christodoulides have worked closely on these issues in Brussels, at EU summits and within the group of Mediterranean EU states. Meloni also thanked the Cypriot president for what she called his innovative proposals on migration.