Pedro Sánchez meets with the president of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides

Presidential Palace, Nicosia (Cyprus)

Both leaders addressed the international uncertainty Europe is facing due to Putin's war in Ukraine, and agreed that the unity of Member States is the best tool to build a just and lasting peace.

They discussed three issues that will be priorities for Spain during its presidency of the Council of the EU: energy, migration and open strategic autonomy. In energy matters, Spain and Cyprus agree on the need to reform the electricity market and focus specifically on the decarbonisation of our economies and fair distribution between producers and consumers. Pedro Sánchez and Nikos Christodoulides are both committed to a reform capable of generating cleaner, cheaper energy and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels.

In the area of migration, Spain and Cyprus consider it necessary to progress with the Pact on Migration and Asylum, encouraging both the internal and external aspects, and building bridges that move the EU-27 away from a bloc policy on this issue. The two countries are located at either end of the Mediterranean and, to this effect, both leaders agreed on the importance of promoting a stable framework of relations between the EU and the Southern Neighbourhood.

Last, President Sánchez and President Christodoulides agree that open strategic autonomy will allow Europe to reindustrialise and become less dependent on materials such as semiconductors, energy and critical raw materials.

In Nicosia today, Pedro Sánchez reiterated Spain's support for the achievement of a dialogue-based and definitive solution to the Cyprus question, based on international law and UN resolutions.

Non official translation