Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides pledged to strengthen bilateral cooperation during the third Greece–Cyprus Intergovernmental Summit., held in Athens on Wednesday, with energy, connectivity, and the upcoming Cypriot EU Presidency at the center of discussions.

Speaking during a press conference, after their meeting at the Maximos Mansion, Mitsotakis described the summit as “a partnership we designed together—an idea proposed by my dear friend Nikos in November 2023,” aimed at ensuring structured coordination across a broad range of bilateral and international issues.

“This is a cooperation that places citizens’ everyday lives at the center of our common interests,” the Prime Minister said, noting that the two governments agreed to expand joint efforts in areas such as transport, civil protection, housing, education and digital transformation. “We are deepening our collaboration where progress has already been made, while opening new horizons in response to the challenges of our times,” he added.

Energy issues were a central focus of the talks, with Mitsotakis underscoring both countries’ role in securing Europe’s energy needs. The Prime Minister highlighted the strategic importance of Greece and Cyprus for Europe’s energy future and the growing significance of regional cooperation formats such as the 3+1 partnership between Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and the United States. “These partnerships are vital in shaping both the energy and geopolitical map of the coming decade,” he noted.

A key development from the summit was the decision to move forward with an updated assessment of the Greece–Cyprus electricity interconnector project, a major infrastructure initiative linking the two nations’ power grids. Mitsotakis said the two sides agreed to “immediately update the financial and technical parameters of the interconnector, so that it can potentially attract new, strong investors—something that would benefit us all.”

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomes Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides prior to their talks in Athens, Greece, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki

From his side, President Christodoulides described Cyprus’s relationship with Greece as “brotherly,” noting that both governments share “the common goal of effectively implementing projects with economic benefit and geopolitical impact.”

He confirmed that Nicosia and Athens had agreed on the “need to update the financial and technical parameters for projects such as those related to connectivity,” underscoring their importance for regional cooperation and development.

During their opening remarks Prime Minister Mitsotakis underlined the importance of stronger coordination between the two governments, particularly as Cyprus prepares to assume the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2026.

“It is very important that we coordinate our government work more effectively, especially as Cyprus takes on this crucial role within the European Union,” Mitsotakis said, adding that the close communication between the two sides “already yields significant results.”

Christodoulides highlighted the strong personal relationship he shares with the Greek premier, noting that this has allowed cooperation to extend beyond foreign policy into sectors that affect citizens’ daily lives. “We have learned a great deal from several of the Greek government’s initiatives in domestic governance,” he said, thanking Mitsotakis for sharing know-how and best practices.

The Cypriot president also noted that the meeting comes “50 days before Cyprus assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union,” stressing that the two countries will use this opportunity to strengthen the EU’s strategic autonomy and deepen ties with the broader Middle East and the United States.

Energy cooperation featured prominently in the discussions, following last week’s trilateral meeting of energy ministers from Greece, Cyprus, and Israel — attended by U.S. representatives — in Athens. Christodoulides called it “a successful example of how regional initiatives by Greece and Cyprus can enhance Europe’s energy security and transatlantic relations.”

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis listens to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides during their meeting in Athens, Greece, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Louisa Gouliamaki

Beyond foreign policy, the summit aims to reinforce collaboration in areas such as environment, health, education, transport, digital transformation, housing, civil protection, justice, and culture. Ministers from both governments are expected to outline coordinated actions and joint projects across these sectors.

The talks also addressed the latest regional developments and the Cyprus issue, following the recent election of Tufan Erhürman as leader of the Turkish Cypriot community.

Mitsotakis and Christodoulides reaffirmed that the Greece–Cyprus partnership remains central to stability and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean — and a pillar of European engagement in the region.