Nicosia, Cyprus – Turkey has given a negative response to an invitation for President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to participate in an informal European Council meeting hosted in Cyprus this April, President Nikos Christodoulides announced.

In an exclusive interview with Greek broadcaster SKAI TV on Tuesday, Christodoulides disclosed that Ankara is not willing to engage in high-level EU events held on the island, despite Cyprus’s ongoing efforts to improve relations during its EU Council Presidency.

Diplomatic Outreach Falls Short

The Cypriot government used intermediaries from several EU member states with strong ties to Turkey to privately gauge Ankara’s interest before issuing a formal invitation. The goal was to avoid a public diplomatic rebuff.

“We tried to create positive developments,” Christodoulides said, emphasizing that the invitation was flexible. Options included:

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan attending the leaders’ summit in Nicosia.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan participating in the informal Gymnich meeting of EU foreign ministers.

A Deputy Minister for European Affairs joining the General Affairs Council.

“The message we have received is that they are not positive,” the President stated.

Persistent Cyprus Issue Remains Key Obstacle

The rejection highlights the deep-seated Cyprus Problem that continues to strain EU-Turkey relations. Turkey does not recognize the Republic of Cyprus and has occupied the northern part of the island since 1974. Turkish officials routinely avoid high-level visits to the Republic of Cyprus to prevent any implication of recognizing the Greek Cypriot-led government as the island’s sole legitimate authority.

Cyprus assumed the rotating EU Council Presidency in January 2026 and had hoped to use the position to foster dialogue with Ankara on multiple fronts, including energy, migration, and regional security.

April 2026 Summit Proceeds Without Turkey

The informal European Council meeting and associated regional forums took place on 23–24 April 2026 in Nicosia and Agia Napa. Discussions focused on the Middle East situation, energy cooperation, and security partnerships with countries including Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, and Gulf states. Turkey was not represented.

This latest development underscores the challenges facing EU-Turkey relations amid ongoing disputes over Cyprus, the Eastern Mediterranean, and broader geopolitical tensions.