Zelensky, Arab Leaders and EU Heads of State Converge on Cyprus Tomorrow

The island hosts the most consequential informal European Council in years, with Ukraine's president confirmed to attend in person, leaders from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria invited to a dedicated Middle East session, and energy prices, EU defence and the bloc's next long-term budget all on the table.

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Cyprus takes centre stage in European diplomacy tomorrow as it hosts the informal meeting of EU heads of state and government on 23 and 24 April, the centrepiece of the island's six-month rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU. The summit, chaired by European Council President António Costa and hosted by President Nikos Christodoulides, is split across two venues: Thursday evening's opening session takes place at Ayia Napa Marina in Famagusta district, with the full working sessions on Friday at the Filoxenia Conference Centre in Nicosia.

Zelensky in person

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the summit in person, reversing an earlier plan to join via video link. According to sources cited by the Cyprus News Agency, Zelensky will brief EU leaders directly during Thursday's dinner session in Ayia Napa on the state of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine.

Regional partners at the table

Leaders from the wider Middle East and Gulf region have been invited to join EU heads of state for an informal working lunch on Friday 24 April. Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the Gulf Cooperation Council have all received invitations, with the specific leaders attending to be confirmed. Their arrivals are expected from 12:50pm EEST, and press statements are scheduled for 3:40pm. Discussions will focus on the situation in the Middle East and the Gulf, with the session aimed at strengthening dialogue and cooperation between the EU and the region, and at addressing shared challenges.

Thursday's dinner session addresses the geopolitical environment and the EU's response to it, including Europe's contribution to de-escalation of the current crisis. Also on the table is the EU's readiness to respond to security challenges, including aspects related to Article 42(7) of the EU Treaty, the mutual defence clause, and the impact of the crisis on energy, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen expected to present proposals for measures to address energy sector consequences. Friday's working session turns to the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028 to 2034. The Cypriot Presidency has described completing the technical work in the first quarter of 2026 and moving negotiations to the political level as an intermediate goal that has now been achieved. The aim is to provide political direction to the discussions in order to reach a political agreement by the end of 2026.

Metsola and the Parliament's priorities

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola is also present. She will make a statement at the Filoxenia Conference Centre at 8:45am EEST on Friday before presenting the Parliament's positions to EU leaders at the start of the working session. "The meeting takes place at an important moment, with global instability and energy prices soaring, while negotiations on the next long-term EU budget are imminent," Metsola said ahead of the summit. "I am confident that, in this volatile geopolitical environment, Cyprus, Europe's beacon in the region, will once again prove to be a crucial interlocutor between Europe and the Middle East."

At 12:10pm EEST on Friday, European Council President António Costa, President Christodoulides and Commission President von der Leyen will hold a joint press conference.

Cyprus has held the EU Council Presidency since 1 January 2026, with Ireland taking over on 1 July. The hosting of this summit positions the island, given its geographic proximity to the region, as a natural bridge between Europe and the Middle East at a moment when the two agendas are inseparable in EU strategic thinking.

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