The European Commission designates Special Envoy for Cyprus

The European Commission has decided to designate Johannes Hahn, a former European Commissioner, as Special Envoy for Cyprus. In this capacity, he will report to President von der Leyen and contribute to the settlement process within the United Nations Framework in close cooperation with the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy on Cyprus, María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar. 

This designation underlines the Commission's commitment to the reunification of Cyprus, with the aim of ensuring a functional and viable comprehensive settlement in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in line with the principles, values and legislation of the EU. The Special Envoy will engage with all relevant stakeholders and interlocutors to prepare the ground for resumption of negotiations for a comprehensive and lasting solution, including through building trust.

Johannes Hahn served three consecutive terms as European Commissioner: for Regional Policy (2010–2014), for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations (2014–2019), and for Budget and Administration (2019–2024). Prior to his work at the European level, he was Austria's Minister for Science and Research from 2007 to 2010 and a member of the regional government of Vienna for four years.

(For more information: Balazs Ujvari - Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Isabel Otero Barderas - Tel.: +32 2 296 69 25)