The European Union has reacted strongly to Turkey's exclusion of Cyprus from the preparatory process for the UN climate summit COP31, which Turkey will host in November this year. EU climate ministers, meeting in Luxembourg, raised the issue and delivered a clear warning message to Ankara.
Cyprus Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou said her country was not invited by Turkey to two COP31 preparatory meetings held in New York and Tokyo. Turkish officials also confirmed to Reuters that Cyprus was not invited to events organized by Turkey for COP31.
Hoekstra: Equal treatment for all 27 member states a must
EU Climate Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra stated at a press conference that member states agreed not to accept Turkey's stance. Hoekstra stressed that 'the other 26 member states will show full solidarity,' adding that he had communicated the situation to both the United Nations and the Turkish ambassador to the EU, and emphasized that the exclusion of Cyprus was 'unacceptable.'
'There are 27 member states and they all must be treated equally. This is a Union of 27, full stop,' Hoekstra said, underlining the EU's determination on the issue.
Risk of leader summit participation
Cyprus also fears it may not be invited to the segment of COP31 that will involve world leaders. Minister Panayiotou noted that Turkey, as host, will organize this part and said that in such a situation, some EU countries might consider not attending the summit in solidarity.
Polish Deputy Climate Minister Krzysztof Bolesta signaled a possible boycott, saying, 'If Cyprus is treated unfairly, we should not go to Turkey.' Ireland's Climate Minister Darragh O'Brien said the situation could be resolved through dialogue with Turkey, adding, 'We are in full solidarity with Cyprus. There is no need for this situation to escalate.'
Cyprus issue and COP31 structure
Turkey does not recognize the Greek Cypriot administration in the south of the ethnically divided island of Cyprus and is the only country in the world that recognizes the Turkish administration in the north. While Turkey is hosting the COP31 summit, Australia will conduct the UN negotiations at the heart of the conference. This unusual arrangement was decided after both countries submitted bids to host.
While Turkey cannot exclude a country from COP31's UN negotiations, Ankara is preparing a series of side agreements and events under the summit, including a global electricity target also supported by the EU. Cyprus, holding the rotating EU presidency, is coordinating the bloc's COP31 preparations until it hands over the role to Ireland next month.
