Cyprus
| President | Nikos Anastasiades (Democratic Rally, since February 2013) |
| Population | 875,898 (2019) |
| Size |
9,251 km² (3,572 sq. miles)
|
| MEPs | 6 (joined in 2004) |
| Next presidential election
Next legislative election |
2023
2021 |
| Presidency of the Council | January – June 2026 |
| Last meeting with Boris Johnson | None held to date |
| Brexit priorities | Cyprus has a long history with the UK and the country needs British support in the negotiations around unification.
Cyprus’ economy also relies heavily on the UK, with many British tourists holidaying on the island every year. At the same time Britain is the top destination for Cypriot students. Due to the close relationship between the UK and Cyprus, it is expected the Cypriot Government will aim for a softer Brexit, where the post-Brexit relationship will be as close as possible to the current arrangements. |
| What the Cypriot Government said on Brexit | “[The leaders discussed] the need to achieve a smooth transition to the new status quo,” |
| Cyprus’ priorities | Nicos Anastasiades won a second five-year term on 4 February 2018, beating the leftist Stavros Malas. During the campaign, the economy was a dominant issue with Anastasiades taking the credit for leading the country out of the crisis which hit in 2013. Cyprus emerged from its bailout program from the EU and the International Monetary Fund in 2016.
The division of Cyprus remains a key issue for the Government and UN-brokered peace talks between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot leaders have gained significant momentum following the election win of Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci in 2015. Recently, the country has also developed into an important financial hub, especially for investors from Russia and Eastern Europe. |
