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On 11 December 2025, Greek Cypriot leader Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman met under the facilitation of UN envoy María Angela Holguín to discuss confidence-building measures intended to support renewed progress in the long-running Cyprus peace process, in which Türkiye is a major participant.
The UN’s account is more limited than a completed agreement on every measure: the leaders reviewed earlier initiatives and agreed to focus on reaching agreements on crossings, Halloumi/Hellim and water pipelines as soon as possible.
- One of the main issues under discussion was:
- facilitating access to EU markets for Halloumi/Hellim made by Turkish Cypriot producers in the north;
- compliance with European health requirements and the protected designation of origin rules.
- Progress could mean:
- fuller practical participation by northern producers in the existing EU protection scheme for the cheese, rather than new political recognition of the north;
- economic benefits for Turkish Cypriot farmers and producers;
- closer links between the two communities’ economies despite the continuing political division.
The talks also covered:
- the long-delayed construction of pipelines from the Mia Milia/Haspolat water treatment plant. The agricultural aim discussed in the original account was to convey treated water to farmers in the south; the UN statement confirmed work towards an agreement on pipelines, rather than announcing that the project had been completed.
- Why this matters:
- treated-water supplies could support farming in water-scarce areas;
- shared infrastructure could strengthen interdependence between the communities in a vital resource.
- The leaders discussed improving movement at crossing points along the UN buffer zone, or Green Line.
- They agreed to increase staffing for the services required at crossings and welcomed road-widening work at Agios Dometios/Metehan, looking forward to completion in the following months. New crossing points remained a subject for reaching agreement, rather than an announcement that new crossings had opened.
- Reducing congestion and improving infrastructure remained practical priorities. Digital improvements were a possible means of facilitating vehicle and pedestrian movement, rather than a completed measure confirmed by this statement.
- Easier crossings could benefit:
- workers and students moving between the two communities;
- day visitors;
- families separated by the island’s division since 1974.
- Türkiye remains the north’s principal external supporter.
- It is a guarantor power under the Cyprus arrangements and presents its role as protecting Turkish Cypriot rights.
- Turkish military forces have remained in the north since 1974.
- Progress on confidence-building measures also has implications for Türkiye–EU relations, as viewed in Brussels and Athens, particularly concerning:
- the eastern Mediterranean;
- natural gas;
- maritime boundary disputes.
- The December 2025 discussions focused on:
- improving access to EU markets for Halloumi/Hellim produced in the north;
- advancing water-pipeline arrangements;
- making movement through crossings easier.
- These measures would not resolve the underlying dispute, but could:
- increase economic and social connections;
- create a more constructive setting for comprehensive UN-supported peace negotiations, in which Türkiye and the EU also have important roles.
The distinction matters: the meeting produced commitments to continue work and some practical crossing measures, rather than a final settlement of all three issues. The UN statement stressed that confidence-building measures are not a substitute for a settlement. The leaders reaffirmed participation in a broader informal meeting to be convened by the Secretary-General and regular meetings of their representatives.
The UN’s account is more limited than a completed agreement on every measure: the leaders reviewed earlier initiatives and agreed to focus on reaching agreements on crossings, Halloumi/Hellim and water pipelines as soon as possible.
Access to EU markets for Halloumi/Hellim produced by Turkish Cypriots
- One of the main issues under discussion was:- facilitating access to EU markets for Halloumi/Hellim made by Turkish Cypriot producers in the north;
- compliance with European health requirements and the protected designation of origin rules.
- Progress could mean:
- fuller practical participation by northern producers in the existing EU protection scheme for the cheese, rather than new political recognition of the north;
- economic benefits for Turkish Cypriot farmers and producers;
- closer links between the two communities’ economies despite the continuing political division.
Water pipelines linking the two communities
The talks also covered:- the long-delayed construction of pipelines from the Mia Milia/Haspolat water treatment plant. The agricultural aim discussed in the original account was to convey treated water to farmers in the south; the UN statement confirmed work towards an agreement on pipelines, rather than announcing that the project had been completed.
- Why this matters:
- treated-water supplies could support farming in water-scarce areas;
- shared infrastructure could strengthen interdependence between the communities in a vital resource.
Easier movement across the Green Line
- The leaders discussed improving movement at crossing points along the UN buffer zone, or Green Line.- They agreed to increase staffing for the services required at crossings and welcomed road-widening work at Agios Dometios/Metehan, looking forward to completion in the following months. New crossing points remained a subject for reaching agreement, rather than an announcement that new crossings had opened.
- Reducing congestion and improving infrastructure remained practical priorities. Digital improvements were a possible means of facilitating vehicle and pedestrian movement, rather than a completed measure confirmed by this statement.
- Easier crossings could benefit:
- workers and students moving between the two communities;
- day visitors;
- families separated by the island’s division since 1974.
Türkiye’s role
- Türkiye remains the north’s principal external supporter.- It is a guarantor power under the Cyprus arrangements and presents its role as protecting Turkish Cypriot rights.
- Turkish military forces have remained in the north since 1974.
- Progress on confidence-building measures also has implications for Türkiye–EU relations, as viewed in Brussels and Athens, particularly concerning:
- the eastern Mediterranean;
- natural gas;
- maritime boundary disputes.
The implications
- The December 2025 discussions focused on:- improving access to EU markets for Halloumi/Hellim produced in the north;
- advancing water-pipeline arrangements;
- making movement through crossings easier.
- These measures would not resolve the underlying dispute, but could:
- increase economic and social connections;
- create a more constructive setting for comprehensive UN-supported peace negotiations, in which Türkiye and the EU also have important roles.
The distinction matters: the meeting produced commitments to continue work and some practical crossing measures, rather than a final settlement of all three issues. The UN statement stressed that confidence-building measures are not a substitute for a settlement. The leaders reaffirmed participation in a broader informal meeting to be convened by the Secretary-General and regular meetings of their representatives.
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