The European Union’s special envoy for Cyprus, former European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, has resigned from his role, citing other commitments, the European Commission announced Monday.
“The Commission respects Mr. Hahn’s decision and thanks him for his valuable contribution to the settlement process over the past year,” said Commission spokesperson Maciej Berestecki. He added that Commission President Ursula von der Leyen “will decide on the next steps in due course.”
Hahn, an Austrian who served as EU Commissioner under both Jean-Claude Juncker and Ursula von der Leyen, was appointed special envoy in May 2025 to support reunification discussions in cooperation with the U.N. Secretary-General’s envoy on Cyprus, María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar.
In January, Hahn took up a five-year term as president of the general council of the Austrian National Bank.
Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis confirmed that the Commission is “already taking the necessary steps with the aim of appointing a new envoy … in the immediate future.” Hahn also informed Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides of his decision via letter.
Cyprus currently holds the six-month rotating presidency of the Council of the EU.
The island has remained divided since 1974, when Turkey’s forces occupied the north following a Greek-backed coup. The Republic of Cyprus, an EU member, is internationally recognized as the sole sovereign authority, while the Turkish Cypriot north is recognized only by Ankara. Previous efforts to reach a reunification agreement, most recently in 2017 in Switzerland, have failed, and formal talks have not resumed since.
