The special EU summit scheduled for 24 and 25 September has been postponed until 1 and 2 October because one person with whom the European Council president was in close contact has tested positive for the coronavirus, the Council president's spokesman announced on Tuesday.

“The European Council President has decided to postpone the special European Council meeting that was planned for 24 and 25 September to 1 and 2 October,” his spokesman Berend Leyts announced via Twitter.

“The Council President today learned that a security officer, with whom he was in close contact early this week, tested positive for COVID. The President is tested regularly and tested negative yesterday. Respecting Belgian rules, he has gone into quarantine as of today,” he added.

The main topic of the meeting is a strategic discussion on the EU’s relationship with Turkey and the closely-related issue of sanctions against Belarus. Cyprus is blocking sanctions against Belarus demanding sanctions against Turkey over its oil and gas explorations in Cypriot waters.