With a strong message that the strength of the Republic of Cyprus does not depend on its geographical size but on its strategic planning, the President of the Republic, Nicos Christodoulides, delivered a historic review of Cyprus’s Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Taking the reins on January 1, 2026, amid a volatile international environment marked by geopolitical uncertainty, trade wars, and conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine, Nicosia has, by all accounts, managed to carry out a thoroughly successful Presidency. The President expressed his pride in the fact that the country served as an honest and reliable mediator among the 27 member states, turning regional crises into diplomatic opportunities.

The fundamental philosophy of Cypriot governance, as highlighted in the speech, is that European policy is now an integral part of domestic policy, directly affecting the daily lives of every citizen. Tangible results in the areas of the economy and defense confirm this view.

Among other things, Cyprus has secured 1.2 billion euros in funding through the SAFE program to strengthen its deterrent capabilities, while in the business sector, the legislative simplification packages and the historic reform of the customs union are expected to save 2,5 billion euros in administrative costs for European and Cypriot businesses.

At the international level, the Cypriot Presidency succeeded in finalizing trade agreements of strategic importance that had been pending for as long as 25 years, such as the one with Mercosur, as well as agreements with India, Mexico, and Switzerland. At the same time, Nicosia breathed new life into the EU’s enlargement process, successfully opening the negotiation clusters for Moldova and Ukraine. This enhanced international standing and the political capital that has been accumulated constitute, according to the President, a valuable national asset that will be immediately harnessed to advance national objectives and the effort to resolve the Cyprus issue.

Particular emphasis was placed on the social impact of the Presidency, with measures that address the core needs of citizens. After 13 years of negotiations, Cyprus secured an agreement to strengthen the rights of air passengers—a matter of vital importance for an island nation— while also laying the groundwork for addressing drug shortages through the Critical Medicines Regulation. Furthermore, Nicosia succeeded in transforming the national challenge of affordable housing into a European one, by amending the Cohesion Fund regulations to allow for the financing of housing programs through the “Thalεια” plan.

In closing, Mr. Christodoulides made it clear that the end of the six-month term is not the end, but the beginning of a new institutional responsibility. To this end, the government has already submitted a proposal to the House of Representatives to transform the Secretariat of the Presidency into a permanent European coordination structure, while retaining the Deputy Ministry of European Affairs and strengthening the relevant units within the ministries. President Prodromos expressed his heartfelt thanks to Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna, to Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kompos, as well as to the hundreds of volunteers and unsung heroes who worked collectively to ensure the complete success of this national mission.

European Success

Cyprus is concluding its Presidency of the Council of the EU with a stronger voice, having built relationships of trust with every member state and every institution, while remaining active at the forefront of European developments, said Marilena Raouna, Deputy Minister for European Affairs, on Wednesday during a press conference summarizing the results of Cyprus’s 2026 Presidency of the Council of the EU.

For his part, Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kompos noted that, despite difficult circumstances, the Republic of Cyprus operated not as an absentee but as an active participant, demonstrating resilience as well as the necessary adaptability.

In her speech, Ms. Rauna said that the closing of this extremely important chapter in the country’s European journey simultaneously marks the opening of a new chapter, through the utilization of experience, institutional knowledge within the civil service, and the legacy left behind by the Council Presidency, for the benefit of Cyprus and all Cypriots.

Focusing on the operational aspect of the Presidency, Ms. Rauna said that for Cyprus, the journey began about two and a half years ago with the establishment of the Secretariat of the Cyprus Presidency in January 2024, “with a clear mission: a Presidency that will deliver these results and showcase all that Cyprus has to offer to the European project.”

As he noted, the Secretariat of the Cypriot Presidency served as the single coordinator of the government apparatus, working with all ministries and deputy ministries across every policy sector. He added that in political trilogues with the European Parliament and the Commission, the Cypriot Presidency concluded 27 of the 32 dossiers it undertook, a success rate of over 84%.

“This result reflects the scope of our efforts and was neither self-evident nor a foregone conclusion. We achieved 41 general approaches and 22 Council Conclusions. We finalized 10 simplification proposals and secured negotiating mandates for another 4. “We handled truly difficult dossiers—technically complex and politically sensitive—including some that had been deadlocked for years, in some cases for more than a decade,” he added.

“And there, the Cypriot Presidency responsibly shaped the solutions that led to an agreement. And all this while bearing the responsibility of day-to-day management and negotiation of over 345 issues, through more than 1,500 meetings in 195 Council working groups. “Because behind these numbers lies the essence of the Presidency—results that serve Cypriot and European citizens,” he emphasized.

He noted that more than 230 events were hosted throughout free Cyprus, with nearly 25,000 participants, including the first leaders’ meeting hosted by Cyprus—the Informal Summit of European Leaders in April—19 informal Council of Ministers meetings, the visit by the College of Commissioners, the Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament, and the landmark Conference on Islands and Coastal Regions.

He added that, as part of the Presidency, visit programs were organized to the Green Line, “where heads of European institutions and foreign officials witnessed firsthand the consequences of the Turkish occupation on European soil,” while at the same time, staff members of the Permanent Representation in Brussels worked daily at the heart of the European institutions.

He also noted that, in collaboration with the Deputy Ministry of Culture, a cultural program was implemented involving over 500 artists and cultural professionals, with activities in 31 countries and a parallel program carried out through the country’s network of diplomatic missions.

At the same time, Cyprus made its voice heard in Europe through the way it exercised its responsibilities as the Presidency, he went on to say. “We worked as a truly honest mediator, with impartiality and transparency, in the service of the common European interest. We represented all 27 member states equally on all issues, and that is why we earned their trust. This credibility was demonstrated during times of major challenges, with effective and swift responses, adapting where necessary, and with our presidency continuing without interruption. And we didn’t stop there; we leveraged our geographical position as a bridge between Europe and the broader Middle East and placed our region at the center of the European agenda,” he further emphasized.

“Our work in Europe, however, continues. We are emerging from the Presidency stronger, with a more powerful voice, and with relationships built on trust with every member state and every institution, while remaining active at the forefront of European developments,” he concluded.

In his own speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs said that the Cypriot Presidency was called upon to operate during a time of crises and multiple challenges in a particularly unstable, dangerous, and changing international and regional environment.

“And we rose to the challenge. This is what foreign observers, the institutions of the European Union, other member states, and third countries recognize first and foremost. This is precisely what guides our own course, within the framework of our foreign policy, which is to expand our diplomatic footprint. Amid these difficult circumstances, the Republic of Cyprus has not remained on the sidelines but has been actively engaged. “And this is because we made the necessary preparations; we demonstrated resilience as well as the necessary adaptability,” he noted.

According to Mr. Kompos, a key factor in this success was the priorities set during the planning process, including strengthening relations with countries in the wider region and the importance of maritime transport for Cyprus as a maritime nation.

“These two elements—the realities of the times—were precisely identified as key priorities by the European Union itself. In our own approach, we served these objectives; I refer to the composition of the European Council, which was attended by leaders from countries in the region, and the Gymnich Informal Council on Foreign Affairs, with the participation of counterparts from Saudi Arabia and India,” he added.

He also described the results on the crucial political issue of enlargement as impressive, especially regarding the Western Balkans, where significant progress was made—both with regard to Montenegro as well as in the case of Albania, while making special mention of the historic development concerning the opening of chapters for Moldova and Ukraine.

“The Cypriot Presidency has come to an end. The impression that has been formed remains—one of seriousness, methodical approach, stability, and effectiveness—and it has been recognized abroad. And it would be good if, as a domestic political community, we were not stingy with our own congratulations, which, in any case, should not be offered impersonally or in general terms. Civil society recognizes and has come to accept the view regarding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union,” he said.

“As a government called upon to handle and manage this national duty, we are proud. We thank and congratulate all those who contributed and worked under the political guidance of our colleagues and, at all times, under the guidance and direction of the President of the Republic. “We are proud of the results, and we are proud of the work that has been accomplished. Above all, we are proud of our country,” he concluded.