The Cypriot EU Presidency concluded by strengthening the momentum toward a more coherent European housing policy and by contributing substantially to the progress of important legislative work in the field of civil protection policy, according to Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou.

According to a statement from the Ministry, Mr. Ioannou notes that with the conclusion of Cyprus’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Cyprus is concluding six months of intensive work and substantial contribution to the shaping of European policies in the areas of housing and civil protection.

Through targeted initiatives and political dialogue, he adds, the Cypriot Presidency has made housing a top European priority and has driven substantial progress in negotiations to strengthen the Union’s civil protection, laying a strong foundation for the continuation of European policies in these two areas, which directly affect citizens’ daily lives.

Housing

As she emphasizes, since the start of its Presidency, Cyprus has made it a central policy priority to highlight the housing issue as one of the most significant social, economic, and demographic challenges facing the European Union today.

“The Presidency has worked consistently to ensure that access to affordable, decent, and sustainable housing becomes a key element of the European social and political agenda,” he notes.

Specifically, the Minister of the Interior notes that during the six-month term, in February, the first informal videoconference of ministers responsible for housing, launching a European dialogue on the future of the European Plan for Affordable Housing. This was followed in March by a ministerial lunch on the margins of the EPSCO Council, which played a decisive role in preparing the Council’s Conclusions. Also, in May, Nicosia hosted the Informal Ministerial Meeting on “Unlocking Housing Potential: Simplification, Innovation, and Mobilizing Investments,” during which participants explored ways to increase the supply of affordable and sustainable housing through innovation, the simplification of procedures, and the mobilization of public and private investments.

He emphasizes that a highlight of the Cypriot Presidency was the adoption of the Council Conclusions on Housing, titled “Housing: Demographic Change and Policy Design.”

“Through these Conclusions, Member States recognized for the first time the importance of a collective European approach to the issue of housing, while respecting the principle of subsidiarity, which takes into account demographic trends, labor market needs, social inclusion, and Europe’s competitiveness,” notes Mr. Ioannou.

At the same time, he points out, the need to support young people, families, students, the elderly, and middle-income households is emphasized through increasing the housing supply, stimulating investment, and making more effective use of the existing housing stock.

It further notes that particular emphasis was also placed on housing security for students and middle-income households, recognizing that the housing crisis now affects broader segments of society and poses not only a social but also an economic challenge, directly linked to Europe’s competitiveness and sustainable development.

Civil Protection

In the area of civil protection, the Minister of the Interior notes that the Cypriot Presidency has made significant progress in negotiations on the new Regulation on the Union Civil Protection Mechanism and EU support for preparedness and response to emergencies.

In this context, he adds, the Council approved the Progress Report on the relevant Regulation, reflecting the significant progress achieved during the Cypriot Presidency.

Mr. Ioannou says that Cyprus has substantially advanced the negotiations, completed its review of the key elements of the proposal, helped clarify Member States’ positions on key political and technical issues, and submitted compromise proposals that brought Member States closer to shaping a balanced and functionalframework.

“This progress creates a strong foundation for the upcoming presidencies to continue the negotiations, while strengthening the preparedness, resilience, and capacity of the European Union to respond more effectively to future crises and emergencies,” he adds.

A Legacy for the Future

“The Cypriot Presidency concluded by strengthening the momentum for a more coherent European housing policy and by contributing substantially to the progress of important legislative work in the area of,” emphasizes the Minister of the Interior.

Through consensus-based processes, close cooperation with member states and European institutions, and with a clear political direction, Cyprus has helped lay a solid foundation upon which future presidencies will continue to build, for the benefit of European citizens, he concludes.

Source: CNA