Under the motto “An Autonomous Union – Open to the World,” Cyprus assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in January. President Nikos Christodoulides outlined the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency during a plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The Presidency programme is organised around five strategic pillars:
- Security, defence and readiness
- Autonomy through competitiveness
- Enlargement through strength and confidence
- A Union of values that leaves no one behind
- The Multiannual Financial Framework
A central focus of the President’s address was the strengthening of the European security architecture through a comprehensive 360-degree approach, with particular emphasis on military mobility, maritime security and water security. President Christodoulides stressed the importance of the rapid implementation of a White Paper on the future of European defence, complemented by a Roadmap for Defence Readiness by 2030. Within this framework, maritime and water security are set to receive heightened attention through the further development of an enhanced EU Maritime Security Strategy.
Enhancing competitiveness represents another core priority of the Cyprus Presidency. The aim is to make the European Union “faster, smarter and simpler” by advancing a simplification agenda designed to reduce regulatory and administrative burdens on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In parallel, the Presidency seeks to reinforce the European Single Market in key strategic sectors to attract investment, with a particular focus on strengthening the resilience of European ports.
