Rafaela Dimitriadi
Cyprus officially concludes its six-month presidency of the Council of the European Union on June 30, with the government expressing clear satisfaction over what it describes as a successful term.
Following the final European Council meeting held under Cyprus' presidency, President Nikos Christodoulides said the country had completed its mission with tangible results. European leaders also praised Cyprus' performance, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa, and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
Cyprus at the centre of European diplomacy
During its presidency, Cyprus became a focal point for European diplomacy, culminating in the informal European Council summit held on April 23-24 at Ayia Napa Marina and the Filoxenia Conference Center in Nicosia.
The island welcomed several of Europe's top leaders, including Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Speaking to Kathimerini, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna said Cyprus delivered significant results across all five priority pillars of its presidency.
She said Cyprus led the Council's work with both pride and a strong sense of responsibility, aiming to help shape "a stronger, more autonomous European Union that is better equipped to respond to today's major challenges."
"And we achieved it," she said.
Raouna added that the presidency produced measurable and meaningful results directly linked to the objectives set under each policy pillar.
She said the outcome reflected nearly two years of preparation under the guidance of President Christodoulides, as well as Cyprus' commitment to professionalism, consensus-building, effective coordination, and respect for EU institutions.
Key agreements reached during the Cypriot presidency
While many of the legislative initiatives advanced during Cyprus' presidency had already been launched by EU institutions, Cyprus played an important role in moving several major legislative files forward and helping secure provisional political agreements pending final approval.
Critical Medicines Act
One of the presidency's most significant achievements came in the health sector.
Cyprus secured a provisional agreement with the European Parliament on the Critical Medicines Act, aimed at strengthening the EU's resilience against shortages of essential medicines across Europe.
The legislation seeks to improve the supply of critical medicines such as antibiotics, insulin and painkillers.
Air passenger rights
Another major breakthrough came after 13 years of negotiations, with political agreement reached on reforms to EU air passenger rights.
The provisional agreement received unanimous backing from the European Parliament's negotiating delegation and was formally endorsed through a joint letter signed by Cyprus' Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades on behalf of the Council and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola.
Faster return procedures for illegal migrants
On June 1, the Council of the EU, under the Cypriot presidency, reached a provisional agreement with the European Parliament aimed at speeding up the return of third-country nationals residing illegally within the EU.
Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides described migration as one of Cyprus' top presidency priorities and called the agreement a milestone that strengthens the credibility of the EU's migration policy.
€90 billion Ukraine support loan
In April 2026, the Council formally adopted the final legislative act needed to launch the EU's €90 billion financial assistance package for Ukraine, following the agreement reached by EU leaders in December 2025.
Progress on the EU's long-term budget
Cyprus also presented a revised negotiating framework for the EU's next Multiannual Financial Framework, including detailed budget figures.
Member states reached agreement in principle on key elements of the bloc's next seven-year budget, with permanent representatives approving preliminary agreements on several core components.
President Christodoulides described the framework as a mature negotiating proposal backed by concrete figures.
Stronger protection against child sexual abuse
After six months of negotiations, the Council and the European Parliament reached political agreement on a revised directive to combat child sexual abuse and sexual exploitation.
The Legal Service of the Republic of Cyprus led negotiations on behalf of the Council.
Justice Minister Costas Fytiris said the updated rules would strengthen protections for children, including against abuse facilitated through emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.
Responding to geopolitical instability
Raouna said Cyprus also managed to build consensus on difficult issues requiring unanimous agreement despite growing geopolitical instability, particularly in the Middle East.
She said the presidency demonstrated the flexibility needed to respond to rapidly evolving regional and international developments.
Referring to the presidency's slogan, "An Autonomous Union, Open to the World," Raouna said it proved more relevant than ever.
She noted that Cyprus placed particular emphasis on the EU's strategic autonomy, geopolitical and geo-economic developments, and the wider Middle East and Gulf region, as well as maritime security, migration, and housing.
Drone attack and Article 42.7
A drone attack targeting the British bases at Akrotiri during Cyprus' presidency prompted an immediate show of solidarity from EU member states.
Greece and France deployed military assets to the region in support of Cyprus.
Following the incident, President Christodoulides called for discussions on establishing clear mechanisms, protocols, and procedures for activating Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union, the bloc's mutual defense clause.
The proposal received support during the informal European Council meeting held in Cyprus in April, with preparatory work on a draft framework now expected to begin.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis also backed the initiative, stressing the need to strengthen and operationalize the clause.
European Affairs ministry likely to remain
President Christodoulides has also indicated that the Deputy Ministry for European Affairs will remain in place after Cyprus' EU presidency ends.
In an interview with Kathimerini, he said European policy now influences almost every aspect of government, making permanent coordination essential beyond the six-month presidency.
