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Cyprus is preparing to welcome approximately 20,000 visitors, including delegates and journalists, during its upcoming six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna said Wednesday.
Raouna, addressing the Parliamentary Committee on Institutions, emphasized that a successful presidency would enhance Cyprus’s role in Europe and spotlight critical national issues, including the ongoing division of the island.
The presidency, set to begin in the first half of 2026, will be centered in Brussels, with Cyprus chairing 195 working groups and handling 330 legislative files. The island nation will also host 258 meetings and up to 30 trilogue negotiations.
Raouna underlined transparency and accountability as guiding principles for the presidency, amid public scrutiny over job postings and staffing. She clarified that relevant vacancies had been announced three weeks ahead of deadline by the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs. Staffing is expected to be completed by July 31, 2026, with 331 approved positions supporting ministries and Cyprus’s Permanent Representation to the EU.
Lawmakers across party lines voiced support for the presidency, framing it as a national undertaking. MPs also called for transparency, equal opportunity hiring, and efforts to sustain the Secretariat’s work beyond the presidency term.
Responding to questions, officials confirmed scientific associates will earn approximately €75,000 annually, with many selected based on high-level EU experience and advanced academic credentials. Positions have also been approved for diplomatic missions in seven cities, including Vienna and Dublin.
Infrastructure preparations are ongoing, with the Conference Centre already renovated to EU specifications and the Press Centre expected to be ready by September 2025. The presidency calendar accounts for Cyprus’s May 2026 parliamentary elections.
Consultations for defining presidency priorities are underway, with key focus areas including social policy, high energy prices, housing, and EU-Middle East relations.
“This presidency is not just a technical exercise,” Raouna said. “It’s an opportunity to strengthen our footprint in Europe and raise awareness of the Cyprus issue as the EU’s last occupied member state.”
