Europe Island state Cyprus has taken over the EU Presidency
At the turn of the year, Cyprus, one of the smallest EU countries, took over the six-month rotating presidency of the EU Council.
01.01.2026, 00:17
SDA
Representatives of the island state, which has a population of only around one million, will thus take over the chairmanship of numerous ministerial meetings until the end of June and mediate in the event of differences of opinion between the EU states.
The main aim is to ensure that EU legislative procedures run as smoothly as possible. Denmark has held the EU Council Presidency for the past six months.
Key EU topics in the first half of 2026 will be reforms for greater competitiveness, further support for Ukraine and further steps in the fight against unwanted migration. In addition, work on the next long-term EU budget and other ongoing legislative projects must be driven forward. Most recently, for example, the EU Commission proposed a move away from the 2035 deadline for new cars with combustion engines. This will now be discussed in the EU Council of Ministers under the Cyprus Presidency.
Council presidency with great symbolic power
Cyprus is assuming the presidency of the Council for the second time since 2012, a role that is highly symbolic for the small state, as the island has been de facto divided since 1974. In the north of Cyprus, there is the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is only recognized worldwide by Turkey and is occupied by Turkish troops. Although the whole of Cyprus has been a de jure member of the EU since 2004, EU law and regulations only apply to the southern part of the island. UN blue helmets monitor the dividing line, also known as the buffer zone, between the north and south of the island.
However, the issue of the division of Cyprus will not be on the Council Presidency's agenda. According to Cypriot government circles, particular national interests should not be allowed to put the brakes on the joint plans. The United Nations has been trying for years to overcome the division of Cyprus, but negotiations have repeatedly stagnated. The options range from a united island to a federal structure to a two-state solution, as recently propagated by the Turkish government.
Cyprus as access to the EU market
Beyond the geopolitical problems, Cyprus has recovered quickly after a severe financial crisis in 2013. International finance, tourism and shipping are contributing to the small country's economic strength. The island also traditionally attracts investors from countries such as Israel, Russia, Ukraine and Arab countries, who use the location as a gateway to the EU market. The official languages of the Republic of Cyprus are Greek and Turkish - however, only Greek is the country's official EU language.
"Open to the world"
The official motto of the Cyprus Presidency is: "An autonomous union. Open to the world.". It is intended to convey that the EU wants to combine internal strength and independence with openness, cooperation and global engagement.
"The Cyprus Presidency will be determined to give new impetus to the European project and make a substantial contribution to the next step of our common journey," said President Nikos Christodoulides at the presentation of the program.
