Christodoulides: Cyprus’s presidency of the EU Council is a key task for 2026

President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, in his New Year’s address paid special attention to Cyprus’s upcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union, which the country will assume in the first half of 2026.

The head of state emphasized that this role is of strategic importance both for Cyprus’s international image and for promoting national priorities within the EU. According to him, the government is already actively preparing to ensure that the presidency is effective and strengthens Cyprus’s voice on the European stage.

Christodoulides noted that the presidency will be an opportunity for the country to contribute to discussions on key European issues — from security and migration to energy and social policy — as well as to strengthen cooperation with EU member states.