Cyprus occupies a unique place on Europe's map. Geographically, it sits at the intersection of three continents — Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Politically and historically, it has lived with the consequences of instability radiating across those regions. Few European Union member states are as exposed to the faultlines of Europe's neighbourhood, or as invested in the practical management of coexistence and interfaith, security, humanitarian access, assistance and dialogue.
This context matters as Cyprus has assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second time in its history.
After 21 years in the EU, Cyprus brings regional insight and institutional maturity, with a record of diligent, consensus-oriented engagement and a disciplined dedication to the often-unseen work that keeps the EU's business moving forward. And it is what is expected from its presidency, particularly to advance negotiations on the next European long-term investment budget, the 2028 to 2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
Cyprus' modern history has also been shaped by an existential lesson. The island's 51-year-long division did not emerge in isolation, but through a convergence of external intervention and internal rupture: a coup imposed by the Greek military junta in 1974, followed by a Turkish military invasion that entrenched occupation, division and displacement.
The legacy of that period continues to define Cyprus's diplomacy. Rather than approaching it from a position of dominance, Cypriot diplomacy stems from a deep awareness of the costs of failed mediation — a perspective that resonates as the EU faces existential threats from conflict, cyber and hybrid warfare.
This article is part of The Parliament's Guide to the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.
A different presidency
Cyprus takes over the presidency after Denmark and before Ireland. This group of smaller EU member states is demonstrating how to manage this role with discipline, inclusiveness and procedural credibility. Yet a Cypriot presidency would bring a distinct geographic and strategic perspective.
Cyprus' position places the country on the front line of issues that increasingly shape the EU agenda: regional instability, climate change, migration routes, energy corridors, maritime security and relations with the countries at the EU's south-eastern border and the Gulf states.
By inviting the Secretary General of the Arab League and the Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council to the opening ceremony of Cyprus’ Council term, Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides demonstrated the EU's willingness to deepen dialogue with Arab organisations. Moreover, an informal meeting of heads of state or government planned for April 2026 is expected to bring together leaders from the EU and the Middle East.
President Christodoulides has also declared water resilience a clear priority of the presidency and a critical resource for peace and security.
He can leverage the scientific work of the Cyprus Institute, a multilateral organisation dedicated to hydrodiplomacy — the peaceful and strategic use of shared water resources among countries. The institute focuses on co-operation between western states and countries in the Middle East and North Africa, promoting the effective management of transboundary surface water and groundwater resources via international initiatives such as the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus.
Small-state advantage
In European diplomacy, size does not always translate into effectiveness.
During my tenure in Brussels, I worked on EU enlargement for the European Commission from 2000 to 2003 and contributed to preparations for the 2003 Greek presidency, where I led a qualitative research study on the competencies of EU presidencies.
The findings demonstrated that, in certain circumstances, smaller member states can act as more credible honest brokers, because they are perceived as less inclined to instrumentalise negotiations for power projection and more invested in procedural fairness.
For Cyprus, this is a significant asset. Lacking structural weight to impose outcomes, this constraint can facilitate dialogue, paving the way to build consensus on the next MFF and laying the groundwork for an agreement to be concluded under the subsequent Irish presidency.
Thanks to more compact administrations, smaller countries often demonstrate greater agility in addressing cross-cutting policy areas. This dynamic is evident in Cyprus' digital and innovation agenda — spanning competitiveness, digital innovation, cybersecurity and telecommunications — as well as in the pursuit of the EU's strategic autonomy, where decisions increasingly link competitiveness, finance, defence and security and critical raw materials.
Cyprus' case illustrates a broader European truth: leadership in the EU is not exercised only through size or assertiveness, but through trust, competence and restraint. In a period of regional instability and internal pressures, the capacity to act as an honest broker is strategic — and this role suits Cyprus quite well.
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