After its first mandate in 2012, Cyprus' second presidency of the Council of the European Union faces a deeply transformed international context.
Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in early 2022, has led the EU to increase its military spending, aiming to mobilise €800 billion by 2030 and phase out Russian gas and oil imports by 2027.
Donald Trump's return to the White House last year triggered a dramatic shift in transatlantic relations, upending economic and security ties between the United States and Europe. The Trump administration has imposed a 15% tariff on EU goods, while threatening to reduce equipment and weapons shipments into Ukraine and calling into question the US commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
The nascent Cyprus presidency has set out a programme to apply European 'strategic autonomy' — combining Europe's traditional multilateral approach with the necessity to act independently on the world stage — as The Parliament discussed with Ambassador Christina Rafti, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Cyprus to the EU.
The key priorities centre around ensuring defence and energy autonomy, implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum, simplifying bureaucracy to foster competitiveness, advancing talks on the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), and moving forward negotiations on enlargement with EU candidate countries.
The following interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How can your presidency strengthen the EU's internal market and co-operation with neighbouring countries?
Cyprus is taking over the presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second time since our accession and, as President Christodoulides stated during the official presentation of our priorities, we are committed to work[ing] for an "autonomous Union, open to the world." The EU's role as a global actor is closely linked to its economic strength. We will work towards making the EU more competitive by advancing the simplification agenda. Strengthening the EU's economic standing is also about co-operating with external partners and promoting closer trade ties with like-minded partners.
At the same time, fostering positive relations with the EU's neighbours is essential for Europe's strategic autonomy, long-term security and shared prosperity. We advocate for a 360-degree approach: maintaining steadfast support for Ukraine and the eastern neighbourhood, while also ensuring a more visible and engaged EU role in the Middle East and across the southern neighbourhood.
The EU needs to boost its autonomy by being outward-looking from a position of inner strength. We intend to work intensively, inclusively and transparently with all member states and institutions, including the European Parliament, to achieve this goal.
What will Cyprus deliver in six months?
Defence will be a key priority of Cyprus' presidency. We intend to focus on strengthening Europe's capacity to produce and supply defence equipment, and on improving co-operation within the defence market, especially for SMEs. Concrete deliverables will include the implementation of EDIP [European Defence Industry Programme], the approval of national plans submitted under the SAFE [Security Action for Europe] regulation and working on the Defence Readiness Roadmap.
We are committed to ensuring that the new MFF reflects the Union's strategic priorities and addresses longstanding investment needs, as well as new and emerging challenges across the EU. We aim to present a mature negotiating box with indicative figures in June 2026.
Improving Europe's competitiveness is also at the heart of our programme. We will push for simpler and more consistent rules, a better functioning of the single market and promoting investment channels. We will work to advance both ongoing and upcoming simplification packages.
As a member state deeply impacted by migration, this will constitute a key priority for our presidency, particularly when it comes to addressing the external dimension of migration. With the Pact on Migration and Asylum set to enter into force in June, we will work together with member states and the European Parliament, as co-legislator, to reach a provisional agreement on rules on returns.
This article is part of The Parliament's Guide to the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.
At a time when multilateralism has lost ground, how does enlargement serve as a strategic tool for EU defence?
First, let me highlight that in the current geopolitical context, multilateralism is more important than ever. Cyprus' geographical position makes us acutely aware of the importance of collective approaches to shared challenges. Multilateralism is not an abstract principle, but a practical necessity. This commitment has been reaffirmed by Cyprus' recent election to the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2025 to 2027 term — the first time our country has held this position. This reflects the credibility of Cyprus as a principled and consistent advocate of human rights.
Enlargement represents one of the EU's most powerful strategic tools. Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and wider geopolitical developments have given a renewed momentum to the EU's enlargement policy. Unifying the European continent, on the basis of common democratic values, will determine the collective security of the EU, but also of the wider neighbourhood. Our aim is to make significant progress in advancing accession negotiations with individual candidate countries, while working on necessary internal EU reforms [that] will allow further enlargement.
How will Cyprus speed up accession negotiations?
Anchoring Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkans to the EU is a high priority for our presidency, and we will work tirelessly to make progress on their accession paths, in line with a merit-based approach.
On both Ukraine and Moldova, we aim to maintain the current dynamism through technical discussions and pave the way for opening cluster one, once the conditions for unanimity allow it, followed by the rest of the clusters.
Regarding the Western Balkans, we commend the progress achieved by frontrunners Montenegro and Albania. We aim to establish an ad-hoc working party for the drafting of Montenegro's accession treaty during our presidency and to close as many chapters as possible. We also aim to hold an Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) with Albania on the Interim Benchmark Assessment Report (IBAR) on the fundamentals and start closing negotiating chapters.
We encourage Serbia, despite the challenges, to remain close to the EU and follow a positive reform trajectory. Opening cluster three during our presidency remains a priority, based on merit.
Can we expect a more united stance on the conflict in Israel and the Palestinian territories?
The EU's relations with the Middle East are ever more important in today’s landscape, which is why Cyprus will work, in close co-operation with the Commission and the HRVP (High Representative / Vice-President), to promote a more active role for the EU, in relation to Middle Eastern and Gulf partners. Close co-operation with the southern neighbourhood is essential, as the region remains highly unstable. As the EU member state closest to the region, Cyprus will support efforts on the ground, politically, financially and operationally. We intend to invite partners from the region to a high-level meeting on the margins of the informal summit of EU-27 leaders taking place in April.
We will also focus on progress on the new Pact for the Mediterranean, a key policy tool for co-operation in our wider region. This includes work on regional connectivity, such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which involves our partners in the Gulf.
Cyprus has always advocated for a more united, visible and relevant EU role in the region. There are aspects where all EU-27 see eye to eye: the need for a sustained ceasefire in Gaza, for dialogue and a two-state solution, as well as the need for sustained provision of humanitarian assistance at scale. We need to maintain the EU's credibility and presence, including through reconstruction efforts and humanitarian aid delivered through the Amalthia Maritime Corridor, in conjunction with European and global initiatives.
Your presidency aims to implement the Pact on Migration and Asylum. How will Cyprus balance third-country co-operation with migrant rights?
The effort for deeper co-operation with third countries is not about sending migrants away, but about making sure that decisions to return or accept an asylum seeker are taken quickly, and that return decisions are carried out efficiently and with respect to the applicant's dignity and in line with international law and human rights. Deeper co-operation with third countries also involves fighting human smuggling networks that trick and abuse the trust of desperate people. Ultimately, it’s about addressing the root causes of migration.
Cyprus' presidency will also be taking forward the discussions that have begun to establish a clear legal basis for negotiations for the establishment of return hubs.
What results can Cyprus achieve on water security?
Water scarcity and droughts are increasingly frequent and widespread in the EU. We will continue to promote sustainable water management to ensure food security, agricultural productivity and economic stability.
We aim to advance discussions on the Water Resilience Strategy. For Cyprus, water security is central to achieving a larger sense of security, sustainability and development. Ensuring that water management strategies are inclusive and equitable, addressing the needs of vulnerable populations and promoting social cohesion form an integral part in achieving Europe's autonomy, and this will be a central theme during our presidency.
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