Cyprus takes over the presidency of the Council of the EU

Cyprus takes over the presidency of the Council of the EU

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On January 1, 2026, Cyprus took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Cyprus will hold the Presidency until June 30, 2026, continuing the trio Presidency with Poland and Denmark.

The Cypriot Presidency has chosen “An Autonomous Union. Open to the World.” as its motto for its six-month term. The focus is on five overarching pillars:

  1. Autonomy through security
  2. Defense readiness and preparedness
  3. Autonomy through competitiveness
  4. Openness to the world – autonomous; an autonomous union of values that leaves no one behind
  5. Long-term budget for an autonomous union

Priorities in the EU Youth Dialogue: Youth Goal 1 “Connecting EU with Youth”

In the EU Youth Dialogue, Cyprus continues to focus on EU Youth Goal 1 “Connecting EU with Youth.” Two sub-goals are particularly in focus

1.6 – Strengthening young people’s trust in the EU project, including by reducing democratic deficits, lack of transparency, and lack of visibility;

1.7 – Institutionalizing the assessment of the youth-friendliness, impact, and effects of EU policies.

The Cyprus Presidency also highlights the “youth friendliness” of political decisions at national and European level as a separate priority – in other words, the question of whether and how, for example, laws are designed to be youth-friendly and their impact on young people is assessed.

 

EU Youth Conference and key dates in Cyprus:

Under the Cypriot Presidency, the EU Youth Conference will take place in Nicosia from March 17 to 20, 2026. Parallel events include a Director General Youth Meeting (March 19–20, 2026, Nicosia) and a Youth Policy Dialogue on March 19, 2026, in Ayia Napa.

Focus on the long-term EU budget: negotiations on the multiannual financial framework

A central pillar of the Council Presidency is a “long-term budget for an autonomous union” – and thus setting the course for the long-term EU budget and the upcoming budget debates. This is particularly relevant politically because it will determine what financial leeway will be available in the future for EU youth policy and programs such as Erasmus+, among other things.