During a visit to Cyprus, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the priorities for the upcoming Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union in early 2026. She highlighted Cyprus’s strategic location and its expertise in diplomacy, stating: “Your country stands at the crossroads of continents and cultures. This gives Cypriots a unique expertise in dialogue, negotiation and diplomacy. Assets that will matter greatly as you steer our common agenda in the first half of 2026.”
Von der Leyen outlined three main areas for cooperation during Cyprus’s presidency: security and defence, competitiveness and decarbonisation, as well as democracy and partnerships.
On security and defence, she pointed to recent progress at the European level, referencing new initiatives such as the White Paper and Readiness Roadmap 2030. Von der Leyen noted that up to 800 billion euros have been mobilized for defence efforts, including 150 billion euros for joint procurement under the SAFE programme. She stated: “Today, the first 8 out of 19 plans have been approved by the College. Now it is urgent for the Council to approve these plans to allow fast disbursement.”
The situation in Ukraine was also addressed. Von der Leyen emphasized continued support amid ongoing conflict with Russia: “Peace talks are ongoing. At the same time, Russia continues its brutal shelling. This is the moment to keep our support strong and sustained.” She referenced a proposed 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine requiring swift agreement between EU institutions, adding that since Russia’s invasion began four years ago, EU support has reached up to 193 billion euros.
Economic competitiveness was another key topic. Von der Leyen discussed innovation policies such as Choose Europe program and upcoming conferences during Cyprus’s presidency. She mentioned efforts to reduce bureaucratic burdens on businesses through new regulatory packages aimed at supporting innovative companies within the Single Market.
Efforts toward simplifying regulation were also noted: “10 Omnibuses are on their way… all in all the burden reduction is 12 billion EUR per year every year.” The importance of trade agreements was underscored by an anticipated signing of an EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement after lengthy negotiations.
Migration policy remains a priority area with implementation of reforms under discussion: “We must work hand in hand to implement the Pact on Migration and Asylum,” von der Leyen said. She reported improved trends across Europe regarding irregular arrivals.
Finally, von der Leyen stressed Cyprus’s role in advancing discussions on a long-term EU budget by late 2026: “With speed and focus, we can deliver a modern and ambitious EU budget.”
She concluded her remarks by expressing eagerness for continued collaboration with Cypriot leaders during their term leading EU activities.
