Cyprus concludes its EU Council Presidency for environment and climate

On Thursday in Luxembourg, Cypriot Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Maria Panagiotou chaired the final EU Environment Council meeting under the Cypriot Presidency. Minister Panagiotou highlighted the urgency of addressing climate change amidst a significant heatwave affecting Central and Northern Europe. During the six-month term, the Presidency focused on strengthening European climate leadership and environmental resilience. Key achievements included progress on water resilience strategies and agreements regarding the Market Stability Reserve for the ETS2 system. Additionally, the Council reached a general approach on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and advanced regulatory frameworks for CO2 standards for vehicles. The Presidency also supported the circular economy agenda and secured the approval of conclusions concerning the EU Bioeconomy Strategy. Commissioner for Environment Jessika Roswall and Commissioner for Climate Wopke Hoekstra were acknowledged for their cooperation during this period.