Cyprus concludes its EU Council presidency

The Cypriot presidency of the Council of the European Union concluded on June 30, with the handover to Ireland scheduled to begin on Wednesday in Dublin. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the presidency as a success, noting that Cyprus effectively advanced the EU agenda regarding competitiveness and enlargement while building critical ties in the Middle East. President Nikos Christodoulides officially marked the end of the term at a ceremony held at the Filoxenia Conference Centre. He stated that the presidency exceeded expectations, attributing the outcome to the professional efforts of state officials and volunteers. Furthermore, President Christodoulides announced that the Deputy Ministry of European Affairs and specialized European units within ministries will be maintained to leverage the expertise gained during this period. Ireland will take over the presidency with an opening ceremony attended by the President of the European Commission and European Council President Antonio Costa. Government officials, including Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kombos and Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, emphasized that the term strengthened Cyprus's international standing.