Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU concludes after six months

President Nikos Christodoulides presented the results of the six-month Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union in Nicosia. The government reported the successful completion of 27 out of 32 legislative files handled during this period. Key areas of focus included security and defense, competitiveness, EU enlargement, citizens' rights, and the preparation of the next long-term EU budget. Specific achievements cited include advancements in military mobility, a new agreement on passenger rights after 13 years of negotiations, regulations on critical medicines, and the first EU conclusions exclusively dedicated to housing. Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos and Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna emphasized the administrative resilience shown by the state during a time of geopolitical instability. The Presidency, which utilized a dedicated Secretariat established in January 2024, also prioritized strengthening the EU's role in the Middle East and Ukraine. The government plans to integrate the political influence and institutional knowledge gained during this term into its long-term European policy.