Cyprus concludes six-month presidency of the Council of the EU

Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou announced the conclusion of the six-month Cyprus presidency of the Council of the European Union. During this period, the presidency focused on establishing a more coordinated European housing policy and advancing civil protection legislation. Housing was prioritized as a critical social, economic, and demographic challenge facing the European Union. Key initiatives included an informal videoconference of EU housing ministers in February and a ministerial meeting in Nicosia in May. These discussions centered on increasing the supply of affordable housing through innovation, regulatory simplification, and investment. A significant achievement noted was the adoption of the Council conclusions titled 'Housing: Demographic Change and Policy Design.' This document marks the first collective recognition by EU member states of the necessity for a coordinated approach to housing. The presidency also reported progress in negotiations regarding the strengthening of EU civil protection mechanisms.