Marilena Raouna calls for permanent EU coordination structure in Cyprus

Outgoing Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, whose term ends on July 31, has emphasized the need to preserve the institutional legacy of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. In an interview with the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), she argued that the presidency experience should serve as a national asset rather than a temporary project. Raouna proposed the creation of a permanent central coordination structure to oversee all government departments dealing with EU matters. She noted that EU-related issues have become increasingly complex, voluminous, and horizontal in nature. This proposed structure aims to bridge potential policy discrepancies between different ministries to ensure a unified national position. The government is currently considering a six-month extension for the Deputy Ministry to facilitate this transition. Raouna identified the consolidation of institutional memory and the adoption of best practices from other member states as key priorities for Cyprus.