Cyprus assumes EU Council presidency amid tensions

Cyprus assumes EU Council presidency amid heightened geopolitical tensions

As of January 1, Cyprus has assumed the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union for a six-month term, succeeding Denmark. The Council, which represents the governments of EU member states, is one of the three central pillars of the Union’s legislative process, alongside the European Commission and the European Parliament.

Cyprus’ presidency begins at a time of intensified geopolitical uncertainty, marked by ongoing war in Ukraine, shifting transatlantic dynamics and internal political pressures within the European Union.

A presidency shaped by external crises

According to Cypriot media outlet O Politis, the agenda of the Cypriot presidency will be strongly influenced by current geopolitical, economic and institutional pressures facing the EU. The war in Ukraine, evolving relations with the United States and the rise of far-right political movements across Europe are expected to weigh heavily on decision-making during the six-month term.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Cyprus has gradually repositioned its foreign policy. Historically, the island maintained close economic, financial and tourism ties with Russia. European affairs experts note that these links have been significantly reduced as Cyprus aligned more closely with common EU positions.

“Cyprus is today more firmly anchored within the European political framework than it was in the past,” observes Sébastien Maillard, special adviser at the Jacques Delors Institute, highlighting a strategic shift accelerated by the war in Ukraine.

Strategic autonomy and enlargement on the agenda

This marks the second time Cyprus has held the presidency of the Council, following its first term in 2012. The government has outlined priorities that include EU enlargement, stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, migration management, strengthening European competitiveness and social cohesion, and advancing both the green and digital transitions.

EU enlargement is once again high on the agenda, with Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkan countries seeking closer integration or eventual membership. This renewed momentum raises fundamental questions about the Union’s institutional capacity, internal cohesion and the balance between normative values and geopolitical imperatives.

Turkey and the Eastern Mediterranean factor

Cyprus’ presidency also carries particular regional sensitivities. Turkey remains a key NATO ally and an important, though complex, partner for the European Union. Relations are further complicated by the unresolved division of Cyprus, following Turkey’s military intervention in 1974 and the continued separation between the Greek Cypriot south and the Turkish Cypriot north.

These dynamics place Cyprus in a delicate position as the EU continues discussions on security, defense cooperation and regional stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Cypriot media have described the presidency as “an opportunity that also carries risks,” given the potential overlap between national sensitivities and broader European strategic interests.

Ukraine at the center of early diplomatic exchanges

On the first day of the presidency, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky held his first phone call of the year with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. Zelensky congratulated Cyprus on assuming the EU Council presidency and expressed hope for strong decisions that would reinforce both Ukraine and European security during the six-month term.

According to the Ukrainian presidency, Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine’s future membership in the European Union is viewed in Kyiv as a key security guarantee. He also briefed his counterpart on ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at achieving a sustainable peace.

The Ukrainian president thanked Cyprus and the Cypriot people for their continued support since the beginning of the conflict.

A presidency with symbolic and political weight

For some observers, Cyprus’ presidency also carries symbolic significance domestically. The island has remained divided for more than five decades, and some analysts suggest that the EU spotlight could help refocus attention on the unresolved Cyprus issue.

The English-language Cyprus Mail has argued that the presidency could benefit both Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots by highlighting political equality and federal solutions, themes central to long-standing negotiations on reunification.

As the European Union navigates a period of sustained crisis and strategic recalibration, the Cypriot presidency is expected to act primarily as a facilitator and coordinator — balancing national perspectives with collective European objectives in an increasingly complex global environment.