The expertise, institutional memory and skills acquired during the two-and-a-half years of preparing for and holding the EU Council Presidency at the first half of 2026 should not be lost, but rather regarded as an asset that can be utilised over the long term for the benefit of the state and the public interest, Former Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna said on Tuesday.
Raouna, who was addressing the opening ceremony of the Cyprus Forum, focused on the ‘lessons learnt’, Cyprus can draw from its Presidency of the Council of the EU and apply to the way the state operates. She argued that the greatest legacy of the Presidency is not limited to the European level, but serves as a ‘proof of concept’ for more effective strategic governance at the national level.
She identified the merit-based selection of personnel, the clear definition of priorities and timelines, and the systematic coordination and monitoring of implementation as key elements of this model. She noted, by way of example, that the Cyprus Presidency Secretariat grew from one person in January 2024 – herself – to 70 people by 1 January 2026, through an open selection process for public servants based on qualifications, experience, ‘strictly on merit’.
Raouna stressed that the expertise, institutional memory and skills acquired during the two-and-a-half years of preparing for and holding the Presidency should not be lost, but rather regarded as an asset that can be utilised over the long term for the benefit of the state and the public interest. As she put it, ‘if everything is a priority, then nothing is a priority’, emphasising that clear priorities and strict timelines ‘produce better government’.
She also placed particular emphasis on the need for strategic planning and continuous monitoring of policy implementation, with clear allocation of responsibilities, deadlines and performance indicators. ‘Preparedness is governance,’ she said, noting that it builds capacity and reflexes before crises arise.
Establishing sovereign European defence a necessity, MEP Mavrides says
Cypriot MEP Costas Mavrides, in his Keynote Speech on Security and Defence, said that Europe’s security can no longer be outsourced and stressed the necessity of establishing a sovereign European defence, whit the collective capacity to plan, produce, deploy and sustain capabilities on its own terms but also acting independently when necessary.
He said that the European Parliament’s role should not be neglected in this process, adding that the legal basis that the Commission used for the safe instruments not only excluded the European Parliament, but also required that the Council – the Member States – could only decide by majority rule and not by unanimity. He said that the competent European Parliament Committee unanimously ‘declared that such a decision is not legally valid’.
He also noted that the rapporteur of the European Parliament on the Defence Sector Horizon Europe programme that supports research and innovation on the defence sector.
Mavrides said that the EU Defence Union envisions a comprehensive and autonomous security and defence framework that reflects the European Union’s unique strategic identity, values and geopolitical ambitions. Taking greater responsibility for our own security, means reducing our dependency on third countries for critical defence equipment and technologies, he said.
He also said that Europe should continue to cooperate with like-minded partners when and where it is necessary, but that such cooperation must rest on mutual respect and firm commitment to the EU’s fundamental values and principles, including respect for international law. ‘This is the reason, for example, why Turkey cannot be part of the EU defence’ he said, adding that Ankara’s foreign policy goes against EU security interests and values as, among many other aspects, it illegally occupies over 36% of EU territory in Cyprus, maintaining a war threat against another Member State.
Referring to Cyprus’ role in the Mediterranean and beyond, he said that Cyprus maintains strong and trusted relations with the countries across its region. This, he said, allows Nicosia to act as a credible bridge between the EU and its neighbours, serves as a trusted interlocutor and a reliable representative of the EU in the region, promoting EU interests and stability.
Placing the Mediterranean region at the centre of EU security and defence policy is also a European Parliament position, he noted.
Concluding, he said that defining a clear direction and security, adequate funding were necessary steps, but that they will remain ‘meaningless’ without the political will of the Member States to turn towards action.
‘Europe must act now, together in solidarity. And in today’s complex world, for the EU to achieve our social, economic, environmental and much more goals, we need European defence and security’, he said.
Disagreement is the oxygen of democracy, Kyriakides says
In a welcoming address earlier, Nicolas Kyriakides, Executive President of the Cyprus Forum said that they believe in policymaking based on transparency and participation, because, as he noted, this is the only path that stands the test of time. ‘Disagreement is the oxygen of democracy. A country where everyone agrees is not a democracy; it is silence,’ he said.
Referring to the withdrawals from this year’s Forum, Kyriakides said that this was a sensitive issue. ‘We did not consult in advance with everyone we should have, and this had consequences,’ he said. ‘People whom we deeply value decided not to be here today. We respect their decision and hold no resentment,’ he said. Apologising ‘to everyone who believes in peace’, he added: ‘We heard you, we understand you, and we will continue our efforts to rectify the mistake.’
He also said that the Forum had brought to the table issues that had not previously been discussed publicly, whether relating to the Cyprus problem or other matters. ‘We brought them to the table because it was necessary, and this is what we will continue to do, because we believe that institutions are strong when they stand on principles, not emotions,’ he said, among other remarks. The future of the country, Kyriakides said, will be shaped by those who insist on continuing the dialogue.