Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, underscored the importance of the Middle East as a permanent agenda item for the European Council, given its status as a neighboring region of the European Union. Speaking ahead of the Monday General Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, she highlighted the significance of the agenda.
Raouna emphasized that “Cyprus aims to act as the European Union’s footprint in the region,” noting that the region is not only Cyprus’s neighborhood but also that of the EU, and it remains volatile. “We continue to act in a complementary manner regarding humanitarian assistance, such as the maritime corridor from Cyprus to Gaza for the delivery of humanitarian aid. We stand ready to evolve it when the time comes for reconstruction,” she added, also referring to the six-point plan for the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s 20-point plan, as presented by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides.
Regarding the Council’s agenda, Raouna mentioned “a very important discussion on the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), as well as EU-UK relations, the 2026 [European Commission] programme, and of course the rule of law dialogues.”
On the preparations for the European Council and Ukraine, she stressed that “it is very important that we maintain a strong and unequivocal message of support to Ukraine, precisely because the Russian aggression against Ukraine is a litmus test for the EU.” Addressing financial support for Ukraine, she noted that “it must continue.” At the member state level, she added that “we await the options paper from the European Commission”, reaffirming Cyprus’s support for the use of frozen assets. “What we are saying, along with other member states, is that we need to find a legally viable way to proceed,” she said
On the new MFF, Raouna described it as “a key discussion that will take place among the leaders. Their political guidance on the new MFF is of utmost importance. This is a new MFF for a new Europe. It will be a top priority for the Cyprus Presidency to advance the negotiations decisively during our upcoming Presidency, so that we reach our aim to have an agreement by the end of 2026,” she said.
She also highlighted the importance of including the Pact for the Mediterranean on the leaders’ agenda. “We believe it should be a point in the conclusions of the European Council. It is a strategic document, one that will start being implemented during the Cyprus Presidency. It encapsulates the strategic importance of the Southern Neighbourhood for the EU and how key it is to the EU’s autonomy,” Raouna said.
Regarding EU-UK relations, which are on the GAC agenda, Raouna stated that “we look forward to the update by Commissioner Šefcovic. What is important is that for this key strategic partner and like-minded partner, which is the UK, we continue on the path of implementing the existing agreements and all the protocols, implementing the common understanding that we reached last May, and that we continue to build trust with new areas of cooperation leading up to a new summit.” She added that “the Cyprus Presidency will maintain EU-UK relations high on the agenda during its Presidency.”
Raouna also referred to the 7th Intergovernmental Conference for Albania, “a significant event” as it marked the opening of all clusters in Albania’s accession negotiations. “The impressive progress achieved by Albania proves, among others, one core thing: that where there is real political commitment in a candidate country to its accession path, there is real and tangible progress.”
She concluded by emphasizing that “enlargement will be a priority under the Cyprus Presidency. We will maintain and speed up the momentum, geared towards achieving tangible results in the accession negotiations of Albania, but also for all other candidate countries.”