The Bureau of the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) is visiting Nicosia on Tuesday and Wednesday for its 743rd meeting, according to a press release by the Secretariat of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. This marks the first institutional meeting to take place in Cyprus in the context of the country’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on 1 January 2026.
The EESC Bureau’s proceedings will be hosted at the Presidential Palace.
According to the press release, the programme will open with an address by EESC President Seamus Boland, followed by a speech from Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides.
Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, will present the expected priorities of Cyprus’ upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU.
This will be followed by a Plenary Conference titled ‘Water Scarcity and Preparedness’, with Professor Fadi Comair, Director of the Energy, Environment and Water Research Center at the Cyprus Institute, and Durk Krol, Executive Director at Water Europe as speakers.
The press release noted that the European Economic and Social Committee is an advisory body of the EU composed of representatives of employers’ organisations, trade unions, and other stakeholder groups. It issues opinions on EU matters upon request by the European Commission, the Council of the EU, and the European Parliament, and may also issue opinions on its own initiative, acting as a bridge between EU decision-making institutions and the Union’s citizens and businesses.
In this context, and in line with the usual practice of each rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU, the EESC has been asked to prepare 14 opinions on behalf of the upcoming Cypriot Presidency, covering areas of mutual interest and priority, it said.