The EU Informal Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Council will take place on Thursday and Friday, 22-23 January 2026. This will be the first Informal Council to be held within the framework of Cyprus’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2026.
According to a press release by the Cypriot Presidency, the meeting of Ministers and Deputy Ministers responsible for Home Affairs will be held on Thursday, 22 January. The session will be chaired by Cypriot Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection Nicholas Ioannides, with discussions focusing on sustainable migrant returns, support for reintegration, and the external dimension of migration.
Arrivals of European Ministers and Deputy Ministers are scheduled between 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., with proceedings beginning at 10:00 a.m. (local time). During the afternoon session, starting at 2:30 p.m., issues relating to the Schengen Area will be discussed, under the chairmanship of the Cypriot Minister of Justice and Public Order, Costas Fitiris. A press conference will be held at 5:00 p.m. to mark the conclusion of the first day of the Informal Council.
On Friday, 23 January, the Informal Council on Justice matters will take place, chaired by the Minister of Justice. Arrivals of European Ministers and Deputy Ministers are scheduled between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. Discussions will address issues such as combating financial crime, cross-border protection of cultural heritage, and the handling of juvenile and young offenders. A press conference will be held at 3:00 p.m. following the conclusion of the proceedings.