Cyprus takes over EU Council Presidency

Cyprus will hold the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026. President Nikos Christodoulides announced five priorities for the presidency, including autonomy through security and defence, competitiveness, an open but sovereign EU, a values-based Union that leaves no one behind, and a long-term budget underpinning an autonomous Union.

Key European Council meetings will take place on 19–20 March and 18–19 June 2026, preceded by a leaders’ retreat on competitiveness on 12 February outside Brussels.

On research matters, the Presidency will work on the following priorities:

• strengthen the role of research and innovation for competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy;
• develop Europe’s AI capacities in science and research infrastructures;
• deepen science diplomacy with the MENA region.

Negotiations will advance on Horizon Europe, Euratom/ITER, the Research Fund for Coal and Steel, and the European Innovation Act, alongside a planned Council Recommendation on science diplomacy.

Research ministers will meet for an informal meeting in Cyprus on 30–31 March 2026, with formal COMPET (Research) Councils on 27 February and 29 May in Brussels and an ERAC meeting on 15–16 April 2026.

For more information:

Website of the Cyprus EU Presidency

Programme and Priorities