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- Cyprus wants a political agreement on the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework by the end of 2026, with a priority deal by year-end.
- Christodoulides said Cyprus’ Schengen application should be discussed in December, after technical preparations for accession were completed.
- Cyprus offered to host the EU mission for Lebanon as its operational hub, citing proximity, relations with Lebanon and training capacity.
- The President said Cyprus’s migration measures have cut arrivals by more than 90% and increased returns by 180% since 2022.
President Nikos Christodoulides has called for greater flexibility on energy costs, progress on the European Union’s long-term budget and a decision on Cyprus’ Schengen membership bid by December.
Speaking on arrival at the European Council in Brussels on Thursday, Christodoulides outlined Cyprus’ priorities, including suspending the implementation of the EU’s Emissions Trading System 2 (ETS2), protecting funding for agriculture and cohesion, and strengthening regional energy links.
He also called for a political agreement on the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) by the end of 2026, warning that delays could make negotiations more difficult.
Cyprus backs further flexibility on energy costs
Christodoulides said the EU should give member states greater flexibility to introduce national measures to address energy costs and further suspend the implementation of ETS2.
He said several member states were seeking similar changes and that Cyprus would support the request.
The President also said discussions would address the geopolitical, energy and economic importance of the Greece–Cyprus electricity interconnection, known as the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI).
He said Cyprus would raise what he described as Turkey’s illegal efforts relating to the project, as well as the memorandum of cooperation between Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot authorities.
With the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed and tensions extending to the Red Sea, Christodoulides said EU countries should coordinate measures that deliver immediate relief to households and businesses.
He also called for longer-term measures to reduce the EU’s dependence on the region, highlighting electricity interconnections between member states. Strengthening citizens’ disposable income was another priority, he said.
Christodoulides seeks EU budget deal by year-end
The EU’s next long-term budget is expected to dominate the discussions, according to the President.
Christodoulides welcomed a new proposal from the Irish EU Presidency, which he said built on a proposal submitted during Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the EU.
He said Cyprus supported strengthening European policies on defence and security, competitiveness and migration, but argued that this should not come at the expense of the Common Agricultural Policy or cohesion funding.
The President said the Irish proposal represented an 8% reduction compared with the European Commission’s proposal. He expected the reduction to increase to between 10% and 12% as negotiations progressed, while stressing that securing a political agreement by the end of the year was the priority.
Christodoulides said the budget debate was primarily political rather than economic, arguing that the final agreement should reflect the EU’s priorities for the next period.
He also pointed to political uncertainty in member states, including the difficulties surrounding government formation in Sweden and the upcoming elections in Spain. Elections scheduled in France, Italy and Poland in 2027 could further complicate negotiations, he added.
The President expressed hope for substantial progress at the Brussels meeting and said an extraordinary European Council could take place in November.
Cyprus hopes for Schengen decision in December
Christodoulides said Cyprus’ technical preparations for joining the Schengen area had been completed and that he hoped the country’s application would be discussed by the relevant EU Council in December.
He said he would discuss the application with other EU leaders and had already raised the issue with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The December discussions would provide an opportunity for the final political decisions to be taken, he said.
Cyprus’s accession would mark a significant development in its integration into the EU’s passport-free travel area. However, the President’s remarks set out the government’s expectations rather than confirming that a final decision had been scheduled.
Cyprus offers to host EU mission for Lebanon
Christodoulides welcomed the decision to establish an EU mission for Lebanon and said Cyprus was prepared to serve as its operational hub.
He cited the island’s geographical proximity to Lebanon, its existing relations with the country and its training infrastructure.
The President specifically referred to the CYCLOPS Training Centre, established by Cyprus in cooperation with the United States. He said the centre had already trained people from 50 countries in the region.
Cyprus was ready to take on the role, he added.
President cites fall in migration arrivals
On migration, Christodoulides said Cyprus’s measures could serve as a model for other EU member states.
He said arrivals had fallen by more than 90% and returns had increased by 180%, compared with 2022.
The President also expressed support for a European emergency mechanism that the European Commission is expected to propose. He said such a mechanism would be particularly important when countries use migration as a means of exerting pressure on others.
EU relations with China, the Gulf and the United States
Christodoulides said he expected discussions on China and European competitiveness to proceed without major difficulties, citing what he described as a stronger common approach among European People’s Party leaders towards Beijing.
On the reported Trump–Putin agreement, he said the EU should have been better coordinated with the United States. He added that the immediate priority should be for EU member states to agree on their own response to the challenges facing Europe.
The President also addressed the proposed EU–Gulf Cooperation Council summit, saying Cyprus was awaiting confirmation of whether it would take place.
If held, Cyprus would participate, with the aim of securing concrete outcomes to strengthen ties between the EU and the Gulf region.
Christodoulides said Cyprus had advocated closer EU engagement with the wider Middle East during its EU Council Presidency, including through an informal meeting involving Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Gulf states and Syria.
He also argued that European and Gulf security were interconnected and called for a more active EU role in regional security.
Asked whether Cyprus would welcome the United Kingdom back into the EU, Christodoulides replied that Cyprus would be ready to welcome it if Britain decided to return.
Also read: President says December will be key for Cyprus’ Schengen accession
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