Education Minister Dr Athena Michaelidou declared on Monday that Cyprus’s upcoming EU Presidency will strengthen education as the cornerstone of a resilient, cohesive, competitive and innovative Europe.
Speaking at the first high-level education and training event ahead of Cyprus’s Council Presidency in the first half of 2026, the Minister (address read by Director-General Giorgos Panteli) announced Cyprus will pursue a balanced, future-oriented agenda.
Four flagship priorities for 2026
- Advance Erasmus+ regulation negotiations with stronger emphasis on accessibility and inclusion
- Decisive action to raise the prestige and attractiveness of the teaching profession, especially in the age of artificial intelligence
- Modern, dynamic vocational education and training aligned with emerging labour-market needs
- Renewed commitment to cooperation on higher-education mobility
“These priorities serve one clear strategic goal: to reinforce education as the bedrock of a resilient, cohesive, competitive and innovative Europe,” Michaelidou said.
“We aim to ensure our systems remain inclusive, innovative, resilient and able to meet the evolving needs of all learners – particularly the most vulnerable.”
She stressed that policies must move from paper to practice and deliver tangible benefits for pupils across Europe. Young generations face unprecedented challenges – technological acceleration, climate upheaval, social fragmentation and complex geopolitics – and Europe owes them not only high-quality education but also values, direction, confidence and hope.
A special responsibility in Europe’s last divided capital
The Minister noted the special weight this responsibility carries in Nicosia, Europe’s last divided capital: “Its division daily reminds us of the fragility of peace and the duty of dialogue, yet the same city proves human resilience, creativity and the belief that transformation is always possible.”
Michaelidou thanked the outgoing Danish Presidency for its dedicated leadership and pledged to build on its work through dialogue and cooperation with all member states.
Director-General Giorgos Panteli presented the detailed work programme, guided by the conviction that education both founds and catalyses a stronger Europe. Cyprus will organise a rich calendar of events, including:
- An informal meeting of Education Ministers in late January in Nicosia, focusing on teachers’ professional development, career attractiveness and future empowerment
- Three flagship conferences in Nicosia: the 6th International Conference on Literacy and Contemporary Societies (February), a conference on whole-school approaches to education for sustainable development (May), and the ETF International Conference on vocational training (June)
Danish senior official Marie Juel Bech Nielsen reviewed her Presidency’s achievements, including launching Erasmus+ regulation talks that Cyprus will continue.
European Commission Director Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva outlined recent progress and upcoming actions on skills training, STEM education and the impact of artificial intelligence.
Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos underlined the capital’s deep ties to knowledge and academic excellence, hosting most of Cyprus’s universities and six EU centres of excellence, with nearly 50,000 students today.
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