Ceremony opening and arrivals
The official launch ceremony of the Cyprus EU Council Presidency occurred on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, at 18:30 at the Cyprus Theatre Organisation (THOC) building in Nicosia.
President Nikos Christodoulides and First Lady Philippa Karsera welcomed arriving dignitaries, starting with Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and his wife Laila Salah Eldin, followed by Lebanon President Joseph Khalil Aoun and wife Nehmat Aoun, Iraq President Abdul Latif Rashid and wife Shanaz Ibrahim Ahmed, Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi, Moldova President Maia Sandu, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President António Costa.
The event highlighted Cyprus’s role at Europe’s southeastern edge and last divided capital, embodying peace, security, and integration stakes.
Multiple sovereignty messages
The ceremony served as a platform for multiple messages emphasizing respect for all states’ sovereign rights, voiced by EU institutions, Cyprus, and Ukraine.
President Christodoulides, Zelensky, Costa, and von der Leyen all stressed this theme, linking Cyprus’s division to Ukraine’s invasion. Zelensky noted Cyprus’s equal voice despite smaller size, stating every nation matters in Europe’s “common home,” making it stable and peaceful; he affirmed Ukraine deserves equal membership, hoping Cyprus’s Presidency advances this path productively. He referenced prior bilateral talks with Christodoulides, thanking Cyprus for prioritizing Ukraine and aiming to open negotiation clusters simultaneously for Ukraine and Moldova, a “strong ambition.”
Zelensky’s full address on Ukraine
Zelensky expressed gratitude to Christodoulides, deeming it possible for Ukraine’s war to end during Cyprus’s Presidency if sufficient pressure exhausts the aggressor, crediting EU sanctions, support, and defense strengthening.
He called for enhanced sanctions, including a new package targeting Russia’s “shadow fleet,” noting every lost Russian dollar weakens the aggressor.
Zelensky anticipated €90 billion support package implementation, urging a practical mechanism reducing challenges without excessive demands, and praised Cyprus’s support from shared invasion experiences like refugees, missing persons, rights violations.
He highlighted the SAFE program’s need to prove effectiveness under Cyprus’s term for a stronger Europe, wishing success for a safer, stable Europe and Ukraine’s EU accession as a key peace guarantee.
Von der Leyen’s reunification emphasis
European Commission President von der Leyen declared Cyprus reunification an “absolute priority,” pledging EU efforts for UN-led process success and hoping 2026 brings renewed momentum toward reunification. She recalled appointing former Commissioner Johannes Hahn as EU Special Representative for Cyprus, stressing Brussels’ commitment.
Von der Leyen noted Cyprus uniquely understands division’s consequences yet refuses to let it define the future, making its timing apt as EU was born from conflict; principles of cooperation over confrontation, law over violence apply to EU, Cyprus, Ukraine, and “equally to Greenland,” giving Cyprus unique moral authority.
She praised Cyprus as crossroads embodying Europe’s best – tradition with innovation, Nicosia as fast-growing AI hub under Byzantine churches – reiterating Christodoulides’ call for united, solidarity-based Europe, citing Larnaca aid to Gaza, Cypriot firefighters, and upcoming regional firefighting hub.
Christodoulides’ Presidency vision
President Christodoulides outlined goals for a strategically autonomous yet internationally outward-looking EU defending interests and citizens as peace, stability, growth force.
At three continents’ crossroads amid challenges, Cyprus acts as reliable EU-wider region bridge via dialogue, cooperation, understanding – always solution, never problem – working for 27 states, 450 million citizens toward more integration via autonomous, world-open Union.
He expressed pride, responsibility hosting in occupied capital embodying peace stakes, viewing Presidency as national mission leading decisively, translating EU vision to action as honest mediator ensuring cohesion, promoting integration via proposals.
Christodoulides invoked post-WWII founders Robert Schuman, Jean Monnet establishing stability, security, cooperation; Cyprus’s EU membership transformed daily life, diplomacy, aiding security, reunification, peace despite crises like economy, pandemic.
Costa and Raouna’s contributions
European Council President António Costa emphasized international law respect in Cyprus, Ukraine, Gaza, Greenland, praising Cyprus’s regional initiatives including April EU-regional leaders summit in Cyprus.
Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna stated Cyprus starts Presidency as states-institutions, ambition-implementation, Europe-wider region bridge with immense pride, deep responsibility; small island bears great European soul at critical juncture needing unity, resilience, boldness, common future trust.
At three continents’ crossroads, historically peoples/cultures/ideas meeting point, now EU Eastern Mediterranean beacon via dialogue, mutual respect, bridge-building; launch via culture as “common language” uniting nations, citizens, common home – with EU heart beating strongest in divided, southeasternmost Nicosia.
Watch the Opening Ceremony below:
Source: Philenews
Also read: Zelensky in Cyprus for EU Presidency, meets Christodoulides and Archbishop
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