Nicosia has ‘special symbolism’ for EU Council presidency

Nicosia has a “special symbolism” for Cyprus’ forthcoming presidency of the European Council, European Affairs Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna said on Friday.

Speaking after a meeting with Nicosia mayor Charalambos Prountzos, she said, “Nicosia, as the capital of Cyprus, as the last divided and under occupation capital in the European Union, has a special role to play and a special symbolism.”

Cyprus will hold the European Council’s rotating presidency during the first half of 2026. This will be the second time Cyprus has held the European Council’s rotating presidency, the first time having been in the second half of 2012.

Raouna said she had discussed with Prountzos ways of utilising the capital’s infrastructure and hospitality venues, as well as the idea of putting forward a parallel cultural programme.

She added that the next steps with Nicosia in relation to Cyprus’ holding of the rotating presidency will be taken “in close and loving collaboration” and described Cyprus’ holding of the presidency as a “national mission”.

Prountzos assured Raouna that Nicosia is “ready” and pointed out the city’s work when Cyprus last held the rotating presidency.

He added that “important preparatory work” has already been carried out by his municipality on various difficult topic.

“I think it is very important that Cyprus’ capital puts on a good show and also shows progress since the last time we held the presidency,” he said.

He added that the city has “important cultural and other spaces and important infrastructure, which should be used to achieve the goals” of the European Council presidency.

Additionally, he said he is working in “close collaboration” with Raouna with the aim of being able to implement the various planned projects on time.

Those projects, he said, entail “upgrading the city” and “bringing it to the level it should be at so that we can all feel proud of holding this very important presidency”.

“This will require both financial and human resources and proper planning. I am sure we will manage to cope,” he said.

He also touched on the Cyprus problem, saying he hopes Nicosia will not be divided by 2026, and that “all our actions and thoughts are in this direction”.

“However, if the Cyprus problem still exists, Nicosia must surely emerge as the last divided capital in Europe, and of course, we must also look at the positive side of things, which is to send an optimistic message that Cyprus is a progressive, prosperous, thriving country,” he said.

Raouna has already expressed her intention for Cyprus’ holding of the rotating presidency to “involve all the island’s districts”, adding that it was the government’s “goal from the beginning” to involve the whole island in Cyprus’ presidency.

More than 200 meetings and conferences will take place within the six months during which Cyprus will hold the presidency.