Cyprus at helm of EU Council Presidency

As of January 1, 2026, Cyprus has officially assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU, succeeding Denmark - a role it will hold for a six-month term. Under the motto "An Autonomous Union. Open to the World," the presidency priorities reflect Cyprus's vision of a stronger, more resilient, and more independent Europe that remains globally open and engaged.

On 27 January, Cyprus’ Deputy Minister of Shipping, Marina Hadjimanolis, addressed the European Parliament’s Transport and Tourism Committee (TRAN), setting out the maritime and transport priorities of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU. She made it clear that shipping and maritime policy will sit at the heart of the Presidency’s agenda, with a strong focus on competitiveness, resilience, and Europe’s strategic autonomy.

At the centre of this agenda is the forthcoming European Industrial Maritime Strategy, described by the Deputy Minister as a flagship file for the Cypriot Presidency. The strategy is expected to be published in late February or March, after which Cyprus plans to steer discussions towards Council Conclusions at the Transport Council on 8 June, sending a clear political signal of the EU’s commitment to maritime competitiveness and the wider maritime cluster.

The Deputy Minister also underlined the importance of people working at sea. She highlighted the Nicosia Declaration, a political initiative designed to put seafarers at the centre of Europe’s maritime strategy. The declaration focuses on modernising maritime education and training, upskilling and reskilling crews, improving safety, increasing the participation of women in maritime careers, and promoting shipping as an attractive profession. Cyprus will seek endorsement of the declaration by all Member States at an informal ministerial meeting in Nicosia on 29 April.

Turning to the international dimension, the Deputy Minister stressed the need for stronger EU coordination at the International Maritime Organization, as key global decisions on decarbonisation, safety and digitalisation approach. She emphasised that Europe must act on with unity and ambition to shape global rules, while safeguarding competitiveness and ensuring a level playing field.

Maritime priorities were echoed by Cyprus’ Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades, who also addressed the Committee. He framed ports, transport corridors, and logistics networks as strategic and security assets, pointing to the upcoming EU ports strategy and military mobility regulations, and warning that Europe cannot afford vulnerable or fragmented infrastructure.

European Shipowners |ECSA welcomed the Presidency’s focus. MISA is following developments and providing input to the Maltese authorities on all the abovementioned negotiations.