This is the first time that Cyprus will be occupying the role of the EU presidency. The presidency is responsible for the functioning of the Council of the European Union (EU). The presidency’s function is to chair meetings of the Council, determine its agendas, set a work programme and facilitate dialogue both at Council meetings and with other EU institutions

Cyprus is one of the members that joined the EU in 2004. It became a euro area member in 2008. The Mediterranean island has a number of issues that it intends to focus on during its presidency, but also has a number of internal problems especially with regards to its economy that need to be faced.

The country sees its EU stint both as a challenge and an opportunity. As a relatively new member state, it hopes to enhance its image as a credible and responsible member of the Union. Cyprus assumes the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU in difficult times and in a tense atmosphere with Turkey, an EU-candidate country that doesn’t recognise the Republic of Cyprus and has occupied the northern part of the island since 1974.

Turkey stated that it will boycott the Cyprus presidency, or freeze relations with the EU, and even warned that it could annex Northern Cyprus if no agreement was reached on the reunification talks.

The Cyprus presidency will work ‘Towards a Better Europe’; meaning a European Union more relevant to its citizens and to the world; a more effective Europe, contributing to sustainable growth, social cohesion and job creation through efficient and integrated policies; a European Union working on the basis of the underlying principle of solidarity, committing itself to a better future. All efforts will be directed to bequeath a better Europe to the younger generations. During its presidency, Cyprus is called upon to deal with key issues of the EU agenda, such as the Multi-annual Financial Framework for the period 2014-2020. The Multi-annual Financial Framework is an opportunity to agree on a budget that will contribute to growth and sustainable development, promote effective policies, increase EU’s competitiveness and create more jobs. It is necessary to identify and bring out the elements of growth in all EU policies, with special emphasis on the citizens of the Union. The priorities of the Cyprus presidency are:

• Europe, more efficient and sustainable;

• Europe, with a better performing and growth economy;

• Europe, more relevant to its citizens, with solidarity and social cohesion;

• Europe in the world, closer to its neighbours.

The presidency will seek to achieve the greatest possible progress in the negotiations on the legislative framework in relation to policies, such as the Common Agricultural and Fisheries Policies, the Cohesion Policy and the Research and Innovation Policy (Horizon 2020), as well as on the financial programmes in different sectoral policies. Following the European Council conclusions in February 2012, the presidency will also focus on energy policy. The Trans-European Networks on transport, telecommunications and energy and the Connecting Europe Facility are high on the agenda of the Cyprus presidency; the adoption of these instruments will be vital for boosting the competitiveness of Europe, by improving infrastructure and strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion of member states. Emphasis will also be placed on sustainable development and the follow-up of the Rio+20 Summit.

Special emphasis will be placed on the southern dimension of the European Neighbourhood Policy, in order to enhance the relations with Mediterranean partners, while ensuring pluralism and a multi-faceted relationship and thus, promoting the multiplication of channels of communication with all fields of society. The presidency will also promote all processes related to enlargement and work towards strengthening food security, aiming to give emphasis on EU development goals, ensuring progress on the Union’s development commitments. Growth can also be promoted through a strengthened EU external trade policy and the Cyprus presidency will work towards this direction.

The first Cyprus presidency of the Council of the European Union comes at a very challenging time, President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy was quoted as stating when addressing the media in Brussels. Van Rompuy said that the decisions taken at the June European Council will have an important impact on the Cyprus presidency as it is crucial for Europe to take additional steps to create growth and jobs.

He pointed out that this discussion is not new as Europe already shares a growth strategy and it has been a constant concern, despite being overshadowed by the EU’s efforts to ensure financial stability in the euro area.

Nonetheless, Van Rompuy assured that the EU is determined to continue to do everything necessary to come back on the track of growth and regain competitiveness, thanks to fiscal consolidation, structural reform and targeted investment.