Defence not priority? Media uncover Cyprus's programme during its EU Council presidency
Photo: Cyprus proposes to focus on strengthening international partnerships (Getty Images)
Cyprus, which is not a member of NATO but belongs to the European Union, will assume the presidency of the Council of the EU for six months starting in January. According to the country’s programme, attention to defence issues will be reduced, according to Euractiv.
The document outlines the priorities that will guide Cyprus during its presidency of the Council of the European Union. The country will take over the six-month rotating presidency from Denmark.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, defence has held a central place in the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC). However, in the new draft of introductory remarks to the FAC section, defence is not mentioned.
Instead, the Foreign Affairs Council will focus on "solidifying international partnerships to defend shared values and contribute to advancing peace and prosperity globally." By comparison, Denmark made Europe’s efforts to enhance security the main priority of its FAC agenda.
In response to a request from Euractiv, Cyprus’s permanent representation to the EU said the programme is still at an early technical stage and has not yet been finalised.
Shift away from Russia
Cyprus’s programme signals a regional shift in focus, from Russia to the Mediterranean. Overall, the word "defence" appears only 11 times in the document, compared with 32 mentions in the priorities of the current presidency. Officials may add further provisions to the draft in the coming weeks.
"A draft will be submitted to the political hierarchy for finalisation at the end of November and will be presented in mid-December," the Cyprus Presidency spokesperson said.
Defence in Cyprus's plans
The upcoming Cypriot presidency will focus on implementing the recently released Defence Readiness Roadmap, aimed at strengthening Europe’s defence industry by 2030 and utilising €150 million in SAFE loans for defence-related procurement.
Cyprus will also support the final approval of the EU–NATO Roadmap to deepen cooperation with the Transatlantic Alliance, though the details remain unclear. The country’s permanent representation to the EU declined to comment further.
In addition, Cyprus underscores the importance of maritime security. The presidency will "prioritise the security of critical maritime routes as a key element of EU resilience and supply chain protection."
The draft foresees a focus on operations in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea. The Baltic Sea, however, now a major transit hub for Russia’s "shadow fleet", is not mentioned.
On 23–24 October, the European Council will meet to discuss a proposed "reparations loan" for Ukraine. If agreement is reached, the plan could be presented within the coming weeks.
