Brussels – On 1 January 2026, the Cyprus Presidency took over from Denmark at the helm of the Council of the European Union for the next six months. From the unpredictable situation in Ukraine to high hopes for Montenegro and Albania, and the need to unlock negotiations with Moldova, another intense six months lie ahead for EU enlargement.
“For the EU to be credible, we have to deliver on enlargement,” said Ambassador Christina Rafti, Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the EU, on the eve of the start of the Cyprus Presidency. “We intend to do the best we can to further push the agenda forward on Ukraine, Moldova, and the Western Balkans.”
Under the motto An Autonomous Union. Open to the World, Nicosia promises to deliver “tangible results through a merit-based process,” as EU enlargement is seen as the policy that “unifies Europe and expands the space of peace, democracy, security and stability,” according to the programme. In this context, the enlargement process can serve both as “a strategic investment” in Europe’s future and as a “transformative tool” for candidate countries to “reform and resolve long-standing problems with their neighbours, based on European law, values and principles.”
Ukraine will remain “a central priority” during the Cyprus Presidency, through the continuation of the EU’s diplomatic, political, economic, military, energy and humanitarian support, with a view to a “just and lasting peace” and with “full respect” for Kyiv’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. This issue is particularly sensitive in Cyprus, an island divided into two parts since the Turkish military occupation in 1974. “We know what is at stake,” Rafti pointed out, stressing that the Russian aggression against Ukraine “undermines Europe’s long-term security.”
EU enlargement on the Cyprus Presidency’s agenda
“Driven by geopolitical imperatives, the enlargement process has gained significant political momentum, and over the next two years the Council will be called upon to take decisive action on enlargement,” states the Cyprus Presidency’s programme, outlining the General Affairs Council‘s preparations for an enlarged Union, “enhancing prosperity while upholding its core values.”
Within this framework, the Cyprus Presidency will advance the process with all candidates and potential candidates, “in line with the established methodology, fair and rigorous conditionality, as well as the principle of own merits and reversibility.” This means that all the partners must “fully respect and uphold” the EU’s values and principles, and “meet the obligations” required for EU membership.
As Ambassador Rafti anticipated, “we will advance the technical work on Ukraine‘s negotiations, so that we can move quickly as soon as the conditions are there.” With Hungary currently blocking the start of Kyiv’s accession talks, the Cyprus Presidency will need to engage closely with Budapest or explore decisions that can be taken by 26 members, “unless something changes.” Much will therefore depend on whether Viktor Orbán remains in power after the general elections in April 2026. This also affects Moldova, whose negotiations are linked to Ukraine’s under the so-called ‘package approach’ and are therefore blocked by Hungary’s veto.
As regards the Western Balkans, the Cyprus Presidency intends to set up the Ad Hoc Working Party on Drafting the Accession Treaty with Montenegro, which still needs to provisionally close the remaining 21 negotiating chapters. Albania is another key partner in the region, with current work focused on completing the fulfilment of interim benchmarks across all negotiating chapters, after the opening of all six negotiating clusters.
Although Cyprus is one of the five ‘non-recognisers’ EU member states, it will nonetheless invite Kosovo’s authorities to all informal EU enlargement meetings, the Cypriot ambassador announced. The aim is to encourage dialogue with Serbia, which is considered “instrumental for both countries’ accession paths,” including the potential future recognition of Pristina’s sovereignty by Nicosia.
Türkiye – a EU’s formal candidate – represents an existential issue for Cyprus. Since the division of the island following the Turkish military occupation of its northern part, all diplomatic efforts to achieve reunification have failed, including EU accession. The Republic of Cyprus joined the EU in 2004, while the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus remained excluded and is recognised only by Türkiye. “We have spared no effort in talks to resolve the issue,” Ambassador Rafti said, referring to efforts to revitalise relations that culminated in the European Council conclusions in 2024. “Unfortunately, Türkiye has not yet engaged constructively in resuming the talks.”
The General Affairs Council will be responsible for advancing internal reforms “in parallel” with the enlargement process, with the aim of ensuring that both the Union and future EU members are “fully prepared” for accession. Once the Commission presents its communication on pre-enlargement policy reviews, the Cyprus Presidency will steer work on the EU’s internal reform agenda. As Ambassador Rafti stressed, “preparing for enlargement means considering the internal impact on EU policies when new members join.”
The next six months will also be crucial for preparing negotiations on the 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The Cyprus Presidency intends to develop a “mature” negotiating framework – the so-called ‘nego-box’ – for the EU’s next long-term budget, on which the 27 member states will need to reach agreement. Nicosia will seek to secure a Partial General Approach with “indicative figures by June 2026,” laying the groundwork for a possible compromise on the key elements of the next MFF, including the new Global Europe Instrument, which will finance EU enlargement within a single funding envelope for external action.
At the Foreign Affairs Council, “political, diplomatic, economic, military and humanitarian “support for Ukraine in the face of ongoing Russian aggression, as well as the pursuit of “a just and lasting peace” through negotiations with Kyiv, with Kyiv’s “full participation,” will remain the key priorities. The EU’s “peace through strength” approach will be matched by “closer EU-US dialogue and coordination” aimed at achieving a peace agreement that respects Ukraine’s security needs as well as those of Europe.
With regard to security , the Cyprus Presidency recognises that “the most effective” one remains the strengthening of “strong, capable and resilient” Ukrainian Armed Forces, alongside Kyiv’s EU accession process, which is closely linked to developments of the peace negotiations.
“New measures” against Russia and Belarus, together with the effective implementation and enforcement of existing sanctions packages, will be another focus of the Cyprus Presidency. Given the evolving geopolitical landscape and the “strategic role” of the Western Balkans in Europe’s security and stability, the EU’s “role and visibility” in the region will need to be reinforced, with “active support” for the six partners on their path towards EU membership.
Finally, the Economic and Financial Affairs Council will continue to implement financial support for Kyiv through the Ukraine Facility and the G7-led Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) loans. Meanwhile, the Cyprus Presidency will “swiftly” examine the new legislative proposal concerning €90 billion in EU borrowing, backed by the EU budget, to meet Ukraine’s needs until 2027, before the 2028-2034 MFF comes into force. This work will also involve the “proper” implementation of sanctions against Russia and Belarus, as well as post-war reconstruction.
