On January 1, 2026, Cyprus takes over the presidency of the European Union for the second time, in a completely different context. The European Union is now faced with the question of how to redefine its role as a political actor amid long-term geopolitical tensions, both in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Commenting on the current situation, Kozaoku-Markoulis points out that today the EU “faces unprecedented challenges arising from Russia’s war against Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East, in a global environment that is changing rapidly and instability is growing”.
According to the former minister, the EU is acting decisively in order to take a more prominent role in solving these challenges – a position that is reflected in the Strategic Agenda adopted by the European Council in 2024, which covers the period 2024-2029.
Therefore, she adds, it is natural that the agenda of the Cypriot presidency reflects those priorities.
(Vijesti.ba)
