Last in the triad, Cyprus has taken its throne at the Council of the European Union, before leaving the door open to the next trio – Ireland, Lithuania and Greece. From “Security Europe!” to “A secure Europe and a competitive and green Europe”, we’ve now landed to “An autonomous Europe” – but don’t worry, security hasn’t left the chat.
The Presidency pivots its program around five pillars of autonomy:
- Autonomy through security, defense readiness and preparedness.
- Autonomy through competitiveness.
- Open to the world, autonomous.
- An autonomous Union of values that leaves no one behind.
- A long term budget for an autonomous Union.
Let’s explore each of them.
1. Autonomy through security, defense readiness and preparedness
Under this pillar, the Cypriot Presidency places security and preparedness at the core of European autonomy. The focus is on strengthening the Union’s capacity to anticipate, prevent and respond to crises, including hybrid threats, cyber risks and external shocks. So far, nothing new, right? Yet, security is framed not only in military terms, but also as societal resilience, civil preparedness and coordination among Member States.
2. Autonomy through competitiveness
Competitiveness is presented as a key enabler of autonomy. The Presidency emphasizes the need to reinforce Europe’s economic base, support innovation and skills development, and reduce strategic dependencies. Particular attention is given to improving the functioning of the Single Market and enhancing Europe’s ability to remain competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.
3. Open to the world, autonomous
Cyprus promotes a model of autonomy that remains open and outward-looking. The pillar stresses strategic partnerships, multilateral cooperation and engagement with global partners – through numerous references to UN bodies and declarations. Autonomy is thus framed as the capacity to act independently while remaining deeply connected to international trade, cooperation and diplomacy.
4. An autonomous Union of values that leaves no one behind
The Presidency underlines that autonomy must be grounded in the Union’s fundamental values: democracy, the rule of law, social inclusion and cohesion, presented as essential components of a resilient and autonomous Europe. This pillar highlights the importance of ensuring that transitions – such as digital, green and economic – are fair and inclusive, leaving no individual or community behind.
5. A long-term budget for an autonomous Union
Finally, Cyprus links autonomy to the Union’s long-term financial capacity. The Presidency stresses the importance of a strong and forward-looking Multiannual Financial Framework that can support strategic priorities, long-term investments and policy continuity. A predictable and adequate EU budget is presented as a prerequisite for sustaining autonomy across policy areas.
Take a look at the infographic for a snapshot of the program.
Photo: official website Cyprus Presidency Council of the European Union
Text: Greta Pelucco