Cyprus pushes for continued pro‑Western foreign policy and Schengen integration

Deputy President and MP George Karoulis said Cyprus must maintain an outward‑looking, strategically Western‑oriented foreign policy, a stance set since 2013 that the government should reinforce through parliamentary diplomacy. He highlighted the priority of completing Cyprus’s accession to the Schengen area, noting benefits for citizens, businesses and the Republic’s standing in the EU, and called for close coordination with the United Kingdom and EU on remaining technical issues.

At the close of Cyprus’s six‑month Presidency of the Council of the European Union, President Nicos Christodoulides reviewed the term’s achievements. The Presidency helped advance EU enlargement talks with Ukraine, Moldova, Montenegro and Albania, promoted the “One Europe, One Market” road‑map, contributed to drafting a new multi‑annual EU financial framework, and pushed forward migration, security, digital and AI policies. Christodoulides emphasized that Cyprus proved it can shoulder major European responsibilities and announced the creation of a permanent secretariat to retain the expertise gained.