From January to June 2026, Cyprus will hold the rotating Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second time. Under the motto “An Autonomous Union. Open to the World.”, the Cypriot Presidency positions itself against a backdrop of geopolitical instability, climate pressures and economic uncertainty, arguing that greater EU autonomy is essential to safeguard resilience, sustainability and social cohesion.
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While security, enlargement and external relations feature prominently in the Presidency programme, agriculture, environment and food systems are embedded across its autonomy agenda. Cyprus frames food security, sustainable resource management and environmental protection as strategic pillars of European resilience, particularly relevant in a context of climate stress, disrupted supply chains and rising input costs.
In the agricultural domain, the Presidency is expected to promote a balanced approach that supports competitiveness while advancing sustainability objectives. This includes attention to soil health, water resilience and climate adaptation, increasingly relevant issues across the Union. The programme highlights the need to strengthen sustainable land management practices and ensure long-term productivity, aligning with ongoing discussions on soil monitoring, carbon farming and the resilience of farming systems.
Environmental policy under the Cypriot Presidency is closely linked to the climate–security nexus. The programme explicitly recognises climate change as a threat multiplier, with impacts on land degradation, food production and rural stability. In this context, soil protection and nutrient management are implicitly framed as tools for both climate mitigation and adaptation, supporting emissions reduction while maintaining agricultural output.
Food systems and public health considerations also feature through the Presidency’s emphasis on autonomy and resilience. Reducing dependencies, improving resource efficiency and safeguarding environmental health are presented as prerequisites for secure and affordable food supplies. This approach resonates with ongoing EU debates on fertiliser availability, nutrient efficiency and the reduction of environmental contaminants affecting soils and food chains.
Overall, the Cypriot Presidency is likely to pursue pragmatic progress rather than headline reforms in the agri-food and environmental space. By linking soil health, agriculture and food security to the broader concept of EU autonomy, Cyprus may help anchor these issues more firmly within the Union’s strategic agenda for resilience and long-term sustainability.
More information on the Presidency’s Programme is available at: