The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU intends to strengthen the Union’s response to environmental challenges by supporting a sustainable, resilient and competitive Europe, while protecting natural resources and promoting environmental justice, according to its work programme published at the end of December 2025.
It will focus its work on implementing the ‘European Green Deal’, in particular the transition to a modern, resource-efficient economy and the fight against biodiversity loss and pollution.
The ‘Environment’ Council on 17 March will review progress on the ‘European Green Deal’ and hold a debate on the revision of the regulation on CO2 emission standards for new passenger cars and vans.
The Cyprus Presidency will also have to complete work on the package aimed at simplifying and rationalising EU environmental rules (see EUROPE 13770/2).
Water. The Cyprus Presidency intends to drive forward discussions on the European water resilience strategy: reducing consumption, improving water efficiency, managing water stress, protecting and restoring water bodies.
Particular attention will be paid to water reuse and desalination, through natural and technological solutions with low environmental impact, as well as to the development of skills and water technologies, by mobilising available European funding.
Circular economy. Debates are planned on future legislation to promote the circular economy. The adoption of EU Council conclusions on the new European bioeconomy strategy in March is also envisaged.
As part of the ‘zero pollution’ objective, the Cyprus Presidency will initiate work on the revision of the REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals) in order to modernise and simplify the legislation, “while ensuring a high level of protection for human health and the environment while enhancing industry competitiveness”. The ‘Environment’ Council on 25 June will hold a debate on this issue.
Finally, the Cyprus Presidency will seek to consolidate the EU’s leadership role on global environmental issues, particularly in international negotiations on plastic pollution, biodiversity (migratory species), water and chemicals, as well as in preparations for the United Nations Water Conference in 2026.
Cyprus programme and ministerial meetings: https://aeur.eu/f/k4d ; https://aeur.eu/f/k5o (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)