Stressing that the EU must strengthen its defence capability and strategic autonomy, but also reduce its dependencies and increase its ability to react effectively and proactively, the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU intends to give priority to the rapid implementation of the ‘White Paper on the Future of European Defence’ (see EUROPE 13603/7) and the ‘Roadmap’ on the state of preparedness for 2030 (see EUROPE 13732/1).
The Cyprus Presidency will promote the implementation of the ‘EU Defence Industrial Strategy’ (EDIS) and the ‘European Defence Industry Programme’ (EDIP) (see EUROPE 13768/25), the next steps of the ‘roadmap’ for the transformation of EU defence (see EUROPE 13755/2), the SAFE instrument and the military mobility package (see EUROPE 13755/1).
Cyprus will support the rapid deployment of the necessary defence capabilities through joint programmes and defence procurement procedures. Support for defence industries, in particular SMEs active in research and innovation and specialising in cutting-edge technologies, and collaboration with large European companies through targeted incentives, will be highlighted.
The Cyprus Presidency will support the efforts of the European External Action Service (EEAS) to deepen cooperation between the EU and NATO and to strengthen transatlantic relations, “the cornerstone of European security”.
At the same time, the Presidency will work to strengthen the resilience of the Union and its Member States. Faced with the increasing number and sophistication of hybrid and cyber threats, it intends to “strengthen, improve and rationalise” the EU’s collective response mechanisms, as well as raising awareness of the growing threats posed by malicious state and non-state actors.
Maritime safety. In addition to these priorities, which are the continuation of ongoing work, the Cyprus Presidency is emphasising maritime safety, pointing out that “guaranteeing freedom of navigation and safety on all maritime routes is fundamental”. Efforts will focus on improving situational awareness in vulnerable maritime regions, protecting lines of communication and supporting the effective implementation of the EU’s maritime security strategy, in particular through enhanced cooperation with its partners in regions such as the Red Sea, the Horn of Africa, the Gulf and the Indo-Pacific.
The Presidency will lead high-level discussions to strengthen the EU’s maritime position and ensure that maritime safety remains an integral part of the Union’s external action. In this context, it will emphasise the crucial role of EU naval operations.
Finally, Cyprus will promote a comprehensive EU approach to maritime preparedness and resilience, combining maritime security with the protection of critical digital, energy and maritime infrastructures, including submarine cables and pipelines.
Links to the Presidency programme and ministerial meetings: https://aeur.eu/f/k4d ; https://aeur.eu/f/k5o (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)