Romania Reaffirms Support for Cyprus’ EU Council Presidency

Bucharest, The Gulf Observer: Minister of Foreign Affairs of Romania, Oana Înoiu, participated on Tuesday in an event marking the symbolic debut of the Cypriot Presidency of the European Union (EU) Council in Romania, as Cyprus assumes its mandate for the first semester of 2026.

The ceremony, hosted by the European Commission’s Representative in Romania, was attended by the Ambassador of Cyprus to Romania, Pericles Demetriou Stivaros, heads of diplomatic missions, representatives of the accredited diplomatic corps in Bucharest, and members of the media. Ambassador Stivaros opened the event with a brief presentation of the priorities of Cyprus’ EU Council Presidency.

In her address, Minister Înoiu underscored Romania’s commitment to supporting a successful mandate for Cyprus. She emphasized that the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency align closely with Romania’s vision for the European agenda.

“Romania supports the objectives of the Cypriot Presidency, and I am confident that Cyprus will dedicate energy and commitment to coordinating the Council’s activities over the next six months,” Minister Înoiu stated. She further highlighted the need for an ambitious 2027 EU budget that meets strategic objectives while ensuring equitable access to funding across all sectors, including enterprises of varying sizes. “Our shared goal is to create European champions capable of competing globally, and this process must benefit all Member States’ competitiveness and economies,” she added.

Minister Înoiu expressed confidence in a robust agenda that addresses key challenges facing the European project, noting the rapidly changing international context. Referring to the motto of the Cypriot Presidency, “An autonomous Union – open to the world”, she advocated for a pragmatic and principled European approach aimed at strengthening the Union’s global profile and fostering international partnerships. She also called for more agile decision-making on critical EU files and emphasized the importance of consensus-driven policies.

The Minister reaffirmed Romania’s support for enhancing European security and defense, building strategic resilience against hybrid threats, and advancing the EU enlargement process in a predictable, merit-based manner. She highlighted Romania’s benefit of over €16 billion in financing under the SAFE program, the second-largest allocation in this initiative to strengthen European defense capabilities, which will support defense industry development and joint procurement along NATO’s eastern flank.

Minister Înoiu stressed the importance of maintaining a strong transatlantic relationship, promoting dialogue and transparency, and advancing a constructive agenda that safeguards the interests of citizens and businesses on both sides of the Atlantic.

Additionally, she welcomed the Cypriot Presidency’s focus on enhancing EU competitiveness, developing the single market, strengthening the industrial base, fostering a favorable business environment, and promoting innovation in key economic sectors. She noted that the Presidency’s efforts to advance negotiations on the future Multiannual Financial Framework, aligned with the Union’s strategic priorities, will be crucial in the months ahead.

On the issue of EU enlargement, Minister Înoiu praised Cyprus’ commitment to energizing the process, describing it as a strategic investment in Europe’s future.