Cypriot perspectives on the next EU budget
On 4–5 September 2025, Commissioner Piotr Serafin visited Cyprus, the first country visit since the adoption of the European Commission’s proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) in July. The trip came at a pivotal time for the country, which is preparing to assume the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026 and to hold general elections that same year.
Over two days, the Commissioner met with national leaders, parliamentarians, and local representatives, and visited several EU-funded projects showcasing how European investments are helping Cyprus build a resilient and innovative economy. The visit offered an opportunity to present the Commission’s MFF proposal, to hear first-hand the Cypriot position on the proposal and to understand the upcoming Presidency’s priorities for the upcoming negotiations.
STOP 1: A Dialogue on the Future of the EU Budget (4 September)
Commissioner Serafin’s mission began at the Presidential Palace, where he met with President Nikos Christodoulides. The discussion centred on the European Commission’s proposal for the next long-term EU budget and Cyprus’s upcoming role in leading negotiations during its Council Presidency.
The exchange with President Christodoulides focused on the MFF and also touched upon key policy areas: defence, competitiveness, cohesion, agriculture, and the Turkish-Cypriot programme, all of which are vital for both Cyprus and the EU as a whole.
STOP 2: Building stability and growth through finance (4 September)
Later that day, Commissioner Serafin met with Minister of Finance Makis Keravnos to discuss the economic outlook for Cyprus and how the EU budget can support its ambitions for resilience, competitiveness, and innovation.
The Minister underlined that the MFF would be a top priority for the upcoming Cypriot Presidency, with a strong commitment to work closely with Member States, the European Commission, and the European Parliament to secure a fair and balanced outcome. Their discussions went into the details of the proposal, including cohesion policy, border protection, migration and asylum, the European Competitiveness Fund, and a proposal for new own resources.
STOP 3: Parliamentary dialogue on EU funding and national priorities (4 September)
Commissioner Piotr Serafin met with the President of the House of Representatives, Ms Annita Demetriou, who highlighted the importance of ensuring that the next EU budget reflects Europe’s evolving priorities, from flexibility and simplification to defence, security, and migration.
This meeting was followed by an exchange with the Parliamentary Committee for Financial and Budgetary Affairs, a valuable dialogue to better understand lawmakers’ views and to discuss how the MFF can best serve Cyprus’s long-term objectives.
Members of Parliament raised a wide range of topics: defence and security, migration, housing affordability, bureaucracy reduction, EU sovereignty, trade relations between the EU and other regions of the world, the environmental crisis, and the ageing of the EU population.
The dialogue highlighted how important national parliaments are in building consensus on decisions and shaping Europe's future financial plans.
STOP 4: Preparing for the Cypriot EU Council Presidency (4 September)
During his visit, Commissioner Serafin also met with Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, who is leading preparations for Cyprus’s EU Council Presidency in 2026. The country’s strategic priorities for its term at the helm of the Council and on the upcoming interinstitutional negotiations on the MFF were at the centre of their discussion.
Deputy Minister Raouna emphasised the importance of aligning budgetary discussions with policies that strengthen security, defence, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as well as the ongoing work on National and Regional Partnership Plans.
STOP 5: Investing in resilience and Cyprus’s local priorities (4 September)
In Nicosia, Commissioner Serafin met with Mayor Charalambos Prountzos and visited several EU-funded urban development projects that illustrate how European investment improves citizens’ lives.
The Commissioner toured the newly built Nicosia Town Hall and the restored Municipal Market, now home to the (CYENS) Centre of Excellence in Research and Innovation, a hub for start-ups, laboratories, and shared workspaces. He also discovered the Smart Nicosia project, which uses cutting-edge technologies for environmental monitoring, waste management, traffic optimisation, and interactive public information systems, tangible examples of how EU funds foster sustainable urban living.
STOP 6: Visit of the University of Cyprus (5 September)
The visit concluded at the University of Cyprus, where Rector Professor Tasos Christofides presented several EU-funded projects co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
Among them were the “Stelios Ioannou” Library, and the “Apollon” Photovoltaic Park which will help save up to EUR 2 billion per year on energy costs, from a EUR 3.6 billion investment.
The Commissioner also toured the Faculty of Engineering’s research laboratories and met with student representatives to discuss how the EU budget can continue to empower young people, researchers, and innovators in Cyprus.
This final stop provided a fitting conclusion to the mission: a vivid reminder that behind every figure in the EU budget lies a shared ambition: to invest in people, ideas, and a more sustainable future for Europe.
