European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised Cyprus's "skillful steering" of the EU Council, highlighting historic progress on enlargement, Ukraine support, and regional diplomacy.

High Praise at the Brussels Summit

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the work and achievements of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union during a press conference on Friday following the conclusion of the European Council meeting in Brussels. Addressing to President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides, von der Leyen thanked the Cypriot team for its “hard work”, “skillful steering” and the results it achieved throughout the Presidency.

Cyprus as a Critical Diplomatic Bridge

The Commission President noted that the Cyprus Presidency took place during a particularly demanding period for the European Union, while also highlighting Cyprus role as a bridge to the Middle East. She stressed that Nicosia’s contribution helped the EU maintain close engagement with the region at a time when dialogue was especially important.

Breakthroughs in Expansion and Regional Support

Referring to the results of the Cyprus Presidency, von der Leyen pointed to progress on key European priorities, including support for Ukraine, the EU enlargement process, competitiveness, the simplification of European legislation, and the advancement of a common European returns system. She made particular reference to enlargement, noting that progress had been achieved that, as she said, “had not been seen in years.”

Historic Reform for Air Passenger Rights

Von der Leyen also welcomed the agreement reached on the revision of air passenger rights rules, describing it as the first major reform of the framework in two decades. She congratulated President Christodoulides and the Cypriot team for their work, noting that they could be proud of the results achieved during the Cyprus Presidency.

Source: CNA(ΚΥΠΕ)