Eurodesk Information note The Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union 1. Introduction On the 1st of July 2012 Cyprus, for the first time in its history, will take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Cypriot presidency will be at the end of the Trio Presidency with Poland and Denmark; the three members have agreed on a common framework for the 18 months period. Every Member State holding the EU Presidency has a list of tasks: setting up the EU priorities for the next six months, mediation and preparing ground for compromises among Member States, organizing the work of the Council, organizing and chairing meetings of committees and various working groups. The information provided here is based on currently available sources, while official announcements are not yet published on all matters. Eurodesk Brussels Link will continuously update. 2. Presidency priorities It is expected that the following issues will be of major importance during the Cypriot presidency: Negotiating the new Multiannual Financial Framework for the period 20142020; Enhancement of the Single Market (for its 20th anniversary); Promote an integrated EU Maritime Policy; Completion and full implementation of a reform of the financial sector; Completion of a Common European Asylum System; Strengthening of regional cooperation with neighbouring countries; Promotion of sustainable growth and resource efficiency; Continuing the enlargement policy promoting Iceland’s accession course and the accession prospects of countries of the Western Balkans, in particular Serbia and Montenegro. In the fields of Education, Culture and Youth, Cyprus will give emphasis to: The achievement of a more inclusive growth providing employment opportunities and a more secure future to young people, and strengthening of solidarity between generations; The modernisation of educational systems and the provision of better education, both in terms of quantity as well as quality, as well as literacy, aiming for equal opportunities for everyone, and promoting excellence in education (in the framework of the Copenhagen process); The enhancement of the link between training and higher education; Fostering youth participation and social inclusion, in particular regarding young people from migrant backgrounds; Last, but not least, the Cypriot Presidency has the political mandate to engage in informal negotiations with the European Parliament on “Erasmus for All” during the second half of 2012 (with a view to reaching overall agreement on the proposal early in 2013.) on the basis of a Presidency compromise text (http://register.consilium.europa.eu/pdf/en/12/st09/st09098.en12.pdf)
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3. Calendar of events (extracted from the last official draft calendar of the Cyprus EU Presidency) Date
Location
Event
4 July 2012
Strasbourg (France)
2 July 2012
Brussels (Belgium)
11-13 September 2012
Nicosia (Cyprus)
4 October 2012
Luxembourg
18-19 October 2012
Brussels (Belgium)
22-23 November 2012
Brussels (Belgium)
Education, Youth and Culture Council Meeting
06-07 December 2012
Luxembourg
Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council – EPSCO
13-14 December 2012
Brussels (Belgium)
President of Cyprus Demetris Christofias will make the official presentation of the semester program before the European Parliament Working Party on Youth EU Youth Conference: “Participation and Social Inclusion of young people” and DG Meeting Employment Social Policy Health and Consumer Affairs Council - EPSCO
European Council Meeting
European Council Meeting
4. How to get involved • Regularly follow information about key political initiatives and events of the Presidency; • Participate in events, conferences, debates and communicate about it; • Contribute to the Structured Dialogue and to debates on fostering young people’s participation and social inclusion, highlighting how you turn information into participation; • Keep yourself informed and follow the presidency websites and Eurodesk for more news, information and opportunities and disseminate widely. 5. Further information • Cyprus EU Presidency Website: http://www.cy2012eu.gov.cy/cyppresidency/cyppresidency.nsf/index_en/index_e n?OpenDocument • 18 Month Programme of Trio Presidency Poland-Denmark-Cyprus: http://www.cyparliament2012.eu/easyconsole.cfm/id/166 • Presentation of the Priorities for the Cypriot Presidency: http://www.cyparliament2012.eu/images/media/redirectfile/priorities.pdf
Eurodesk Brussels Link, June 2012
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