THE CYPRUS AGENDA: How Cyprus can shape the EU climate, energy and resilience agenda during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, January–June 2026

The policy brief proposes that Cyprus leverage its unique island profile and Mediterranean position during its 2026 EU Council Presidency to advance EU-level action on water scarcity, climate adaptation, energy security, and transport decarbonisation. Key recommendations include establishing a Mediterranean Resilience Summit, a Water & Climate Security Forum, and an EU-SIDS Compact 2030, while steering legislative processes such as the Energy Security Framework and ETS revisions to support affordability and resilience.

• Cyprus can lead EU efforts on climate adaptation by convening a Mediterranean Resilience Summit to address heatwaves, forest fires, drought, and coastal vulnerability, and by proposing an EU Island Climate Resilience Task Force to provide technical and investment support to island and outermost regions.
• To address structural water stress, the document suggests Cyprus establish a Water & Climate Security Forum and an Innovation Hub for Water & Climate to coordinate desalination, smart irrigation, and stormwater management across the EU and its Mediterranean partners.
• Cyprus is positioned to influence the EU's Energy Security Framework and electrification goals by promoting an EU Island Clean Energy Compact and advancing the Black Sea–Mediterranean energy corridor, including submarine HVDC development connecting Greece, Cyprus, Israel, and Egypt.
• The Presidency could drive the decarbonisation of maritime and aviation sectors through an 'Island Mobility 2030' conference and by supporting the revision of the ETS Maritime to accelerate the uptake of clean fuels like methanol and ammonia.
• Cyprus can enhance global and regional climate diplomacy by proposing an EU–Mediterranean Action Framework, a Mediterranean Summit, and an EU–SIDS Compact 2030 to align EU positions with Small Island Developing States on adaptation finance and technology transfer.
• Regarding market design and affordability, Cyprus can advocate for the use of the Social Climate Fund and strengthened Market Stability Reserves to mitigate the impact of ETS2 on vulnerable consumers.

APA

Popov, J. (2025). THE CYPRUS AGENDA: How Cyprus can shape the EU climate, energy and resilience agenda during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, January–June 2026. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/667aed69-1928-42af-b2ce-77393ede6848/PCC PB 4 2025.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Popov, Julian. THE CYPRUS AGENDA: How Cyprus can shape the EU climate, energy and resilience agenda during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, January–June 2026. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2025. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/667aed69-1928-42af-b2ce-77393ede6848/PCC PB 4 2025.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{popov2025cyprus, author = {Popov, Julian}, title = {{THE CYPRUS AGENDA: How Cyprus can shape the EU climate, energy and resilience agenda during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, January–June 2026}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2025}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/667aed69-1928-42af-b2ce-77393ede6848/PCC PB 4 2025.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }