Nicosia: Cyprus' EU Council Presidency placed an emphasis on tackling poverty and promoting children's wellbeing, Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Klea Papaellina said. Papaellina is chairing the Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) on social policy issues in Luxembourg, as part of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
According to Cyprus News Agency, arriving at the final EPSCO Council under the Cyprus Presidency, the Deputy Minister said that over the past six months the Cyprus Presidency had prioritised strengthening the social dimension of the European Union, placing particular emphasis on tackling poverty and promoting children's wellbeing. She added that the Presidency had also worked on issues related to active ageing, improving access to high-quality long-term care services, and the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
Papaellina noted that, during the Presidency, the Council adopted Conclusions on investing in children and welcomed the presentation of the European Commission's Social Package. She said that ministers will today discuss the Social Package, with particular emphasis on implementing the European Union's Anti-Poverty Strategy at national level and on ways to increase the take-up of social benefits and services by those entitled to them.
She also referred to the Cyprus Presidency's initiatives to protect children in the digital environment, stressing that priority had been given to tackling cyber violence against girls through the adoption of Council Conclusions on its prevention and combat. In conclusion, the Deputy Minister said that these initiatives constitute key pillars for strengthening the European social model, underlining the need to translate political commitments into tangible improvements for citizens, with the aim of building a Europe that leaves no one behind.
Cyprus has been holding the EU Council Presidency for the first half of 2026.