Nicosia: The Cyprus EU Presidency’s priorities aim to reinforce education as a cornerstone of a resilient, cohesive, competitive, and innovative Europe, Minister of Education, Sport, and Youth, Dr. Athena Michaelidou stated in her welcome speech at a high-level group meeting on Education and Training. The event was held in Nicosia as part of Cyprus’ upcoming EU Presidency in the first half of 2026.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Minister’s speech, delivered by the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, George Panteli, emphasized the significance of this inaugural event in the field of Education and Training for the incoming Cyprus Presidency. It marks the beginning of educational activities Cyprus will lead throughout its Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The Cyprus Presidency will promote a balanced and forward-looking agenda. Key priorities include advancing negotiations on the Erasmus+ Regulation, focusing on accessibility and inclusion, and strengthening the status of the teaching profession, particularly in the era of Artificial Intelligence. Additionally, the Presidency will promote a modern vocational education and training sector aligned with emerging labor market needs and renew cooperation in higher education mobility.
Dr. Michaelidou highlighted the strategic purpose of these priorities: to reinforce education as a cornerstone of a resilient, cohesive, competitive, and innovative Europe. She stressed the need for education systems to remain inclusive, innovative, and capable of meeting the evolving needs of all learners, particularly those most in need. She also emphasized that policies should be transformed into concrete actions for the benefit of learners across Europe.
The Minister addressed the unprecedented challenges faced by new generations, including technological acceleration, climate disruption, and social fragmentation. She underscored the collective duty to provide high-quality education, values, direction, and hope. This responsibility, she noted, is shared by all stakeholders in the educational ecosystem, including governments, institutions, teachers, and communities.
She acknowledged the symbolic significance of Nicosia, Europe’s last divided capital, as a reminder of the fragility of peace and the importance of dialogue. She expressed gratitude to the Danish Presidency for its leadership and looked forward to building upon their work to advance Europe’s ambitious education and training agenda.
Permanent Secretary George Panteli presented the Cyprus Presidency’s work program, emphasizing that education is both a foundation and a catalyst for a resilient and innovative Europe. The Presidency will organize a variety of educational events to support its priorities and facilitate cooperation and the exchange of best practices.
Panteli outlined planned events, including an Informal Meeting of Education Ministers in January in Nicosia, which will focus on teachers’ professional development and empowerment. Other flagship events include the 6th International Conference on Literacies and Contemporary Societies, a conference on education for sustainable development, and the ETF International Conference on skills partnerships for VET reforms in the Mediterranean region.
Marie Juel Bech Nielsen, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Denmark’s Ministry of Children and Education, discussed the Danish EU Presidency’s achievements in education, including initiating discussions on the Erasmus+ Regulation. Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva from the European Commission highlighted recent accomplishments and future discussions on key education topics.
Nicosia Mayor Charalambos Prountzos emphasized the importance of meetings like this in uniting institutions and stakeholders to shape the future educational landscape. He noted Nicosia’s longstanding association with knowledge and academic excellence, hosting numerous universities and centers of excellence, and nearly 50,000 students.