Brussels: The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeades, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Marina Ioannou-Hasapi, will engage in a series of meetings in Brussels this week to present the Ministry’s thematic priorities during Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the EU, scheduled for the first half of 2026.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Ministry announced in a press release that Vafeades and Ioannou-Hasapi are set to officially visit Brussels on 15 and 16 July 2025 to prepare for the Cyprus EU Presidency. The purpose of these meetings is to showcase the main priorities of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works to EU institutions and organizations, fostering a strong and effective work program.
During their visit, Vafeades and Ioannou-Hasapi will meet with several key figures, including the European Commissioner for Transport, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, and Magda Kopczynska, the Director General of DG MOVE (Directorate General for Transport of the European Commission). Other meetings will include discussions with Peter Javorck, Director General of Directorate General TREE, Elisabeth Vosemberg-Bryonidis, Chair of the Committee on Transport and Tourism (TRAN) of the European Parliament, Raºl Medina, Director General of EUROCONTROL, and Professor Eric Van Hooydonk, Special Advisor on EU Port Strategy and Policy. A joint working lunch meeting with Cypriot MEPs is also planned.
The main topics of discussion during these meetings will focus on Cyprus’ EU Presidency priorities in air and island connectivity, road safety, and the transformation of transport towards greener standards, with an emphasis on innovation and policies for ports and dual-use infrastructure. Additionally, the organization of significant events such as the Informal Council of Transport Ministers and the European Aviation Summit will be addressed.
The Ministry highlighted that these contacts occur during a crucial period for the European transport sector and are part of Cyprus’ efforts to ensure a coherent, technically substantiated, balanced, and inclusive Presidency, emphasizing resilience and the integration of regional and island member states’ specific needs.