Handover of the Presidency
of the Council of the European Union
H.E. Maria Papakyriakou, Ambassador of Cyprus, outlining the guiding principles
of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union in her address
H.E. Thomas Østrup Møller, Ambassador of Denmark, took stock of Denmark’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union and passed the baton on to Cyprus
Gunther Krichbaum, Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office and political
coordinator for the European policy of the German Federal Government
In the presence of numerous guests from politics, diplomacy, business and the media, the Danish Ambassador, H.E. Thomas Østrup Møller, symbolically handed over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union - represented by a bicycle - to the Ambassador of Cyprus, H.E. Maria Papakyriakou.
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union organises and steers political work at EU level. The chair rotates among the Member States every six months. Each Presidency defines its own political priorities, which are coordinated with those of two other Presidencies (the so-called Trio Presidency) within an 18-month programme.
From left to right: H.E. Dr Peter Györkös, Ambassador of Hungary, in
conversation with the Ambassadors of Denmark and Cyprus
v.li.: I.E. Adriana-Loreta Stănescu, die Botschafterin von Rumänien; I.E. Alda Vanaga, Botschafterin von Lettland; S.E. Piet Heirbaut, Botschafter von Belgien
During its Presidency, Denmark focused on the EU’s budgetary framework, the so-called Multiannual Financial Framework. Other key priorities included security and the further development of European defence, solidarity with Ukraine, the promotion of the Green Deal, innovation and competitiveness, as well as political dialogue with partner countries both within and beyond the European Union.
Since Cyprus’s accession to the EU in 2004, the divided island at the south-eastern edge of Europe has held the Presidency of the Council for the second time. In her address, the Ambassador of Cyprus, H.E. Maria Papakyriakou, outlined the guiding principles of the Cypriot Presidency: strengthening the EU as a global actor; expanding relations with the Middle East and the Southern Neighbourhood; advancing the transatlantic partnership and the EU enlargement process; and sharpening strategic approaches to the conflict in Ukraine.
From left to right: the Ambassador of Cyprus and Dr Linn Selle, German Council on Foreign Relations
H.E. Pascual Ignacio Navarro Ríos, Ambassador of Spain, and
H.E. Marika Linntam, Ambassador of Estonia
During the second part of the reception, sacred hymns and Christmas songs were performed by the HXOS Choir under the direction of Stelios Chatziktoris, accompanied by the pianist Eleni Irakleous.
Among the guests was also a delegation from the University of Münster. Its Institute for Interdisciplinary Cyprus Studies, established more than 30 years ago, is the only institute of its kind in Germany. It examines Cyprus as a region from antiquity to the present day and promotes relations between the University of Cyprus and academic institutions across the European Union, as well as economic and cultural ties between Cyprus and EU countries. The Institute supports interdisciplinary research and provides information to the general public.
Further information:
https://www.uni-muenster.de/ZypernInstitut/
Members of the HXOS Choir performing Christmas carols for guests at the
ceremonial reception at the Felleshus
From left to right: Dr Thorsten Kruse, Managing Director of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Cyprus Studies, University of Münster; H.E. Maria Papakyriakou, Ambassador of Cyprus; Prof. Dr Michael Grünbart, Director of the Institute of Byzantine and Modern Greek Studies, University of Münster
From left to right: the Ambassadors of Luxembourg, Monaco, Oman,
North Macedonia, Albania, Switzerland and Bulgaria, together with
the spouse of the Bulgarian Ambassador
Anahita Arakelian, Praktikantin in der Botschaft von Armenien, und
S.E. Viktor Yengibaryan, der Botschafter von Armenien
From left to right: Lee Chong Hock, Ambassador of Singapore, in conversation with Gunther Krichbaum, Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office
From left to right: H.E. Adia Sakiqi, Ambassador of Albania; H.E. Piet Heirbaut, Ambassador of Belgium; Dr Linn Selle, German Council on Foreign Relations
The EU bicycle - a symbol of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union - will turn under the flag of Cyprus from 1 January 2026