Filenews 27 January 2026
The priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the fields of Education, Youth and Sports were presented today by the Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Dr. Athena Michaelidou, at a press conference at the Ministry.
As Ms. Michaelides said, the Cyprus Presidency is guided by the belief that education is the foundation and catalyst for a resilient, cohesive, competitive and innovative Europe, fully aligned with the European Education Area and wider European policies.
In the field of Education, the Cyprus Presidency promotes an integrated and student-centred approach, with an emphasis on:
- the negotiations on the Erasmus+ Regulation under the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034, with the aim of a more inclusive and accessible Programme;
- strengthening the prestige and professional shielding of teachers, especially in relation to the use of Artificial Intelligence,
- the development of basic skills, vocational education and training and the integration of emerging technologies,
- as well as strengthening cooperation in Higher Education, including discussions on mobility.
The main deliverables of the Presidency in this area will be the Council Conclusions on Teachers in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, at the Education Council on 11 May 2026.
In the field of Youth, the Minister of Education pointed out that the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency are fully aligned with the European Youth Strategy, with Goal 1: "Connecting the European Union with Youth" as a central axis.
Particular emphasis is placed on:
- building young people's confidence in the European Union;
- evaluating EU policies in terms of their friendliness and effectiveness for young people.
During the Presidency, two Resolutions will be proposed for adoption by the Council, while the highlight event is the European Union Youth Conference, which will take place in Nicosia from 17 to 20 March 2026, marking the conclusion of the 11th Cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue.
As far as the field of Sports is concerned, as Mrs. Michaelides said, the Cyprus Presidency highlights sports as a driving force for social cohesion, health and sustainable development.
The two main priorities are:
- Sports Tourism as a lever of Sustainable Development, with the aim of adopting Council Conclusions and organizing an international conference,
- and Physical Activity for Health (HEPA), with a focus on active ageing, physical activity counselling, and mental health in sports.
At the same time, the Mediterranean dimension in Sport is actively promoted, in the framework of the European Neighbourhood Policy and the EU's Sports Diplomacy.
Finally, the Minister noted that the Cyprus Presidency is accompanied by a rich calendar of high-level events in all sectors, while particular importance is attached to the participation of schools, students and teachers, who actively contribute with artistic and creative activities.
The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union is an important opportunity for Cyprus to contribute substantially to the formulation of European policies in the fields of Education, Youth and Sports.
