Speech by President von der Leyen at the Opening Ceremony of the Cypriot Presidency

“Check against delivery”

Dear President Christodoulides, dear Nikos,

Dear President Zelenskyy, dear Volodymyr,

Dear President Sandu, dear Maia,

Dear President Rashid,

Dear President Aoun,

Dear President Costa, dear António,

Dear Deputy Minister Raouna, dear Marilena,

Your Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,  

It is a pleasure to be back in Cyprus. A country blessed with more than 300 days of sunshine each year. A land of remarkable beauty, fitting for the birthplace of Aphrodite. Today, you are a proud European country with a thriving economy, and a society looking firmly to the future. We see that here in Nicosia, one of Europe's fastest-growing centres for tech start-ups. Here, AI innovators are building the technologies of tomorrow, in the shadow of Byzantine churches. Cyprus captures what is best about Europe, our ability to combine tradition with innovation and to draw strength from our history as we shape the future. It is a fitting place to begin this new Presidency.

Dear Nikos,

You said recently that Cyprus is committed to a Europe that is ‘United in purpose and grounded in solidarity.' Those words ring so true. We see it in the leadership Cyprus has shown across this region. I saw it first-hand with you, dear Nikos, during our visit to the port of Larnaca, witnessing Cyprus's vital role in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. We see it in the bravery of Cypriot firefighters, literally running towards the flames to save lives and homes. And with the creation of a regional firefighting hub, Cyprus will play an even larger role in the years ahead. We see it in your experience as a frontline Member State. And we see it clearly in the central priority of your Presidency – to build a more secure and more independent Europe.

That responsibility begins in Ukraine. Because Ukraine's security is Europe's security. Together, we will work to deliver a just and lasting peace. And yesterday's meeting in Paris was a very significant step in this direction. And we will continue to advance Ukraine's and Moldova's path towards our European Union – because a free and prosperous Ukraine and a united and prosperous Moldova belong in the EU.

We also know that only a more competitive Union can be a more independent Union. And I look forward to working with you to deliver that competitiveness. By cutting the unnecessary red tape that holds our businesses back. By completing our Single Market and bringing down barriers between our economies. And by advancing our Savings and Investment Union, to unlock the investment needed to finance Europe's future. This Presidency marks a new moment of responsibility for Cyprus. And I have no doubt that you will once again rise to the challenge.

Ladies and gentlemen,

We meet in a country where the promise of reunification awaits to be fulfilled. Few places in the European Union understand as clearly what it means to live with the consequences of division – and, at the same time, to refuse to let division define the future. That is why it is so fitting that Cyprus assumes the EU Presidency at this moment. The European Union itself was born from conflict. Our Union is not perfect, but it is a promise: that cooperation is stronger than confrontation, that law is stronger than force. Principles that apply not only to our European Union, but equally to Greenland. Cyprus brings to its Presidency a unique moral authority. As a country at the crossroads of continents, cultures, and crises, Cyprus understands the strategic importance of peace and stability in our neighbourhood; the urgency of security in an uncertain world; and the enduring value of international law.

For the European Union, a comprehensive, fair and lasting settlement for Cyprus remains an absolute priority. That is why I appointed former Commissioner Johannes Hahn as EU Envoy for Cyprus. And it is why we will do all we can to ensure that the UN-led process succeeds, so that 2026 can bring renewed momentum towards a reunified Cyprus.

Dear friends,

It was on this island that Zeno of Citium, the founder of Stoicism, was born. A philosophy grounded in wisdom, justice, and courage. Stoicism teaches us not to fear challenges, but to meet them with clarity and resolve. To turn challenge into opportunity. To turn adversity into strength. That is what Cyprus has done, time and again, throughout the ages. And it is what Europe must do now, together. I look forward to working closely with you in the months ahead.

Congratulations to the Cypriot Council Presidency.

Thank you. And long live Europe.