Christodoulides named culture one of the main priorities of Cyprus’ EU presidency

Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said that protecting cultural heritage and strengthening cultural cooperation were among the key achievements of the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the European Union. He made the remarks at the Europa Nostra 2026 European Heritage Awards ceremony, which took place at the Nicosia Municipal Theatre.

In his speech, the head of state stressed that culture has a unique ability to bring together peoples and countries, and that the preservation of cultural heritage is a shared responsibility of society as a whole. According to him, the cultural programme of Cyprus’ presidency not only introduces Europe to the island’s rich heritage, but also demonstrates the close interconnectedness of the cultures of different European states.

The president paid particular attention to the presidency’s achievements in the field of culture. Among them, he highlighted the agreement reached on the AgoraEU regulation, as well as efforts to finalise the negotiations and sign the joint declaration “Europe for Culture, Culture for Europe”.

Christodoulides noted that since the start of the presidency under the slogan “An Autonomous Union, Open to the World,” Cyprus has focused on practical results on key issues of the European agenda. According to him, after five months of work, progress has been achieved in all major areas.

The president also recalled the importance of combating the illegal trade in cultural goods and expressed concern about the threats that cultural heritage faces today. Among them, he named armed conflicts, geopolitical instability, climate change, globalisation and excessive tourism.

The head of state also thanked the European Commission and Europa Nostra for holding the annual meeting in Nicosia — the last divided capital of an EU member state. He also noted that many Cypriot monuments, institutions and specialists had received prestigious European awards for their contribution to the preservation of cultural heritage.