🇪🇺Health Ministers met for an informal video conference, chaired by Minister Neophytos Charalambides. They exchanged views on the recent Ebola outbreak in Central Africa, with a focus on EU coordination, close monitoring and timely information sharing, as well as support to regions that are affected.

📍 Justice and Home Affairs Council (Justice) in Luxembourg Minister Costas Fytiris chairs today’s discussions on: 🔸 Recognition of parenthood 🔸 Justice programme 2028-2034 🔸 European Public Prosecutors’ Office 🔸 Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine 🔸 Hate crime and hate speech #JHA

Today, the Council agreed its partial mandate on the new Justice programme, part of the EU’s overall budget. ⚖️ The programme aims to: 👉 support judicial cooperation and training 👉 promote the independence and impartiality ‎of the judiciary 👉 ensure equal access to justice #MFF #Justice

📍Lefkosia ~ Informal meeting of EU Ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy underway Finance Minister Mr Makis Keravnos chairs discussions on: 🔹the “Right to Stay” 🔹the challenges faced by island regions, in light of the forthcoming EU Strategy for Islands #CY2026EU 🇨🇾🇪🇺

Today, we kicked off negotiations with @europarl.europa.eu on the proposal for a Regulation on European Fisheries and Aquaculture Statistics(EFAS). This marks the start of interinstitutional talks aimed at delivering a modern, efficient and harmonised framework for 🇪🇺 fisheries and aquaculture data.

🌊 A significant step for sustainable fisheries. The agreement on the General Fisheries Commission for the Mediterranean (GFCM) transposition 👇

📍 Justice and Home Affairs Council (Home Affairs) underway in Luxembourg Minister Costas Fytiris and Deputy Minister Nicholas A. Ioannides chair discussions on: 🔸 Schengen 🔸 EU Drugs Strategy 🔸 Migration 🔸 Displaced persons from Ukraine 🔸 Security issues

EU Ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy will convene tomorrow in #Lefkosia for an informal meeting. 🇨🇾🇪🇺 🇨🇾 Finance Minister Keravnos will chair discussions on the “Right to Stay” and on the challenges faced by island regions in light of the forthcoming EU Strategy for islands. #CY2026EU

🆕 The Council approved today a framework to implement the EU drugs strategy and endorsed an action plan aimed at reducing both drug use and drug trafficking. Next up ⬇️ EU leaders are expected to discuss the challenges linked to the use and trafficking of drugs at the 18-19 June #EUCO.

Today, the Council approved the opening of negotiations with the Western Balkans to extend the EU's Roam Like at Home area to these partners. 🌐 Read more 👉 link.berry.social/RLAH-Western-Balkans #RLAH #Enlargement

The Cyprus Presidency initiated the preparation for the formal opening of Cluster one in the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova. This marks a significant milestone in their European integration path, and sends a strong message of EU unity and determination.

🆕 Member states’ representatives approved today the Council's mandate for negotiations with @europarl.europa.eu on the proposal to establish a new programme for agile and rapid defence innovation. 🛡️

📍Lefkosia ~ Informal meeting of EU Culture Ministers underway Deputy Minister Lina Kassianidou chairs today's discussions on: 🔹Protecting cultural rights and heritage 🔹Combating the illicit trafficking of cultural goods #CY2026EU 🇨🇾🇪🇺

📌 DEAL Today, @consilium.europa.eu and @europarl.europa.eu reached a provisional deal on an EU Regulation which will enable faster and more effective EU-wide procedures for the return of persons illegally staying in member states.

The Cyprus Presidency will convene an extraordinary VTC of Health Ministers on Friday, 5 June at 15:00 to address the recent Ebola outbreak in central Africa and to discuss further preparedness and coordination measures across Member States.

EU Culture Ministers will convene tomorrow in #Lefkosia for an informal meeting. Discussions will focus on cultural rights, creativity and artificial intelligence, as well as the illicit trafficking of cultural goods. 🔗 More about the meeting 👉 https://link.berry.social/culture

This week’s trilogue agenda 👇

🗓️ Preview of the week ahead ℹ️ Find out more: link.berry.social/meeting-calendar/1-7.06

Today, the Council adopted a recommendation on outlining a new European Union framework for science diplomacy.🔬🤝

📍Competitiveness Council (Research and Space) today in Brussels Deputy Minister Nicodemos Damianou chairs today’s discussions on: 🔬Research 🔸Horizon Europe Package 🔸Council Recommendation on science diplomacy 🛰️Space 🔸EU Space Act 🔸Space for economic security #CY2026EU #COMPET

Today, the Council adopted conclusions setting the path towards a more sustainable, resilient and competitive tourism sector across the EU. 🌍✈️  Read more: link.berry.social/press-releas...

📍 Competitiveness Council (Internal market and Industry) underway in Brussels #CY2026EU #COMPET

📍Limassol ~ Informal Meeting of EU Foreign Ministers (Gymnich) underway Foreign Minister Kombos and 🇪🇺 HR/VP @kajakallas.bsky.social co-chair discussions on current & regional developments, Ukraine, and strategic initiatives on security & defence. #CY2026EU

The Informal Meeting of EU Ministers of Foreign Affairs (Gymnich) takes place on 27–28 May in #Limassol. Foreign Minister Kombos and 🇪🇺 HR/VP @kajakallas.bsky.social will co-chair discussions on current & regional developments, Ukraine, and strategic initiatives on security & defence.

📍European Economic Area Council in Brussels Minister Michael Damianos chaired today the 62nd meeting of the EEA Council. Members discussed: 👉 overall functioning of the EEA Agreement 👉 ensuring competitiveness and green growth in the Internal Market

🆕 The Council today set its position on part of the “Omnibus X” food and feed safety legislative package, in the context of the EU’s simplification agenda.

📍 8th Accession Conference with Albania 🇦🇱🇪🇺 Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna chaired today’s meeting that confirmed the fulfilment of the interim benchmarks for Cluster 1 ‘fundamentals’.

📍 Agriculture and Fisheries Council today in Brussels Minister Maria Panayiotou chairs today's discussions on:
 🔸 Trade-related agricultural issues 🔸 Fertiliser availability and affordability in the EU #AGRIFISH

📍 General Affairs Council underway in Brussels Deputy Minister Marilena Raouna chairs today’s discussions on: 🔸June EUCO preparation 🔸Multiannual financial framework MFF 🔸EU-UK relations 🔸Annual rule of law dialogue #GAC

The Council adopted today new rules strengthening mobile EU citizens’ right to vote and stand as candidates in local elections. 🗳️

🆕 MEP’s will soon be able to delegate votes to another member of the European Parliament during pregnancy and after giving birth. The Council gave its final green light to amend the European electoral law allowing proxy voting at the @europarl.europa.eu during late pregnancy and early motherhood. ✅

🗓️ Preview of the week ahead ℹ️ Find out more: link.berry.social/meeting-calendar/25-31.05

📍 Lefkosia ~ Ιnformal meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (#ECOFIN) - Day 2 🇪🇺 Ministers of Finance reconvened today to discuss how the EU can meet its growing investment needs while safeguarding long-term fiscal sustainability. 🔗 Read more 👉 link.berry.social/ecofin2/en

📍 Lefkosia I Ιnformal meeting of the Economic and Financial Affairs Council (#ECOFIN) - Day 1 Minister of Finance Makis Keravnos chaired today’s discussions on enhancing EU competitiveness, and the usage of stablecoins including their key features, economic functions and relevant challenges.

📍 Foreign Affairs Council (Trade) underway in Brussels Minister Michael Damianos chairs today’s discussions on: 🔸 Economic security and the impact of the Middle East conflict on trade 🔸 WTO reform 🔸 Ongoing trade negotiations #FAC #Trade

On the margins of the informal meeting of the ECOFIN Council in #Lefkosia, the #CY2026EU Presidency hosted today’s Eurogroup meeting. 🇨🇾 🇪🇺 Discussions focused on: 🔹 Macroeconomic developments in the Euro area 🔹 Housing affordability 🔹 The digital euro project #CY2026EU

🆕 The Council decided today to suspend tariffs for one year on key nitrogen-based fertilisers used in agricultural production. 👇

Better protection for millions of pets across Europe. 🐈 🐕 Today, the Council adopted new legislation establishing, for the first time, harmonised EU-wide standards for cats and dogs to: ✅ strengthen animal welfare ✅ improve traceability ✅ ⁠combat illegal pet trade

The Council just adopted the revised Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) regulation, linking trade preferences for developing countries to stronger commitments on: 👥 human rights 🌿 environment 🌍 migration cooperation Read more 👉 link.berry.social/press-release/GSP-revision

People's trust in our health systems depends on the availability of adequate expertise, resources, and tools to ensure a coordinated response to future health crises. 👇

📍 Strasbourg | LEX Signing Today, Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection, Nicholas A. Ioannides on behalf of the #CY2026EU Presidency, and @president.europarl.europa.eu Roberta Metsola signed a series of important legislative acts.

🧒 Children’s well-being at the heart of the #CY2026EU Presidency’s social policy priorities. Deputy Minister Clea Papaellina joined policymakers, experts and stakeholders at the High-Level Conference “No Child Is Left Behind: Promoting Child Well-Being and Combating Child Poverty” in #Lefkosia.

📌 DEAL @consilium.europa.eu and @europarl.europa.eu have reached a provisional agreement on two regulations enacting the EU’s tariff reductions set in the EU-US Joint Statement.

📍Lefkosia ~ High-Level Conference “Preventing and Combating Gender-Based Online Violence against Girls” Discussions focused on how to advance prevention, protection and cooperation on the rapidly growing phenomenon of cyber violence against girls. 🔗 Learn more here: 👉 link.berry.social/hl.conf

📍 Foreign Affairs Council (Development) in Brussels The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Theodora Constantinidou represented 🇨🇾 in today’s discussions. #FAC

📌 DEAL Today, the 🇪🇺 EU institutions reached a provisional agreement on the text of the Joint Declaration “Europe for Culture – Culture for Europe”. @consilium.europa.eu @europarl.europa.eu @ec.europa.eu

This week’s trilogue agenda 👇

🗓️ Preview of the week ahead ℹ️ Find out more: link.berry.social/meeting-calendar/18-24.05

The Cyprus Presidency has decided to activate the Council’s Integrated Political Crisis Response (IPCR) arrangements in information sharing mode, to actively monitor the ongoing hantavirus outbreak. Read more 👉 link.berry.social/press-release/IPCR

🎙️ Minister Michael Damianos at today’s informal meeting of 🇪🇺 Energy Ministers in #Lefkosia.