Speech delivered by the Minister of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Constantinos Ioannou, on behalf of the President of the Republic, at the 238th Meeting of the Bureau of the European Committee of the Regions

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you here today, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU), in the context of which we have the honour of hosting today's meeting of the Bureau of the European Committee of the Regions here in Lefkosia. The Committee of the Regions constitutes an institution that expresses the spirit of European democracy and solidarity by giving a voice to Europe’s regions, cities, and, above all, its citizens.

The Committee of the Regions is not just one of the EU’s advisory bodies. It has proved over time to be the primary institutional space where European policy meets local reality and day-to-day life. It engages with local communities, addressing the needs and expectations of the people of the EU. This proximity, rightly identified as one of the Committee of the Regions’ main priorities for the 2025-2030 period, is more necessary today than ever before.

As the political head of the Ministry responsible for Local Government, and more broadly for internal governance, I am well aware that local communities, municipalities and regions are on the front line of the challenges Europe is facing: social cohesion, sustainable development and resilience, the green and digital transitions, but also the need to strengthen citizens' trust in the institutions.

Especially at a time of multiple crises and constantly evolving socio-economic and geopolitical challenges, Europe needs strong local governance now more than ever. It needs policies that are designed and shaped at grassroots level, with the active participation of the people who are actually living there and who know firsthand the reality on the ground.

Cyprus has assumed the Presidency of the Council of the EU at this critical moment. This institutional role represents a great honour for our country, but at the same time, and above all, a huge responsibility. Responsibility towards Europe, towards its citizens, towards our fellow citizens and towards the children and the future of the European Union.

A future on which we both wish and intend to put our mark. With a strong sense of responsibility and deep faith in the European vision and by setting clear, ambitious, but nevertheless realistic and necessary goals for the future of the European Union.

Our vision is to promote an Autonomous European Union, which is more independent, more resilient, more competitive and prosperous. An EU that is open to the world, to its neighbours, and to its strategic partners. But at the same time, a Union that is closer to its citizens and to its fundamental values.

Embracing the strategy of autonomy does not mean that the EU is turning inward or isolationist. It means that it is strengthening its ability to act directly and effectively, as a reliable partner, in a complex and constantly shifting international environment.

Achieving this vision requires strong democratic institutions and effective governance at all levels. In this context, the role of the European Committee of the Regions is crucial. Europe's strategic autonomy is built not just on foreign policy or economic strength, but also on the resilience of our societies, cities, and regions themselves. A Europe that is open to the world must first be cohesive and fair internally.

Strengthening social and territorial cohesion, sustainable and balanced development and resilience, the green and digital transitions, but also enhancing democratic participation and strengthening values, are among the strategic objectives of the Cyprus Presidency, and are all intrinsic to the Committee of the Regions’ vision and purpose.

Local Government is on the front line when it comes to implementing European strategies. Successfully meeting our Presidency’s goals, as well as those of each and every Presidency of the Council of the EU, unquestionably depends on the active participation of the EU’s municipalities and regions. It relies on dialogue and cooperation that can shape and transform decisions taken at EU level into tangible results for citizens.

In this context, allow me to focus on an issue of particular importance, housing. An issue that represents a common challenge across Europe, but also a test for social cohesion within the EU. Access to affordable and suitable housing is not merely an economic issue: it is a matter of social justice, cohesion and quality of life. It strengthens the resilience of our societies and contributes to the stability required for a strong and autonomous Europe.

And this is precisely where the role of the State and the voice for Local Government, as expressed by the Committee of the Regions in the context of decision-making and shaping European policies, is crucial. Affordable housing has therefore rightly been set as one of our Presidency’s main priorities, as a key pillar of social cohesion and sustainable local development.

Our Presidency also places special emphasis on sustainable development and the resilience of islands and coastal communities, while awaiting the relevant Strategies announced by the European Commission. I understand that your Bureau will be addressing these issues today. The results of this discussion will without doubt be of great interest and will inform our Presidency’s efforts in these areas.

The Cyprus Presidency attaches particular importance to institutional cooperation with the European Committee of the Regions. Not just continuing but also increasing our cooperation and dialogue constitutes a key part of our vision of a strategically autonomous Europe that projects strength outwardly, while showing solidarity and cohesion inwardly.

I thank you warmly for your efforts and wish you every success with the Bureau’s activities and in the continuation of your important work towards a Europe that is genuinely close to its citizens.

Thank you.