The European Union-United Kingdom relations and further strengthening them, in view of the assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the EU by the Republic of Cyprus, was discussed, inter alia, by Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, and British Minister of State for Europe, Stephen Doughty, according to a statement from Raouna’s office.
Raouna had a meeting on Friday, with Doughty as part of his visit to Cyprus, at the Secretariat of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026.
“The focus of the meeting with the British Minister of State was the European Union-United Kingdom relations and further strengthening them, in view of the assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026”, it said.
The meeting, it added, “confirmed the excellent level of bilateral relations, as well as the new momentum in EU-UK relations.” The two sides exchanged views on the future of EU-UK relations, with an emphasis on the current eighteen months, as well as in view of the EU-UK Summit, to be held in London on May 19, according to the statement. “The importance of further strengthening EU-UK relations was highlighted by both sides, particularly during the current period of intense geopolitical challenges,” it said. In this context, it adds, the promotion of EU-UK cooperation in areas such as security and defence was discussed, “while at the same time underlining the importance of implementing existing EU-UK agreements.”
It also said that Raouna informed the British Deputy Minister about the preparations that are underway for the Republic of Cyprus to assume the rotating Presidency of the Council of the EU, as well as about the areas on which the upcoming Cyprus Presidency places emphasis, such as strengthening the role of the EU in the region, with an emphasis on the Southern Neighbourhood and the Gulf countries, EU enlargement, migration and energy.
Raouna, it adds, conveyed to Doughty the objective of the Cyprus Presidency, to work to strengthen EU-UK relations, as well as for their further development in mutually beneficial areas, including in areas that improve the lives of citizens.
The two sides expressed their readiness for close cooperation, with the aim of further promoting and strengthening relations, the statement concludes.
