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Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council Outlines Education Priorities

Published January 27, 2026, 12:18
Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council Outlines Education Priorities

The Minister of Education, Sports and Youth, Dr. Athena Michaelidou, presented the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the areas of education, youth and sports. The Presidency is based on the belief that education is fundamental to a resilient, cohesive, competitive and innovative Europe, in line with the European Education Area. In the field of education, the Cypriot Presidency will promote a comprehensive and student-centered approach, with emphasis on negotiations for the Erasmus+ regulation, strengthening the prestige and professional development of teachers, developing basic skills and enhancing cooperation in higher education. An important deliverable will be the Council Conclusions on Teachers in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. For youth, the priorities are aligned with the European Youth Strategy, with a central focus on connecting the EU with young people. Emphasis will be placed on building young people's trust in the EU and evaluating the effectiveness of EU policies for youth. The EU Youth Conference will be held in Nicosia, marking the completion of the 11th Cycle of the EU Youth Dialogue. In the field of sports, the Cypriot Presidency highlights sport as a driver of social cohesion, health and sustainable development. The key priorities are sports tourism and physical activity for health, with an emphasis on active aging and mental health. At the same time, the Mediterranean dimension in sport will be promoted.