By Zoe Christodoulidou-Bosko

In 2026, Cyprus holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which means it helps lead the EU’s work for six months. This role is important because it gives Cyprus the chance to influence what the EU focuses on and these decisions affect young people directly.

During the presidency, more EU events, meetings, and youth programmes take place in Cyprus. This creates new opportunities for students, such as participating in youth conferences, cultural exchanges, volunteering projects, and EU-funded programmes like Erasmus+. These experiences help young people gain skills, travel, meet new people, and prepare for their future studies or careers.

Cyprus is also helping guide discussions on important issues such as migration, security, education, jobs, and Europe’s future economy. These topics matter because today’s teenagers will live with the results of these decisions. The presidency also brings more EU attention and funding opportunities to Cyprus, which can support schools, digital learning, and youth projects.

Even though 16-year-olds may not vote yet, the Cyprus EU Presidency affects their education, career opportunities, and future rights as European citizens. Understanding it helps young people see how Europe works and why being informed and involved really matters.