Cyprus will focus on three key overarching priorities during its EU Council Presidency, namely strengthening Europe’s digital capabilities, reinforcing cyber resilience and deepening strategic partnerships Deputy Minister for Innovation, Research and Digital Policy, Nicodemos Damianou has said in Brussels.
In a doorstep statement ahead of a meeting of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council, Damianou on 5 December said that “we are here today in Brussels, at the last Council meeting on Telecomms before Cyprus assumes the Presidency of the Council of the EU."
"In that respect, let me first thank and congratulate the Danish Presidency for their determination and their progress over the past six months. Together with Poland, our trio partners have set the standard high in terms of ambition and in terms of collaboration, and we are happy and proud to take over,” he noted.
Referring to the priorities of the upcoming Presidency, Damianou said that "Cyprus will focus on three key overarching priorities, three pillars if you like. Strengthening Europe’s digital capabilities and technological leadership, with emphasis on AI, emerging technologies, and also the very important aspect of digital sovereignty."
"Reinforcing cyber resilience and safeguarding our digital ecosystem and this includes the very important aspect of protection of children and minors in the online world. And finally mobilising, deepening strategic partnerships in the digital domain, because sovereignty and autonomy are not about isolation,” he added
The Deputy Minister continued noting that “Cyprus commits to work across all these three pillars in parallel together with the member states, the Commission, the European Parliament, in order to drive real progress across our digital agenda, in a way that our citizens and businesses see real value and real change.”
The Council is expected to focus on strengthening European competitiveness in the digital decade, examining issues of simplification and digitalisation, as well as the more effective enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), particularly regarding online platforms and e-commerce.
Ministers will also adopt conclusions on the EU’s digital transformation strategy, exchange views on reducing administrative burdens and improving coordination among supervisory authorities, and receive updates on topics such as the European Business Wallets, the accession of Ukraine and Moldova to roam-like-at-home, and support for Moldova from the EU cybersecurity reserve.
During an informal working lunch, Ministers will further discuss enhancing the Union’s resilience to cyberattacks. Cyprus’s priorities will be presented in a closed session before the end of the Council meeting.
(Source: CNA)
