The key priorities for strengthening the competitiveness of the European Union will be the focus of discussions at the Informal Council of Ministers on Competitiveness, which will take place on Tuesday, 3 February, under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026, at the Filoxenia Conference Center in Nicosia.
According to a statement, the meeting, which will be attended by Ministers from the EU and the countries participating in the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), as well as the European Commission, will be a platform for exchanging views on promoting economic resilience, strategic autonomy, and sustainable and inclusive growth, while ensuring consumer protection and strengthening the Single Market.
As stated, arrivals at the Conference Center were set to begin at 8.45am (local time), and the Council's work start at 9.15am. The first plenary session will focus on strengthening the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base, where long-standing structural challenges, such as insufficient scale, will be examined, highlighting the need for greater convergence of defence and industrial policies within a coherent strategic planning framework.
It is added that the second session will examine the Competitiveness Compass, one year after its launch, and during the session, progress achieved will be assessed, identifying key challenges and exploring ways to accelerate implementation and enhance its effectiveness.
It is further noted that the meeting will conclude with a working lunch, during which the Consumer Agenda 2030 will be discussed, followed by a press conference at 3pm.
On the afternoon of Monday, 2 February, the Ministers took part in an organised tour of Nicosia and then attended a formal dinner, the statement concludes.
(Source: CNA)
