Ayia Napa Marina is hosting the informal European Council, taking place for the first time, in Cyprus, on Thursday and Friday, 23 and 24 April.
Preparations are underway at the site as Ayia Napa Marina gets ready to welcome the leaders of EU member states, as well as regional leaders, arriving in the context of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. Energy security, regional developments and the EU’s long-term budget will be on the top of the agenda.
The European Council is composed of the Heads of State or Government of the 27 EU member states, the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, will also be present to exchange views with the Council. Regional leaders have also been invited.
From the leaders of the EU, the outgoing Prime Minister of Hungary, Viktor Orbán, will be absent, as well as the Chancellor of Austria, Christian Stocker. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, will also attend the Summit.
The President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, has described the gathering as “a particularly important European Council,” the first hosted in Cyprus since the island’s EU accession in 2004.
He noted that discussions will focus on developments in the region and their implications. He added that the President of the European Commission is expected to present a specific package of measures to address the energy crisis and rising energy costs.
He further said that, for the first time at European Council level, leaders will discuss the activation of Article 42.7 of the EU Treaty and its operational framework.
The agenda will also include the Multiannual Financial Framework for 2028–2034. “We have completed the technocratic preparatory work and political direction will be given by the leaders,” he said, with the aim of “presenting a mature negotiating package with specific figures by June.”
For security reasons, the Search and Rescue Coordination Center, in coordination with the Police, has issued a NAVTEX notice for the Ayia Napa Marina, from 4-11pm today, Thursday, 23 April.
Also read: European Council meeting in Cyprus with regional partners, MFF and Article 42.7 on the agenda
