"Cyprus knows very well what invasion and occupation mean in practice," Deputy Minister of European Affairs Marilena Raouna said during the General Affairs Council press conference, which took place in Brussels.
Responding to a question from an INBusinessNews journalist about how she has personally experienced this period and the weight of responsibility that comes with holding the Presidency of the EU Council, as the Cypriot Presidency enters its final month, Raouna made a personal remark.
Smiling at first, she replied, “We still have 36 days,” before moving on to one of the most notable moments of the exchange.
“It has been a tremendous honor for Cyprus,” she said, describing the experience of the Cypriot Presidency as a historic responsibility for the country.
“Cyprus is one of the smallest member states of the European Union. It is the member state at the southeastern edge of Europe. And it is the last member state of the European Union that remains under military occupation for more than 50 years,” she stressed before international journalists in Brussels.
She directly linked the Cypriot experience to current geopolitical discussions in Europe regarding Ukraine, security, and European strategic autonomy.
“Cyprus knows very well what invasion and occupation mean in practice,” she noted.
Her intervention also served as a reminder that Cyprus’ geopolitical experience is not only a historical burden but also a lens shaping political thinking on how Europe should build a safer, more resilient, and economically stronger future. At a time when the European Union is redefining its priorities around defense, competitiveness, and strategic autonomy, the Cypriot perspective gains particular significance.
Raouna stated that the Cypriot Presidency assumed this institutional role “with great pride and a very clear vision,” explaining that Nicosia’s goal was to turn the narrative of “a more autonomous European Union open to the world” into tangible and measurable policy outcomes.
Concluding her remarks, she underlined that “Cyprus may be a small member state, but it is a small state with a big European soul.”
Her intervention came on a day when the Cypriot Presidency handled some of the most critical issues on the European agenda, including the new Multiannual Financial Framework, EU–United Kingdom relations, Ukraine, European competitiveness, defense, and EU enlargement.
