Member States and EU regions now have certainty on the way forward concerning their preparations for the new programmes to be financed by the relevant Union funds for the period 2014-2020. Following intensive negotiations with the European Parliament, the Cyprus Presidency succeeded in obtaining an interim political agreement among the two institutions on all programming issues....

The second meeting of the Accession Conference with Montenegro at Ministerial level was held today, December 18, in Brussels to open and provisionally close the first negotiating chapter for Montenegro on science and research. Today’s Accession Conference marked the start of substantial accession negotiations with the country, following their launch on June 29 2012, and paves the way for further advancement in the negotiations....

The fifth meeting of the Accession Conference with Iceland at Ministerial level was held today in Brussels to open negotiations on six chapters in the accession negotiations, adding to three chapters opened earlier this autumn. Chapters were opened on Free Movement of Goods, Taxation, Economic and Monetary Policy, Regional Policy and Coordination of Structural Instruments, Environment and External Relations....

As the Cyprus Presidency is drawing to a close, Cyprus’ Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Ambassador Andreas D. Mavroyiannis, provided the Committee of Regional Development of the European Parliament (EP) today, December 17, 2012, with a brief overview on the progress achieved during the last six months, in relation to cohesion policy....

The Cyprus Presidency welcomed today’s European Parliament’s (EP) approval vote of the agreement concerning the 2013 EU budget and the draft amending budget (DAB) n 6 for 2012. The positive EP vote constitutes the final endorsement phase of the agreement, after the Council’s approval on December 6....

Cyprus’ Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, chaired on Tuesday, December 11, the discussions on enlargement issues of the General Affairs Council (GAC), which took place in Brussels. The GAC discussed and adopted Conclusions on EU enlargement and the stabilisation and association process for the Western Balkans....

EU Affairs Ministers today, December 11 prepared draft European Council Conclusions for December’s European Council, which will focus on economic policy, the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), EU enlargement and foreign policy. The General Affairs Council (GAC) also took note of the annotated agenda of the February European Council....

Cyprus’ Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis will chair the afternoon session of the last General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting during the Cyprus Presidency, which will take place tomorrow, December 11, in Brussels, and will focus on enlargement issues....

The preparation of the December European Council and the reform of the Statute of the Court of Justice will be the focus of the morning session of the last General Affairs Council (GAC) to be held under Cyprus Presidency, tomorrow, Tuesday December 11, in Brussels....

The European perspective of Albania was the main topic of discussion during the working visit of Albania’s Minister on Integration, Mrs Μajlinda Bregu to Cyprus, between December 2 and 3. Mrs Bregu’s visit came after an invitation by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr....

The European perspective of Albania will be at the top of the agenda when Albania’s Integration Minister, Mrs Μajlinda Bregu will pay a working visit to Cyprus, between December 2 and 4. Mrs Bregu’s visit comes after the invitation of Cyprus’ Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr....

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, Dr. Erato Kozakou- Marcoullis, visited the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on Monday, November 26, in her capacity as chair of the General Affairs Council of the EU on EU enlargement....

Cyprus’ Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Marcoullis will visit the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia on Monday, November 26, in her capacity as chair of the General Affairs Council of the EU, responsible for enlargement. Dr. Marcoullis’ visit to the country is part of her round of visits to EU candidate countries and potential candidates....

The Cyprus Presidency intervened today, November 21, at the European Parliament’s (EP) Plenary on crucial discussions, including the debate on the preparations of tomorrow’s special European Council meeting that will solely address the MFF, possible ways forward with the 2013 annual budget, as well as the upcoming Climate Change Conference, in Doha....

The special European Council meeting on Thursday and Friday, 22 -23 November, which will address the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) of the Union for the period 2014-2020, was at the centre of discussions during the General Affairs Council (GAC) which took place in Brussels, today, November 20....

The General Affairs Council (GAC), meeting in Brussels today, November 20, agreed on a partial general approach on two important issues of the Cohesion Policy legislative package for the period 2014-2020; the Common Strategic Framework and Financial Management....

This week, all eyes turn to the special European Council taking place on November 22-23, which will solely address the European Union’s future Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2014-2020.  The meeting will be prepared by the General Affairs Council (GAC) that convenes in Brussels on Tuesday, November 20, on the basis of draft conclusions published on November 13, by the President of the European Council, Mr....

The effectiveness and the governance of cohesion policy at the EU level was at the centre of discussions during the last Informal Ministerial meeting under the Cyprus Presidency, which took place in Lefkosia (Nicosia) today, November 6. The meeting, which brought together EU Ministers for Cohesion Policy, was chaired by the Cypriot Deputy Minister for European Affairs, who is also responsible for Cohesion Policy, Ambassador Andreas D....

Ways of improving the effectiveness and governance of cohesion policy will be the focus of discussions between the EU’s Ministers for Cohesion Policy, in their informal meeting to be held tomorrow, November 6, in Lefkosia (Nicosia). The meeting will be the last Informal Ministerial Meeting to take place in Cyprus during the Presidency....

The Cyprus Presidency presented yesterday its new revised Negotiating Box for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) for the period 2014-2020. It will act as the basis of further negotiations, in light of the special European Council meeting in November during which, Heads of States and Government will aim to reach a final agreement....