The Conference of Presidents of the European Parliament—President Roberta Metsola and the leaders of all political groups—kicked off a two-day mission to Nicosia on 1 December to fine-tune priorities for Cyprus’s turn at the helm of the EU Council from 1 January 2026. Meetings with President Nikos Christodoulides, cabinet ministers and parliamentary party heads will shape a six-month programme expected to focus on migration management, Schengen enlargement and digital-border tools.
Cyprus takes the presidency at a pivotal moment. The EU’s long-delayed Entry/Exit System and ETIAS travel authorisation are slated for phased rollout in 2026; both files still require secondary legislation and budget sign-off. Metsola told reporters that Cyprus, as “a front-line member state with one of the EU’s highest asylum-application ratios per capita,” brings practical experience that will be invaluable for driving consensus on screening, returns and solidarity mechanisms.
![EU Parliament Leadership Lands in Nicosia to Map 2026 Presidency—Migration & Mobility Top Agenda]()
For corporate-mobility managers, the presidency roadmap matters because it will influence the pace at which new border technologies—and the compliance burdens that accompany them—are implemented. Cypriot officials have hinted they will push for a longer grace period for small and medium-sized ports and airports to install biometric kiosks, a proposal that could ease short-term disruption for business travellers.
The visit also underscores the logistical demands of the presidency itself. Government estimates suggest up to 15,000 extra round-trip flights for diplomats, lobbyists and journalists between January and June 2026. Securing reliable capacity on new direct links to Brussels (see related story) was therefore treated as a strategic priority, with the Transport Ministry confirming block bookings for official delegations.
A joint press conference at 19:15 local time will outline headline themes; insiders expect competitive sustainability, enlargement and AI regulation to feature alongside migration. A follow-up dialogue with university students on 2 December will highlight mobility opportunities under the Erasmus+ programme, reinforcing the presidency’s people-centric narrative.
Cyprus takes the presidency at a pivotal moment. The EU’s long-delayed Entry/Exit System and ETIAS travel authorisation are slated for phased rollout in 2026; both files still require secondary legislation and budget sign-off. Metsola told reporters that Cyprus, as “a front-line member state with one of the EU’s highest asylum-application ratios per capita,” brings practical experience that will be invaluable for driving consensus on screening, returns and solidarity mechanisms.
For corporate-mobility managers, the presidency roadmap matters because it will influence the pace at which new border technologies—and the compliance burdens that accompany them—are implemented. Cypriot officials have hinted they will push for a longer grace period for small and medium-sized ports and airports to install biometric kiosks, a proposal that could ease short-term disruption for business travellers.
The visit also underscores the logistical demands of the presidency itself. Government estimates suggest up to 15,000 extra round-trip flights for diplomats, lobbyists and journalists between January and June 2026. Securing reliable capacity on new direct links to Brussels (see related story) was therefore treated as a strategic priority, with the Transport Ministry confirming block bookings for official delegations.
A joint press conference at 19:15 local time will outline headline themes; insiders expect competitive sustainability, enlargement and AI regulation to feature alongside migration. A follow-up dialogue with university students on 2 December will highlight mobility opportunities under the Erasmus+ programme, reinforcing the presidency’s people-centric narrative.
