EU Council Presidency Cyprus 2026

The logo of the Cypriot EU Council Presidency, inspired by the handmade lace embroidery of Lefkara known as „Lefkaritika". The occasion of issue and the year, „KYΠPIAKIH ΠPOE Δ PIA ΣYMBOY Λ IOY EE 2026", appear along the top edge of the design, while the issuing country „KYΠPOΣ KIBRIS" is positioned along the bottom edge.

In January 2026, Cyprus took over the presidency of the Council of the European Union for the second time — following its first term in 2012. As a small Mediterranean country with around 900,000 inhabitants, the Republic of Cyprus thus bears responsibility for coordinating EU legislative work among the 27 member states. The Cypriot presidency in the first half of 2026 was defined by its own thematic priorities, set in coordination with the so-called trio presidency — the rotating group of three formed with Poland and Denmark. Cyprus joined the EU in 2004 and has been part of the eurozone since 2008.

The presidency's visual identity drew on Lefkaritika, a traditional Cypriot craft: the handmade lace embroidery from the mountain village of Lefkara in the south of the island. Lefkaritika, recognised as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage since 2009, is distinguished by geometric patterns passed down by hand across generations. This embroidery art is regarded as one of Cyprus's best-known cultural symbols, blending Venetian, Byzantine, and local influences into a distinctive style. With the 2026 commemorative coin, Cyprus marks the moment of its second EU Council presidency.