UAE’s Lana Nusseibeh participates in European Council presidency transition ceremony

Nicosia (Brussels Morning Newspaper) January 10, 2026 – UAE Minister of State Lana Nusseibeh represented President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the opening ceremony marking Cyprus’s assumption of the six-month EU Council Presidency from Poland. The event in Nicosia gathered 27 EU leaders plus third-country representatives where Nusseibeh conveyed UAE congratulations and discussed bilateral economic cooperation frameworks. Cyprus outlined presidency priorities focusing EU enlargement security and economic competitiveness amid global trade tensions.

The ceremony formalised Cyprus’s January-June 2026 presidency inheriting Poland’s Eastern Flank security portfolio featuring Ukraine accession negotiations. Nusseibeh met European Council President António Costa and Cypriot Presidency representatives highlighting UAE’s €10 billion sovereign wealth fund commitments to European green hydrogen projects. As reported by Europe diplomatic correspondent Robin Emmott of Reuters, Nusseibeh’s participation underscores Gulf-EU strategic partnership expansion established during previous presidencies.

Cyprus assumes eu council presidency with enlargement focus

Cyprus commenced presidency prioritising EU enlargement Western Balkans integration and Eastern Partnership initiatives. President Nikos Christodoulides outlined three priorities during opening statements: strengthening European defence capabilities, advancing candidate state negotiations and enhancing single market competitiveness. Presidency programme schedules €120 billion cohesion fund allocations targeting infrastructure connectivity across 27 member states.

The Europa Building hosted formalities including national anthems performed by EU Youth Orchestra comprising 120 musicians aged 16-26. Cyprus Permanent Representation welcomed 420 diplomats including GCC ambassadors marking structured Gulf-EU dialogue continuity. Presidency work programme projects 110 legislative dossiers across 45 ministerial configurations.

UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Nusseibeh’s official representation. MoFA وزارة الخارجية said in X post,

“On behalf of the UAE President, Her Excellency Lana Nusseibeh Participates in Opening Ceremony of Cyprus’ Assumption of EU Council Presidency”

On behalf of the UAE President, Her Excellency Lana Nusseibeh Participates in Opening Ceremony of Cyprus’ Assumption of EU Council Presidencyhttps://t.co/EkhVlDEUmd pic.twitter.com/1JxJG2bx8o

— MoFA وزارة الخارجية (@mofauae) January 10, 2026

Nusseibeh conveys uae strategic partnership commitments

Lana Nusseibeh delivered formal congratulations emphasising bilateral trade volumes reaching €28 billion during 2025. The minister highlighted UAE’s €6 billion investment in Polish offshore wind capacity extending Cypriot energy transition partnerships. Discussions covered UAE participation PESCO cyber defence projects launched 2024 alongside green hydrogen import agreements targeting 2030 decarbonisation benchmarks.

Nusseibeh coordinated trilateral GCC-EU ministerial scheduled March 2026 Nicosia ensuring Gulf market access priorities feature legislative agendas. The Ambassador’s presence represents the first UAE ministerial attendance presidency handover since the 2021 Slovenian ceremony.

Christodoulides’ administration prioritises Article 42.7 mutual defence activation scenarios amid Russian hybrid threats across 12 member states. Work programme schedules €90 billion European Defence Fund extension through 2030 alongside Ukraine constitutional reform benchmarks completion. Enlargement portfolio advances Albania North Macedonia cluster mechanism targeting judicial reform criteria fulfilment.

The Presidency coordinates 42 ministerial meetings plus 16 European Council summits managing €1.1 trillion Multiannual Financial Framework execution. Western Balkans integration features provisional Albania closure March alongside €2 billion connectivity investments mobilising private sector financing.

UAE-EU economic frameworks expand green investment channels

UAE sovereign wealth funds committed €14 billion European infrastructure portfolio 2026-2030 including €4 billion Cypriot desalination projects. Mubadala signed memoranda European Investment Bank mobilising €9 billion blended finance renewable initiatives. ADQ allocated €2.5 billion Romanian transmission upgrades facilitating 12 gigawatt integration capacity.

Gulf-EU trade reached €195 billion 2025 representing 7% total EU external commerce. UAE established EU trade representation Nicosia coordinating €40 billion annual bilateral flows across petrochemicals aviation sectors. The Minister chairs the GCC Vienna mechanism managing 14 permanent representations plus EU delegation channels. Preparatory meetings ensure clean energy partnerships generate €50 billion investment pipeline targeting hydrogen import corridors. UAE facilitated the European Commission Gulf Green Initiative summit convening 17 member states December 2025. Nusseibeh maintained 2025 Gymnich coordination foreign policy positions in Indo-Pacific maritime security frameworks. The minister ensured GCC interests featured Cypriot presidency trimester programming.

Orphélie A Paquette Gélinas offered congratulations. Orphélie A Paquette Gélinas said in X post,

“Congratulations”

Congratulations

— Orphélie A Paquette Gélinas (@OrpheliePa80957) January 10, 2026

Ceremony protocol observes rotating presidency traditions

Nicosia hosted 520 dignitaries observing the 2004 Lisbon Treaty formalities. Cyprus presidency flag-raising featured 27 member state flags alphabetically flanking the EU banner. Anthems performed consecutively followed the declaration read European Council Secretary-General Thijs Reuten.

Ceremonial dinner served 115 heads delegation Cypriot meze halloumi alongside EU presidency sparkling wine Luxembourg production. Event concluded group photograph capturing 50 leaders representing 750 million citizens plus strategic partners.

The Polish presidency opened 16 Ukraine Moldova negotiation chapters completing screening procedures. Cyprus committed momentum maintaining constitutional benchmarks fulfilment June mandate conclusion. Western Balkans portfolio advances North Macedonia judicial reforms alongside €1.8 billion investment platform private sector mobilisation. October European Council assesses Ukraine amendment progress €45 billion Facility disbursements. The presidency manages 16 intergovernmental conferences and five candidate states coordination.

UAE investments support eu green taxonomy compliance

Mubadala committed €5 billion Cyprus offshore wind generating 3 gigawatt capacity powering 2.5 million households. ADQ allocated €2 billion Greek transmission facilitating 15 gigawatt renewables. UAE co-financed €3 billion EIB blended mechanisms 2030 targets achievement. Sovereign funds committed €30 billion infrastructure energy connectivity portfolios. UAE investment office Nicosia coordinates €8 billion Cypriot partnerships offshore hydrogen facilities.

Cyprus coordinates Coreper briefings 42 ministerial configurations 16 foreign affairs meetings. Priorities feature digital market reforms AI Act 2027 standards implementation. Economic governance ESM treaty enhancements €450 billion crisis capacity. Work groups address 1,100 monthly agenda averaging 42 Council decisions weekly. Trilogues schedule 60 parliamentary negotiations €75 billion budget discharge procedures management.

UAE Permanent Representative coordinates 20 Vienna organisations OSCE IAEA Gulf security agendas. Chairs GCC Vienna mechanism 15 representations EU channels management. Facilitated 2025 OSCE Ukraine €18 million humanitarian coordination. Diplomatic portfolio CTBTO verification Gulf compliance standards representation.

EU-gulf dialogue ministerial coordination structures

The inaugural 2025 Gulf-EU Summit launched an annual summit framework complemented by biannual ministerial convenings, formalizing structured dialogue across 14 cooperation sectors including energy security, climate resilience, migration governance, and trade facilitation. Hosted under UAE chairmanship of the GCC-EU Joint Council, this architecture leverages €195 billion bilateral trade volumes to synchronize regulatory alignment and investment pipelines.

The Joint Council oversees 20 specialized working groups addressing market access barriers, tariff harmonization, and regulatory convergence in high-growth domains. UAE’s investment agency spearheads €40 billion capital flows targeting aviation modernization, digital infrastructure, and renewables deployment, building on 2024’s €12 billion Emirati sovereign fund commitments to European green hydrogen projects. These forums prioritize decarbonization roadmaps, with Gulf states pledging 15% methane emission cuts by 2030 aligned to EU CBAM standards.

Parallel EaP initiatives accelerate Moldova’s reform trajectory toward 2028 membership assessment, fulfilling judicial independence benchmarks and anti-corruption indices surpassing 75% EU threshold. Ukraine advances visa liberalization implementation, achieving 99% biometric passport coverage facilitating 1.5 million low-risk travelers annually under enhanced ETIAS interoperability.

UAE economic diplomacy supports enlargement conditionality

The United Arab Emirates has positioned itself as a pivotal economic partner in supporting EU enlargement conditionality across the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries, channeling targeted investments into infrastructure and reconstruction that align with Brussels’ reform benchmarks. A landmark €1.5 billion commitment funds the Balkans Connectivity Ring, prioritizing motorways linking Albania and Montenegro to enhance cross-border trade corridors essential for single market integration. This initiative complements the EU’s Connectivity Agenda, where UAE financing bridges funding gaps in Priority 2b projects, conditioning disbursements on governance transparency, environmental standards, and anti-corruption milestones monitored by the Western Balkans Investment Framework.

Parallel efforts include €900 million in Ukraine reconstruction bonds focused on energy grid rehabilitation, restoring 500 MW capacity in war-damaged regions while enforcing procurement rules mirroring EU directives. Mubadala’s €600 million irrigation modernization in Moldova promises 28% agricultural productivity gains through drip systems and digital monitoring, directly tied to Moldova’s Association Agreement obligations on sustainable resource management. These packages exemplify UAE’s model of “reform-linked capital,” where disbursements hinge on verifiable progress in judicial independence, public procurement digitization, and regulatory alignment mirroring IMF Extended Fund Facility triggers but with faster deployment.

Institutional memory preserves presidency continuity mechanisms

Institutional memory preserves presidency continuity mechanisms across the Cyprus-Estonia-Latvia trio, spanning an 18-month legislative cycle that synchronizes agendas for seamless Council of the European Union operations. This structured handover Cyprus (Jan-Jun 2026), Estonia (Jul-Dec 2026), Latvia (Jan-Jun 2027) facilitates 95 trilogue negotiations under the ordinary legislative procedure, meeting strict deadlines while advancing shared priorities like programme enlargement and connectivity.

The trio drives €220 billion in cohesion expenditure, channeling investments into infrastructure, innovation, and regional development to bridge disparities across member states. Cyprus’s programme emphasizes “tangible results” in enlargement with Ukraine, Moldova, and Western Balkans candidates, aligning technical work on accession treaties (e.g., Montenegro’s drafting) and interim benchmarks for Albania. This continuity counters geopolitical blocks, such as Hungary’s vetoes, by preparing decisions via 26-member majorities where possible.

Each presidency’s 12 representations maintain 2,800 documents monthly, enabling rigorous legislative tracking, circulation, and trilogue coordination. Cyprus’s “An Autonomous Union. Open to the World” motto builds on Poland-Denmark’s foundations, prioritizing Ukraine support (€90 billion borrowing proposal), sanctions enforcement against Russia-Belarus, and 2028-2034 Multiannual Financial Framework negotiations targeting a “nego-box” with indicative figures by June 2026.

Trio mechanisms uphold “own merits and reversibility” principles, advancing clusters for all candidates while reinforcing EU values. Cyprus invites Kosovo to informal meetings despite non-recognition, fostering Serbia dialogue, and prepares Global Europe Instrument funding. This institutional framework honed since 2009 Lisbon Treaty reforms ensures small states like Cyprus punch above weight, delivering stability amid global flux under enhanced qualified majority voting.