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EU Competitiveness And Strategic Autonomy: Cyprus Sets The Agenda

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 22, 2025

Introduction

At the recent BusinessEurope Council of Presidents summit in Nicosia, President Nikos Christodoulides delivered a resolute address, stressing that a stronger, more competitive European Union is essential to achieving strategic autonomy.

Leadership And A Decisive Path Forward

With the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU scheduled to begin in January 2026, the president outlined a clear mandate: transition from prolonged debate to decisive action. He noted that over 70 percent of the upcoming agenda will focus on enhancing the union’s competitiveness—an area that has lagged on the global stage.

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Forging Partnership With The Business Community

In a series of high-level discussions, including a key exchange at the Presidential Palace, President Christodoulides underscored the indispensable role of Europe’s business community. He asserted that robust partnership frameworks are critical as the presidency assumes the mantle of leading the union through transformative periods.

Competitiveness And Strategic Autonomy In Tandem

Emphasizing the close nexus between economic competitiveness and strategic autonomy, the president warned that without a competitive edge, the EU cannot assert its position as a global strategic actor. He pointed to the lessons of recent geopolitical turbulence, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has starkly illustrated the risks of economic dependency.

Economic Resilience And Fiscal Discipline

Highlighting Cyprus’s own economic success, President Christodoulides cited impressive growth figures, low unemployment rates, and a restored ‘A’ investment-grade status as examples of resilient fiscal management. These benchmarks not only strengthen Cyprus’s position but also serve as a blueprint for driving the Union’s broader economic revival.

A Strategic Roadmap For Europe

Looking ahead, the Cyprus Presidency will prioritize regulatory simplification, enhance the Single Market, and advance key strategic trade agreements with global partners. With initiatives such as the forthcoming Commission’s Single Market Roadmap to 2028 and extensive Omnibus Simplification Packages, the path forward is both clear and ambitious.

President Christodoulides concluded with a call to unity, reminding all member states that the true value of the European project lies not in geographic size, but in sustained commitment and the relentless pursuit of excellence on the global stage.

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Women Accounted For More Than Half Of Scientists In 10 EU Regions

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 10, 2026

In Portugal’s Continente region, 265,100 women worked as scientists and engineers in 2025, representing 46% of the total workforce in these occupations.

Across the EU, women made up more than half of all scientists and engineers in 10 regions. Four were located in Spain, two in Portugal and one in Greece. The remaining regions were Poland’s Makroregion centralny, Sweden’s northernmost region and France’s outermost regions.

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Most of these areas had relatively small numbers of scientists and engineers overall. Spain’s Noreste region was the largest, with 102,700 women in these occupations, accounting for 51% of its total workforce.

Women’s Representation Varies Across Europe

The figures highlight considerable regional differences in both the number of women working in science and engineering and their share of the overall workforce.

Cyprus remains below the EU average, with women accounting for 37.8% of scientists and engineers. However, this share is broadly comparable to that of Île-de-France, one of Europe’s largest centres of scientific and engineering employment.