The High Commission of the Republic of Cyprus in New Delhi hosted a grand reception on Monday to commemorate the commencement of Cyprus’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The event was held at the Royal Ballroom of The Imperial Hotel, Janpath Lane, and was attended by senior government officials, diplomats, policymakers, and distinguished guests.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, while High Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus to India, H.E. Evagoras Vryonides, delivered the welcome address.
Cyprus Highlights Vision for an Autonomous and Outward-Looking EU
Addressing the gathering, High Commissioner Dr. Evagoras Vryonides expressed enthusiasm over Cyprus assuming the EU Council Presidency and outlined the priorities of its term. He stated that Cyprus aims to promote an autonomous and outward-looking European Union, with a strong focus on economic prosperity, employment generation, defense cooperation, and innovation, while continuing to strengthen transatlantic ties.
Dr. Vryonides also underscored the deep-rooted and longstanding relationship between India and Cyprus, tracing its origins to the Non-Aligned Movement and highlighting the renewed momentum in bilateral ties following recent engagements between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Cypriot leadership. He spoke about expanding cooperation across key sectors such as commerce, tourism, defense, technology, and people-to-people exchanges.
Highlighting upcoming engagements, the High Commissioner informed that several high-level visits from Cyprus to India are scheduled in the coming months, including the Deputy Minister’s participation in the AI Summit, the Foreign Minister’s visit for the Raisina Dialogue, and the President of Cyprus visiting India in May 2026.
India–EU Partnership a Force for Global Good: MoS Singh
In his address, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh congratulated Cyprus on assuming the Presidency of the EU Council and described the occasion as a significant milestone.
“It is indeed a very happy moment for me to join you today to mark the commencement of the Republic of Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the European Union,” he said.
Drawing parallels between Cyprus’s theme of “Autonomy” and India’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, MoS Singh highlighted the convergence of priorities between India and the European Union. He referred to the recent India–EU Summit, which emphasized cooperation in digital transformation, clean and green energy, security, defense, resilient supply chains, and innovation, along with the ongoing negotiations for an India–EU Free Trade Agreement.
Shri Singh described the India–EU partnership as an “anchor of stability and a force for global good”, stressing the importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing global challenges.
Strengthening Diplomatic Engagement
The reception served as a platform to reaffirm the strong diplomatic, economic, and strategic ties between India, Cyprus, and the European Union. The evening concluded with informal interactions among diplomats and guests, reflecting the growing warmth and mutual trust in India–Cyprus and India–EU relations.
