Cyprus set out its priorities for the upcoming EU Council Presidency as Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Deputy Minister Nicodemos Damianou joined his European counterparts at the Telecommunications Council in Brussels at the beginning of December.

Ministers from across the bloc gathered for a broad discussion on digital competitiveness, legislative simplification and the implementation of the Digital Services Act.

Over the course of the meeting, ministers adopted Council Conclusions aimed at strengthening Europe’s competitiveness during the Digital Decade.

The document calls for a more coordinated and streamlined regulatory framework that would support faster adoption of new technologies and reinforce the EU’s capacity to innovate.

It also points to the wider goal of bolstering digital sovereignty at a time when member states are navigating both rapid technological change and growing geopolitical pressures.

These decisions paved the way for a further exchange on reducing burdens for businesses, with ministers examining how simplification and better digital tools could help ease administrative demands across the single market.

Speaking during the session, Damianou noted that Europe is confronting both technological and geopolitical pressures, and said that simplification and digitalisation should be viewed as a political priority rather than a technical matter.

He pointed to what he described as a clear opportunity for Europe to reaffirm its leadership, explaining that lighter procedures, more harmonised rules and the use of digital tools could help create a regulatory environment that encourages innovation, reinforces economies and ultimately delivers prosperity to citizens.

He also presented the work programme of the Cyprus Presidency in the field of telecommunications, structured around three pillars.

The first focuses on strengthening Europe’s digital capabilities and technological leadership, while the second concerns improving cyber resilience and safeguarding the digital ecosystem, including the crucial protection of minors online.

The third involves deepening strategic partnerships in the digital sphere, with Damianou noting that sovereignty and autonomy should not be equated with isolation.

Cyprus, he said, intends to advance all three pillars to achieve meaningful progress in the EU’s digital agenda, offering clear benefits for both citizens and businesses.

On the sidelines, and ahead of the Cyprus Presidency, Damianou also met with senior counterparts from Germany, Poland, France and Italy, including Karsten Wildberger, Dariusz Standerski, Anne Le Hénanff and Valentino Valentini, for discussions on digital cooperation.