Author: Veronica Charalambous

Civil society in Cyprus is at a pivotal moment, balancing persistent structural challenges with emerging opportunities for meaningful impact. In a recent discussion on the Policy Talks podcast, Marinos Papaioakeim, Strategic Partnerships and Development Lead at CARDET, and Nadia Karayianni, Head of Business Development at CARDET, offer a nuanced assessment of the sector’s current landscape and future trajectory.

One of the key challenges identified is the limited institutional capacity and fragmented nature of civil society organisations, which often constrains their ability to influence policy-making effectively. Issues such as restricted funding streams, administrative burdens, and varying levels of public trust further complicate the operating environment. Despite these barriers, there is a growing recognition of the vital role civil society plays in fostering democratic participation and social cohesion.

At the same time, opportunities for growth are becoming increasingly evident. Enhanced collaboration between organisations, greater access to European funding mechanisms, and a gradual shift toward more participatory governance models are creating space for civil society to expand its influence. Strengthening civic engagement—particularly among younger generations—is highlighted as a critical factor in shaping more inclusive and responsive public policies.

A notable initiative discussed is the EU Presidency Project 5 (EUPP5), a civil society-driven effort funded by the European Commission and implemented during the EU Council Presidency Trio of Poland, Denmark, and Cyprus (October 2024 – September 2026). The project aims to empower civil society actors, build capacity, and promote active involvement in decision-making processes at both national and European levels.

Looking ahead, the evolution of civil society in Cyprus will depend on sustained investment in capacity-building, stronger cross-sector partnerships, and a continued commitment to participatory dialogue. While progress is underway, the pace and depth of change will ultimately determine whether civil society can fully realise its potential as a driver of inclusive governance.

Watch the full podcast here.

The project “Towards an open, fair and sustainable Europe in the world – EU Presidency Project 2024-2026” is  co-funded  by the European Union and implemented by Global Focus, Grupa Zagranica, CARDET, and CONCORD, the European Confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and international cooperation. Project Number: 2024 / 459-484. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of CARDET and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union. 

As Cyprus assumed the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2026, the traditional benchmarks of political success are undergoing an attentive reassessment. For decades, the standard of a successful Presidency was measured by the volume of legislative files closed, the efficiency of technical trilogues, or the marginal percentage growth in Eurozone GDP during the six-month mandate. However, as we stand, the global landscape has shifted. The EUPP5 project (EU Presidency Project 5), coordinated by CARDET and its partners, arrives at a critical point where civil society is no longer content with being a secondary observer. Instead, the movement is championing a more profound and human-centric metric for European progress: the Well-being Economy.

This paradigm shift suggests that the motto of the Cyprus Presidency, “An Autonomous Union: Open to the World”, must be interpreted through the lens of social and ecological resilience. True strategic autonomy is not solely about defence budgets or energy independence; it is rooted in the internal strength of a society’s social fabric (Government of Cyprus, 2025). 

A Well-being Economy operates on the fundamental principle that “the economy should serve the people and the planet, rather than forcing citizens and ecosystems to adapt to the relentless demands of economic growth” (What Is a Wellbeing Economy: Wellbeing Economy Alliance).

While GDP measures the market value of goods and services, it remains “blind” to social inequalities, mental health crises, and the environmental degradation that often accompany rapid capital accumulation. As noted in the Strategic Foresight Report (2023), sustainability and people’s well-being must be at the heart of Europe’s open strategic autonomy to ensure long-term stability. For Cyprus, a nation facing acute climate risks, such as water scarcity and extreme heat, and social pressures like housing affordability, adopting well-being metrics is not a luxury; it is a survival strategy.

The EUPP5 project serves as an important mechanism in this transition, offering a unique laboratory for participatory democracy. Traditionally, civil society engagement during EU Presidencies has been relegated to symbolic “civil society forums” that offer feedback on pre-decided agendas. The vision for 2026, however, is to move beyond simple consultation toward a model of genuine co-creation. This involves the development of a dedicated Well-being Dashboard, a tool that tracks indicators such as youth mental health, civic trust, and biodiversity loss with the same urgency usually reserved for inflation rates. By integrating these metrics, the Cypriot government can lead the Council in formalising “Beyond GDP” indicators into the European Semester process.

Ultimately, this would ensure that critical issues, such as the European Child Guarantee and housing rights, are treated as economic essentials that underpin the Union’s stability rather than social afterthoughts to be addressed only when budgets allow. The Council Conclusions on Investing in Children recently reinforced this, stating that tackling disadvantages from early years is a cost-effective investment that contributes 3.4% to GDP annually through improved cognitive development and well-being (Investing in the EU’s Future: Council Calls for Greater Efforts to Combat Child Poverty, 2026)

Furthermore, the focus on a Well-being Economy addresses the growing “disconnection” between European institutions and their citizens. When success is measured in billions of Euros of trade, but citizens experience a decline in purchasing power and rising loneliness, a democratic deficit emerges. The Cyprus Presidency has the opportunity to bridge this gap by prioritising the “Social Dimension” of the EU. This means championing policies that support work-life balance, mental health at work, and the transition to a circular economy that creates local, meaningful employment. By doing so, Cyprus can demonstrate that an “Autonomous Union” is one where the citizens feel secure, valued, and empowered to participate in their own governance.

To truly expand the impact of these, we must look at the specific thematic pillars of the EUPP5: Civic Space, Global Climate Justice, and Financing for the Future. Global Climate Justice requires us to acknowledge that the Mediterranean is one of the world’s climate hotspots. A Well-being Economy in this context means investing in water resilience and sustainable agriculture not just for profit, but to ensure the long-term viability of rural communities. Similarly, Financing for the Future should shift capital towards social infrastructure, schools, clinics, and public spaces, that generate “well-being returns” rather than just dividends. The OECD (2020) has argued that better evidence on economic, social, and environmental outcomes can help design more people-centred policies.

The success of the Cyprus 2026 Presidency should not be judged on July 1st, 2026, by a press release highlighting the number of meetings hosted in Nicosia. Instead, it should be evaluated by the legacy of its values. Has it moved the needle on the quality of life for the most vulnerable and marginalised? Has it established a framework where environmental health is seen as a prerequisite for economic health? By championing a Well-being Economy, Cyprus can transition from being a broker of technical deals to a leader of human values. This approach ensures that it remains relevant to the lived experiences of its 450 million citizens, creating a Union that is not just “Open to the World”, but deeply rooted in the well-being of its people.

The project “Towards an open, fair and sustainable Europe in the world – EU Presidency Project 2024-2026” is  co-funded  by the European Union and implemented by Global Focus, Grupa Zagranica, CARDET, and CONCORD, the European Confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and international cooperation. Project Number: 2024 / 459-484. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of CARDET and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.   

Katerina Panagi,
CARDET Researcher and Project Manager

References

UN News (2026). ‘Beyond GDP’ Economists Push for Clearer Metrics on Wellbeing and Sustainability. Geneva: United Nations.

Council of the European Union (2026). Council Conclusions on Investing in Children. Brussels: EU

Council of the European Union (2019). Council Conclusions on the Economy of Wellbeing. Brussels: EU

European Commission (2023). Strategic Foresight Report: Sustainability and Wellbeing at the Heart of Europe’s Open Strategic Autonomy.

Government of the Republic of Cyprus (2025). Programme and Priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU 2026. Lefkosia.

Investing in the EU’s future: Council calls for greater efforts to combat child poverty. (2026, March 9). Consilium. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/03/09/investing-in-the-eu-s-future-council-calls-for-greater-efforts-to-combat-child-poverty/

OECD (2020). How’s Life? 2020: Measuring Well-being. Paris: OECD Publishing. ZOE Institute for Future-fit Economies (2021). A Vision for a Wellbeing Economy in the EU: Discussion Paper.

What is a Wellbeing Economy: Wellbeing Economy Alliance. (n.d.). https://weall.org/what-is-wellbeing-economy

Active citizen participation is a cornerstone of any healthy democracy. Across both Cyprus and the European Union, individuals today have more opportunities than ever to contribute to policymaking processes, express their views, and shape decisions that affect their daily lives. However, awareness of these tools remains limited. Strengthening this awareness is essential to building a more inclusive, transparent, and participatory democratic culture.

This article is developed in the context of the project “Civic Space in Action: Youth, Civil Society and the EU’s Global Role”, implemented under the EUPP5 Small Grants Scheme. The project aims to strengthen civic space and democratic participation in Cyprus by empowering citizens-especially young people and civil society organisations-to actively engage in public decision-making and promote European values within public discourse.

Participatory Tools in Cyprus

In Cyprus, digital governance reforms have introduced a range of tools that allow citizens to actively participate in policymaking and interact with public authorities. These tools are accessible through the government’s participation portal: https://www.diakivernisi.gov.cy/gr/symmetexo.

The platform includes several key mechanisms. Through e-Consultation (η-Διαβούλευση), citizens can take part in structured public consultations during the legislative process, providing feedback on draft laws and policies before they are finalised. The e-Suggestion (e-εισήγηση) tool allows individuals to submit ideas and proposals directly to decision-making centres, encouraging bottom-up contributions to policymaking.

In addition, the platform “Voice of the Citizen” (Φωνή του Πολίτη) enables direct communication between citizens and public authorities, strengthening responsiveness and institutional dialogue. The “Expression” (Έκφραση) platform focuses particularly on youth, facilitating communication between young people and the executive branch. Finally, the Advisory Council (Γνωμοδοτικό Συμβούλιο) supports participatory governance by contributing to the preparation and coordination of public appointments and broader institutional processes.

Participatory Opportunities in the European Union

At the European level, citizens also have several powerful tools to influence policymaking. The European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) allows citizens to invite the European Commission to propose legislation by gathering at least one million signatures across Member States, making it one of the most direct forms of transnational participation.

Citizens may also submit petitions to the European Parliament, raising concerns or requesting action on issues within the EU’s competences. In parallel, the European Commission’s public consultations provide structured opportunities for individuals and organisations to contribute to the development of policies and legislation.

Beyond formal mechanisms, participation is also facilitated through engagement with civil society organisations, advocacy networks, and stakeholder platforms, which play a crucial role in shaping policy debates at the European level.

Why Participation Matters

Citizen participation plays a fundamental role in strengthening democracy. By enabling individuals to contribute their perspectives, it improves both the quality and legitimacy of public policies, ensuring that decisions are better informed and more representative of societal needs. At the same time, participatory processes enhance transparency and accountability, as they open up decision-making to public scrutiny. This, in turn, helps build trust between citizens and institutions-an essential element for democratic stability. Moreover, active engagement fosters a sense of responsibility among citizens, encouraging a culture of participation that goes beyond elections. Despite the growing availability of participatory tools at both national and European levels, these opportunities remain underutilised. Addressing this gap is therefore critical to ensuring that democratic systems function effectively and inclusively.

Building a Stronger Civic Space

In this context, the project contributes to strengthening civic space through a combination of public discussions, training workshops, and targeted communication activities. These actions aim to increase awareness of existing participatory tools while equipping citizens and civil society actors with the necessary knowledge and skills to engage meaningfully in democratic processes. By creating new and accessible spaces for dialogue, the project facilitates constructive interaction between citizens and institutions. Importantly, it also bridges the local and European dimensions of participation, demonstrating how engagement at the national level can connect with broader EU policymaking processes. Through this approach, the project highlights the role of citizens not only as participants in governance but also as active contributors to addressing wider European and global challenges.

Conclusion

Democracy does not end at the ballot box. It is a continuous process that requires active engagement from citizens. Whether through national platforms in Cyprus or EU-level mechanisms, individuals today have meaningful opportunities to influence policymaking and contribute to shaping the future of their societies.

The key challenge lies in awareness and participation. An informed and active citizenry is essential to ensuring that democracy remains resilient, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of all.

The project “Towards an open, fair and sustainable Europe in the world – EU Presidency Project 2024-2026” is co-funded by the European Union and implemented by Global Focus, Grupa Zagranica, CARDET, and CONCORD, the European Confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and international cooperation. Project Number: 2024 / 459-484. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of CARDET and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.

George Isaia,
Executive Director, Oxygen for Democracy

The article was published at the PolicyPress.

The celebratory inauguration of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union has given way to a period of intense legislative action as March 2026 progresses. This is a critical time for the country’s youth. Cyprus is using its Presidency to promote a “values-based” digital transformation, one that strikes a balance between an unwavering commitment to fundamental human rights and the aggressive pursuit of technological innovation, given its strategic location at the intersection of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (ERA Portal, 2026).

The theme of the Cyprus Presidency, An Autonomous Union, Open to the World, is nowhere more visible than in the digital sphere. President Nikos Christodoulides has placed “economic and digital competitiveness” at the heart of the agenda, but with a distinct caution: it must be a transformation that “leaves no one behind” (Council of the EU, 2026).

This past February, the focus has intensified on the European Strategy for Digital Rights and Principles. For young Cypriot entrepreneurs, this means moving beyond simple coding to ‘Ethical by Design’ business models. The EU’s role is crucial here; by integrating rules through the AI Act and the Digital Services Act(DSA), it provides a stable regulatory ‘safety net’ that allows small startups in Cyprus to scale across the single market without the burden of navigating 27 different legal systems (CCIA Europe, 2025).

In the landscape of 2026, entrepreneurship is no longer just about profit; it is about the ‘Twin Transition’—the simultaneous shift toward green and digital solutions. In Cyprus, this is manifesting through targeted actions under the THALIA 2021-2027 programme, which provides significant grants to young innovators aged 18-29 (Youth Wiki, 2025).

Innovation this month is particularly focused on Digital Democracy. This directly links to the work of the EU Presidency Project 5 (EUPP5), implemented in Cyprus by CARDET, and acts as a strategic channel, ensuring that these grassroots digital innovations inform the high-level policy papers being drafted for the Council. By integrating civil society insights into the digital agenda, EUPP5 helps bridge the gap between abstract Brussels regulations and the lived reality of a young founder in the Mediterranean.

A unique pillar of the Cyprus Presidency is its focus on minors’ online safety and digital well-being. In February 2026, coinciding with Safer Internet Day on February 10, the European Commission launched a landmark Action Plan Against Cyberbullying (European Commission, 2026). Cyprus has become a lead advocate for this initiative, pushing for a unified ‘digital age of majority’ across the EU to protect the mental health of the next generation.

For young entrepreneurs, this rights-based landscape is a competitive advantage. In a global economy increasingly wary of data exploitation, European youth can offer products that are inherently transparent and secure. The EU acts as the architect of this ‘trustworthy tech’ ecosystem, funding European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) that provide startups with access to high-performance computing and AI testing environments that respect European privacy standards (EPC, 2026).

The Presidency recognises that an inclusive digital transformation is impossible without a massive upskilling effort. Projections for 2026 show that while youth are ‘digital natives’, a significant skills gap remains in advanced areas like cybersecurity and AI ethics (Torchio, 2025). To combat this, the Cyprus Presidency is advancing the Union of Skills initiative. This month, informal meetings of Ministers of Education in Nicosia have focused on integrating AI literacy into vocational training and secondary education. By linking these skills to the Youth Guarantee, the EU ensures that every young person has a path toward a high-quality digital career, regardless of their starting point (EARLALL, 2026).

The role of the European Union in 2026 is that of both a safeguard and an accelerator. Through the strategic leadership of the Cyprus Presidency and the supportive framework of projects like EUPP5, the Union is proving that digital progress does not have to come at the cost of human dignity. For the youth of Cyprus and Europe, the digital transformation is not a distant threat to be managed, but a rights-based frontier to be explored, built, and led.

The project “Towards an open, fair and sustainable Europe in the world – EU Presidency Project 2024-2026” is  co-funded  by the European Union and implemented by Global Focus, Grupa Zagranica, CARDET, and CONCORD, the European Confederation of NGOs working on sustainable development and international cooperation. Project Number: 2024 / 459-484. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of CARDET and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union.  

Katerina Panagi,
CARDET Researcher and Project Manager

Τhis opinion piece was published on Policypress.