In view of the forthcoming assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the EU by the Republic of Cyprus, CARDET research center is assuming a central role as National Coordinator of the EUPP5 (EU Presidency Project 5). Through this initiative, the active participation of Civil Society is strengthened and the alignment of national priorities with European initiatives is ensured.
Dr Marinos Papaioakeim, CARDET’s Strategic Partnerships and Development Lead, speaks about the project’s ambitious goals, its key actions, and the organisation’s pivotal role in shaping a more inclusive and equitable Europe.
1. What EUPP5 project is, and why CARDET has taken on such an important role in its implementation?
The EU Presidency Project 5 (EUPP5) is a civil-society led initiative, co-funded by the European Commission, running under the Trio Presidency of Poland, Denmark and Cyprus (2024-2026). Its ambition is to promote inclusive and sustainable international partnerships, giving voice to civil society organisations (CSOs) across Europe and beyond, while increasing public and political awareness of the EU’s global role, especially the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From CARDET’s side, we are honoured to serve as the National Coordinator for Cyprus. In that role, we lead national coordination, facilitate stakeholder dialogue, mobilise civil society locally, and link Cyprus efforts to the broader, Europe-wide EUPP5 consortium, led by CONCORD Europe.
2. What are the key objectives of EUPP5, and which of them are particularly important for CARDET and Cyprus?
EUPP5 has several core objectives. Among them: enabling civil society to shape inclusive EU partnerships; ensuring that the EU and its Member States engage in meaningful, co-responsible international cooperation; and enhancing awareness and reflection on the EU’s global role and development agenda. For CARDET and Cyprus, it is especially significant that EUPP5 fosters an environment where civil society organisations, youth, professionals, public bodies and the general public can engage meaningfully in discussions about Europe’s global role. This inclusive engagement model aligns closely with CARDET’s mission around sustainable development, social justice, education and civic participation.
3. What are some of the concrete activities and mechanisms through which EUPP5 will work, and what role will CARDET play in these?
EUPP5 will pursue a variety of activities: public awareness campaigns, workshops, debates and events; opportunities for civil society, including a Small Grants Scheme for CSO-led initiatives; Brussels study visits; and policy events on themes such as sustainable development, global cooperation, civic space, green transition, and the SDGs. As national coordinator, CARDET will facilitate stakeholder engagement in Cyprus: convening CSOs, public bodies, youth organisations, academia and other actors, supporting grant applications, organising events and capacity-building initiatives, and ensuring that Cyprus’ voice and civil-society’s perspectives are fed into the broader EUPP5 and European-level processes.
4. What does CARDET hope will be the long-term impact of EUPP5, both for Cyprus and for the broader European community?
Through EUPP5, CARDET aims to strengthen the role of civil society in shaping EU policies on development cooperation, sustainability, social justice, and global solidarity. For Cyprus, the hope is to create stronger civic engagement, more informed public discourse, and active participation of CSOs, youth and other stakeholders in shaping Europe’s international cooperation agenda. For Europe more broadly, EUPP5 seeks to foster a more inclusive, transparent and fair model of global partnerships, anchored in the values of democracy, sustainability and shared responsibility.
5. Why is CARDET an ideal partner for leading such an initiative? What strengths does the organisation bring?
CARDET brings a strong track record of research, education, sustainable development, capacity building, and civic engagement across different sectors in Cyprus and the wider Euro-Mediterranean region. In 2022, CARDET collaborated with the Commissioner for Citizens to develop the Republic of Cyprus’ National Strategy on Active Citizenship and Participatory Governance. This initiative strengthens democratic engagement, empowering citizens to shape their communities and contribute to a more inclusive society. Our experience with EU-funded projects and our network of civil society, academic institutions, public bodies and stakeholders make us uniquely positioned to coordinate a complex initiative like EUPP5. Moreover, our commitment to education, social justice and community development aligns perfectly with the aims of EUPP5. We believe that CARDET’s involvement ensures that the project’s design and implementation remain inclusive, transparent, and impactful for Cyprus and beyond.
To learn more about the EUPP5, please visit: https://cardet.org/eupp5/
This interview was published in English at the Policy Press & in Greek at the In Business News.
