The Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union (Κυπριακή Προεδρία του Συμβουλίου της Ευρωπαϊκής Ένωσης – Cyprus Presidency) has published its health programme (Πρόγραμμα της Κυπριακής Προεδρίας – Programme of the Cyprus Presidency). This roadmap prioritises finalising the Critical Medicines Act to address supply vulnerabilities across Member States. This legislative push complements broader regulatory reforms within the pharmaceutical framework. The Cyprus Presidency intends to conclude negotiations with the European Parliament to secure a more resilient supply chain for essential therapeutics.
Nicosia will also steer a targeted revision of the Regulation on Medical Devices and the Regulation on in vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices. This move seeks to balance innovation with affordability and safety. It responds to ongoing concerns regarding the certification bottleneck that has hampered market access for novel technologies.
The programme outlines plans to establish a European Centre of Clinical Excellence for pharmaceutical products. This new body aims to centralise expertise and streamline clinical assessment standards across the bloc. Furthermore, the Cyprus Presidency will start discussions on a prospective Biotech Act – intended to bolster European competitiveness – and an EU Cardiovascular Action Plan. The Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council (EPSCO) will review these priorities during its meeting in February 2026.
External relations focus on pandemic preparedness architecture. The Cyprus Presidency will coordinate an agreement with European Economic Area (EEA) countries regarding medical countermeasures. It also seeks to advance the Annex on Pathogen Access and Benefit Sharing (PABS) within the Pandemic Convention framework. This effort aims to formalise data-sharing protocols and equitable access to countermeasures during future health crises.
Full implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) remains a core objective for the European Health Union. Integrated health data are a catalyst for AI-driven innovation and improved service delivery. These initiatives signal a shift toward more centralised coordination in both procurement and clinical data management. These reforms will likely increase compliance requirements while potentially streamlining cross-border market entry.
Source: Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU
Link: Programme of the Cyprus Presidency
Date: 5 February 2026
