Cyprus and France sign a Strategic Partnership Agreement in Paris, elevating cooperation across defence, economy, culture, innovation and education, while boosting European and international coordination.

With Cyprus set to assume the EU presidency in early 2026, Paris pledges support for Cyprus’s role in the EU, including strengthening Mediterranean-EU ties and safeguarding EU interests and strategic autonomy.

France-Cyprus defence and energy collaboration remains central, recognizing TOTAL’s activity in Cyprus’s EEZ and continuing cooperation under EU mechanisms like SAFE, with plans to finalize a Status of Forces Agreement soon.

Efforts to reduce external dependencies aim to build competitive, resilient value chains in energy, net-zero tech, health, digital infrastructure and raw materials, supporting a single market and a Capital Markets Union.

The agreement comprises ten chapters covering diplomacy, defence, security, regional crisis response, European strategic autonomy, and joint work on migration, border security and humanitarian aid.

The partnership emphasizes EU unity and resilience, expanding coordination on European and global matters.

The accord supports deeper intra-EU purchasing within the single market and advances the Capital Markets Union to streamline cross-border EU finance.

Both countries commit to a more sovereign EU, enhanced defence collaboration, and leveraging EU tools and the SAFE program to strengthen the defence industrial base.

An annual high-level intergovernmental steering meeting will be created to monitor and assess implementation of the agreement.

Cultural and educational cooperation will be boosted, highlighting multilingualism, mobility, and the use of La Francophonie to promote language ties between Greek and French speakers.

Cyprus’s Schengen prospects are reiterated, including stronger border controls and compliance with EU frontier standards, particularly around the Green Line.

The agenda includes regional and international issues, with a focus on unified EU positions and regional stability.