Nicosia, Cyprus. Marilena Raouna, who headed the secretariat for Cyprus’ presidency of the Council of the European Union, described a sense of happiness and relief on the final day of June, shortly before the formal handover of the presidency to Ireland.
The presidency’s work was due to continue until July 31 to complete a report and present it to parliament, while the formal six-month term was nearing its end.
Two-year preparation
Raouna was appointed on January 17, 2024, with preparations for the presidency requiring a two-year run-up because of the scale of the project.
She led the presidency secretariat and became a prominent public representative of the initiative during the six-month term, including at its opening ceremony, where she welcomed President Nikos Christodoulides, European Council President António Costa, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
European commitment
Raouna studied law at Oxford University’s Exeter College and completed a postgraduate degree in Public International and European Law at the London School of Economics as a Chevening Scholar. She later received a French diploma from the Sorbonne and built a career as a technocrat and civil servant.
She said she had believed in the European project from a young age, citing its role for member states and its development from coal and steel cooperation into an economic, monetary and political union.
Public trust
The most recent Eurobarometer survey showed that 39 per cent of Cypriots trust the European Union.
