•  Europe, more efficient and sustainable,
•  Europe, with a better performing and growth economy,
•  Europe, more relevant to its citizens, with solidarity and social cohesion and,
•  Europe in the world, closer to its neighbours.

The priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union (1 July - 31 December 2012) in the area of Research and Innovation are:

• HORIZON 2020: negotiations on the Horizon 2020 package

• European Research Area (ERA): relevant discussions at Council level focusing on the improvement of the mobility and career prospects of researchers, as well as on cross-border cooperation.

• European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): negotiations on the Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), as well as on the amendment of the EIT Regulation

• International Cooperation in Research and Innovation – EuroMed dimension: promote the international dimension of ERA, placing particular emphasis in revisiting Euro- Mediterranean cooperation in research and innovation.

More details are available in the programme. The main presidency events in this area of "Competitiveness" include
• Informal Competitiveness Council, Lefkosia (Nicosia), 19-20 July 2012
• SME Assembly, Lefkosia (Nicosia), 15-16 November 2012
• European Institute of Innovation and Technology Conference, Larnaca, 8-9 November 2012
• European Research Area Conference, Lefkosia (Nicosia), 14 November 2012

In the area of Enlargement the programme states that the Cyprus Presidency will ensure that the enlargement agenda of the EU remains high amongst its priorities and will, therefore, further advance the process, on the basis of the “own merits” approach and strict conditionality.
"The Cyprus Presidency is determined to contribute in taking forward Iceland’s accession negotiations, aiming at bringing the process as close as possible to its conclusion.
Moreover, the reinforcement of Turkey’s accession prospect is of critical importance and the Presidency will focus on advancing this prospect, in line with Turkey’s Negotiating Framework and relevant Council conclusions.
The Cyprus Presidency stands ready to implement swiftly the Union’s decision to open accession negotiations with Montenegro and to contribute to the decisive advancement of these negotiations.
The Presidency will seek to build on the momentum created by European Council Decision to grant candidate status to Serbia, a key country in the Western Balkans, aiming potentially to a European Council decision for the opening of accession negotiations.
The Cyprus Presidency will follow closely the monitoring process for the implementation of the commitments assumed by Croatia during the accession negotiations, in view of the Comprehensive Monitoring Report to be presented by the European Commission to the European Parliament and the Council in autumn 2012." (see PDF Programme).

Website: http://www.cy2012.eu