What is your current role, and where do you work?
In January 2024 President Christodoulides appointed me as Deputy Minister for European Affairs, responsible for the preparation, coordination and political oversight of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in the first half of 2026. As President Christodoulides has consistently stated, the Presidency of the Council of the EU is a national mission – one that we have prepared for over 2 years with diligence, and one that we are undertaking with a great sense of pride and responsibility.
The Presidency of the Council of the EU is an institutional responsibilty that member states of the EU undertake every 14 years. And Cyprus has undertaken this responsibility as a confident and experienced member state, fully capable of delivering on this important role, and committed to advancing the European agenda as an honest broker, for the benefit of all European citizens.
During the Presidency, I am chairing the General Affairs Council, which brings together the Ministers for European Affairs of the 27 EU member states. This Council formation plays a key role in coordinating cross-cutting EU policies, such as enlargement, EU-UK relations, trade agreements between the EU and third countries, the multiannual financial framework – in other words the budget of the EU – as well as in preparing meetings of the European Council of Heads of State and Government.
Leading the Cyprus’ Presidency preparations and steering its delivery has been both an honour as well as an immense responsibility. It has been a demanding journey, marked by intense preparation, long hours, and continuous coordination across teams and institutions in Cyprus and Brussels, both before and during the Presidency.
While the pace and scale of the work have been challenging, they have also been equally engaging and rewarding. What stays with me most is not the pressure of the process, but a lasting sense of satisfaction in seeing these efforts translate into concrete results for Cyprus and the European Union as a whole. And a living proof that Cyprus can lead.
Can you share a bit about your personal and educational background?
I was born in Larnaca in 1983. Both my parents are refugees from Famagusta, having been forcibly displaced following the Turkish invasion of 1974. I mention this specifically because I feel it has profoundly shaped my upbringing and my personal journey.
Like many children of our generation, my sister and I grew up with memories of a Cyprus that our parents were forced to leave behind but never stopped carrying as they rebuilt their lives from scratch. The emotional bond and the attachment they maintained to their hometown, has been ever present in our daily lives. I grew up hearing stories about their life in Famagusta before 1974, the neighbourhoods they knew, the people they remembered, the everyday reality of a place that remained very vivid in their minds, alongside a quiet but enduring hope of return.
From our parents and grandparents, we inherited far more than stories. They instilled in us their remarkable resilience in the face of adversity, steady perseverance and the belief that nothing is impossible with hard work. Just as importantly, they taught us a sense of duty, responsibility and humility – not through words, but through the way they chose to live. Through their own actions.
After completing primary school, I joined the AAL, and I graduated in 2002. Those were my most formative academic years. The school instilled in me the ethos of “to grow and to serve”, which I have carried with me throughout my adult life.
I then went on to study Jurisprudence in the UK, at Oxford University. It was a choice I did not dwell much on – I had always been drawn to the principle of justice, and to the way in which law provides structure, order, security, and equality amongst citizens.
During my studies I developed a particular interest in Public International Law and European Union Law, fields which I specialized on in my postgraduate studies at LSE. This also defined my professional path. I have worked in both EU and government institutions, and a significant part of my career has been dedicated to international and EU affairs.
Early on, my work was more focused on technical and policy-related matters, which allowed me to develop a clearer, more hands-on understanding of the EU processes. Step by step my professional path led me to positions of greater responsibility, always within the field of EU and international relations. I am deeply grateful for each stage of this journey, the people that defined it, as each one contributed to the perspective and experience, I bring to my role today as Deputy Minister for European Affairs.
Outside of work, I am married to Seth Rosenbaum and I am a mother of two children, Phaedon and Neriah. My greatest achievement.
How did your career path unfold from graduation to where you are today?
After finishing the American Academy Larnaca I moved to the UK to study Law at the University of Oxford, where I obtained a BA in Jurisprudence. Later I pursued postgraduate studies in Public International and European Law (LLM) at the London School of Economics and Political Science as a Chevening Scholar. I also hold a diploma in French Language and Civilization from Sorbonne University (Paris IV).
I began my professional journey in 2007 at the European Commission, as Programme Manager of the European Programme Daphne III focusing on combating violence against women, children and young people.
From 2010 to 2014 I served at the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the European Union in Brussels, where I worked on EU enlargement, EU-Turkey relations, and matters concerning the Turkish Cypriot community. During Cyprus’ first Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2012, I had the privilege of serving as Cyprus’ co-chair and national representative in the Council Working Party for Enlargement and led negotiations on behalf of the Council in negotiations with the European Parliament and the European Commission.
After my return to Cyprus in 2014, I worked as coordinator of the Office of the Director of the Diplomatic Office of the President of the Republic and as an Advisor on EU matters. I also participated in the UN negotiations for a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, and as a member of the Ad Hoc Working Group on EU matters. From 2018 to 2021 I served as Special Advisor of the then Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, focusing on EU issues and EU-Turkey relations.
Before assuming my current role as Deputy Minister for European Affairs, I served as Director of the Diplomatic Office of President Nikos Christodoulides, as EU Sherpa, and as Secretary of the National Council.
What professional achievement are you most proud of and why?
My current role as Deputy Minister for European Affairs responsible for the coordination, preparation and political oversight of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union has been the most significant and rewarding experience of my career to date. I am deeply grateful to President Christodoulides for the opportunity to serve my country from this position.
I was entrusted with this role at a time of growing geopolitical uncertainty and increasing instability in our Union’s neighbourhood; at a time when the European Union needs to respond effectively to multiple challenges – from security to migration, to energy, competitiveness and enlargement. And so, the stakes of the Cyprus Presidency extend far beyond Cyprus – they concern the future of our Union, of each and every of the 27 member states.
During the first semester of 2026, Cyprus represents all 27 member states, becoming the voice, formulating solutions. And stands at the centre of the European decision-making process, at the very heart of Europe. Guided by our overarching vision of “An Autonomous Union, Open to the World”, we are working diligently to deliver a Presidency that is substantive, outward-looking, and results-oriented.
We have been hosting and chairing over 270 meetings in both Cyprus and Brussels, working to build consensus, secure agreements, advance key files, and help shape Europe’s common path forward for the benefit of all European citizens.
As we reach the final stretch of the Cyprus Presidency, I am proud to say that tangible progress has been achieved across a broad range of policy areas. Despite its size, Cyprus has proven itself a credible and reliable EU member state, able to act as an honest broker and make a substantive contribution to advancing the European agenda. Our diplomatic footprint is far greater than our size.
What makes this journey particularly meaningful is not only the institutional responsibility it entails, but also the collective national effort behind it. Because the Presidency is, above all, a shared undertaking that requires close coordination across all ministries, as well as strong cooperation with Cyprus’ Permanent Representation to the EU and our teams in Brussels and Nicosia.
Everyone involved in this Presidency embraced its vision and worked with genuine commitment, professionalism and dedication to ensure its success. We started over two and a half years ago, a very small team that grew, and worked tirelessly under the guidance of President Christodoulides, to deliver a Presidency that makes all Cypriots proud. For me personally, it has been an honour and a privilege to lead this team, to serve Cyprus and contribute – together with my remarkable team- to a project that is both national in execution and European in impact.
How did your experience with AAL contribute to your personal or professional growth?
When I think back to my years at AAL, I am filled with a deep sense of nostalgia and genuine affection for a remarkable school that shaped me and gave me foundations that accompanied me in my studies, in my professional journey, in public service and in life.
American Academy had a profound and defining effect on me: on my character development, my value base, on fostering my curiosity for learning and for the world.
It is where I formed friendships that I deeply value and that I know are for a lifetime.
American Academy Larnaca is much more than a school focused on academic success and excellence.
I always think of AAL as a big family, that challenges you and helps you grow. It has a remarkable ethos, a place where respect is lived rather than simply taught, and where a strong sense of community develops naturally.
A school that instilled in us values that continue to guide us for life: integrity and discipline, empathy and understanding, and a strong sense of responsibility towards society. It encouraged us to think critically, to ask hard questions, to be curious, to believe in ourselves even in moments of uncertainty. And that is a microcosm of life.
Community is such an indispensable part of the school. At American Academy Larnaca we learned not only from our teachers, but also from one another. Teamwork and cooperation were part of our everyday experience. We learned how to work collectively, how to listen and build on different ideas, how to cope with setbacks, persist through challenges, and continuously improve.
At American Academy we learned the remarkable power of diversity – to embrace difference, not fear it. We learnt that we thrive most when we build on the strength that derives from our differences, when we look at what unites us rather than what divides us.
This, to me, is the enduring strength of our school. What we learn at AAL is not confined within its walls. It defines how we think, how we interact, how we work.
My years at AAL remain a compass in my life, quietly and firmly guiding both my personal and professional journey, reminding me just when I need it the most of how important it is to stay true to my values, even as circumstances change and responsibilities grow.
In moments of uncertainty, I often find myself returning to the mindset AAL helped me cultivate: to act with integrity, to speak of for what is just, even if it is not popular, and to keep focus on what truly matters.
As I move in this journey, I carry with me gratitude and deep fondness for AAL. For shaping not only the path that I have taken but also the person I strive to be along the way.
What advice would you give to current AAL students?
Take all you have learned at AAL and carry it forward beyond school. Let it move with you into real life; your choices, your actions, the way you conduct yourself, and the way you treat others every single day.
Stay true to who you are, while remaining open to the world around you. Be receptive to new ideas and committed to continuous learning and personal growth.
Know that there are no quick fixes, and no shortcuts. You will need to work hard to achieve your goals, whatever these may be.
Stay curious, challenge your beliefs and push beyond your comfort zones. Surround yourself with people more knowledgeable than you, people you can learn from, people who can lift you up and improve you.
Listen to criticism but close your ears to those who challenge your ability to do what may seem impossible to them.
Keep searching, keep questioning, and never stop aiming high- without losing respect, consideration for those around you, and above all – humility.
Be willing to stand up for what you believe in, for what you are passionate about, for what you know is right. It might be daunting and unpopular, but always have the courage to speak up for the truth, for what is just. Use your inner compass and know that courage and truth are worth the struggle.
You are fortunate to be growing up in a country that is part of the European Union. Europe is not a perfect project, but it offers something rare and valuable: the freedom to live, study, travel, work, start a business, create, and speak openly. It is a space where opportunity is unlimited and possibilities are endless. And it is the best place to live, work, raise a family, be who you want to be.
The Union offers limitless possibilities – but also responsibilities.
For a country like Cyprus, where history and the ongoing wound of occupation is part of our everyday reality, this responsibility is even greater. It calls for a generation that believes in and shapes the future with clarity.
So don’t simply inherit what you have been given. Build on it. Strengthen it. Make it yours and use it to help shape something even greater; for Cyprus and for Europe as a whole.
