Category: Cyprus News Agency

President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, described on Tuesday the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU as one of the most substantive and productive presidencies in recent years and announced that the Deputy Ministry for European Affairs and the European teams in the Ministries, will continue their work in order to utilize the expertise acquired.

The President was speaking at the closing ceremony of the Cyprus EU Presidency held at the ‘Filoxenia’ Conference Center, in the presence of Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, hundreds of state officials, volunteers and all those who contributed to the Presidency.

The Cypriot President spoke of an internationally recognized success that strengthened the role and voice of Cyprus in the European Union. He stated that the success of the Cyprus Presidency exceeded all expectations and attributed the outcome to the many months of preparation, the professionalism and the collective effort of those who worked for its implementation.

Moreover, he stressed that Cyprus has proven that, despite its small size and the fact that it is the only member state of the European Union still under occupation, it can successfully organize and lead such an important European process.

‘Small Cyprus, the only member state of the European Union under occupation, can organize, can coordinate and lead such a great effort in a way that wins the respect of everyone,’ he underlined.

The President of the Republic said that Cyprus exercised its EU Presidency with self-confidence noting that, despite its small size, it claimed an active role and achieved substantive results.

This approach, he pointed out, contributed to the Cyprus EU Presidency being internationally recognized as one of the most substantive and productive in recent years, despite the particularly demanding geopolitical conditions that prevailed during the six-month period, and the many international crisis.

The President thanked Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, for coordinating the whole effort, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs Constantinos Kombos, the members of the Council of Ministers, the officials of all ministries and other government departments and volunteers, as well as the media that covered the Presidency.

He also announced that the Government decided to maintain both the Deputy Ministry for European Affairs and the European departments in the Ministries, so that the expertise acquired could be utilized.

Finally, he said that all those who worked for the Cyprus EU Presidency should feel proud of their contribution.

‘Be proud, because this success is also your own personal achievement,’ he concluded.

In her statements, the Deputy Minister of European Affairs, said that Cyprus has proven in practice that even a small state can play a decisive role in the European Union, provided it has a plan, effectiveness and strong preparation.

Raouna pointed out that the Cyprus Presidency has managed to establish Cyprus as a reliable mediator, achieving progress on a number of difficult European files.

Presenting the report of the Cypriot Presidency, she said that during the six-month period, approximately 1,600 meetings were held in Brussels, more than 300 events in Cyprus, 19 informal ministerial meetings, as well as the first informal European Council Summit ever hosted in Cyprus, while the country welcomed more than 30,000 visitors.

Raouna said that the completion of the Cyprus Presidency does not mark the end of the effort, but the beginning of a new period during which the country will utilize the experience and know-how acquired during the six-month period, to further strengthen its presence and role in the European Union.

‘The chapter of the six-month period may be closing, but another one is opening, in which we will build on the legacy of the Cyprus EU Presidency. We have a stronger voice, a stronger role, and we will use these to the benefit of Cyprus and its citizens,” she concluded.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, described the Cyprus Presidency as a national mission that was successfully completed, noting that its positive assessment does not come from the Cypriot side, but from the European partners and the EU institutions.

Kombos noted that the Cyprus Presidency was called upon to manage, in addition to its obligations, a series of serious international developments, and referred to Venezuela, Greenland and Iran.

In different circumstances, he said, these crises could negatively affect the course of a Presidency, however, in the case of Cyprus ‘I believe that this did not happen. Quite the opposite.’

The Foreign Minister said that the greatest proof of the success of the Cyprus Presidency is that, when recently he was asked in an interview what Cyprus did not achieve during its term, the only answer he could give was that ‘if we had a few more days, we would have closed one or two more issues that have now matured’, describing this as the best confirmation of the effectiveness of the Cypriot effort.

The President of the House of Representatives of Cyprus, Annita Demetriou, and the Greek Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, discussed on Tuesday, developments on the Cyprus issue and European matters, during a meeting held in Athens, with Demetriou highlighting the importance of Greece and Cyprus moving forward in close coordination to address the region’s complex challenges.

Mitsotakis congratulated Demetriou for her reelection. He also congratulated the Republic of Cyprus on what he described as its highly successful Presidency of the Council of the European Union. He added that at the most recent European Council it was clear that a tremendous effort had been made to conclude highly complex dossiers, and that there was unanimous recognition of Cyprus’ work.

The Greek Prime Minister said that Demetriou’s visit comes at a critical juncture, as there is once again meaningful momentum on the Cyprus issue. He stressed that it is the duty of both countries to remain fully coordinated.

For her part, Demetriou noted that parliaments have a vital role to play, both through parliamentary diplomacy and through stronger cooperation between parliamentary committees, particularly on issues affecting the interests of both countries, such as defence, security, and the European dimension.

“Greece has been, is, and will remain our strongest fraternal ally, one we greatly need,” Demetriou said. She also noted that the House of Representatives will pursue its own priorities, always in cooperation with the Hellenic Parliament.

Regarding possible developments on the Cyprus issue, Demetriou said that current efforts are focused on maintaining momentum in the Cyprus talks, as well as addressing the issues and challenges that Europe is called upon to manage.

“We hope that this momentum will lead to genuine progress on the Cyprus issue. This is precisely where we want to discuss the European Union-Turkey dimension, as well as the other challenges unfolding in the region,” she concluded.

Later, speaking to reporters, Demetriou described the meeting as “very important.”

“Today is also a symbolic day. It is the last day of the Cypriot Presidency. I believe this undertaking has been a success,” she said. She also highlighted the importance of parliamentary diplomacy, noting that strengthening ties between the parliaments of Greece and Cyprus could further reinforce the strategic cooperation between the two countries.

Asked about developments regarding EU-Turkey relations and the Cyprus issue, she said that she and the Greek Prime Minister had exchanged views and shared a common understanding of the diplomatic initiatives that need to be undertaken.

“We are fully aligned regarding the political and diplomatic steps that must be taken,” she said, adding that Greece and Cyprus take into account the interconnection between Greek-Turkish relations and EU-Turkey relations, particularly in preparation for the convening of a new informal five-party meeting on the Cyprus issue.

Demetriou concluded by stressing that the objective remains achieving meaningful progress, underlining the need for coordinated efforts by Athens and Nicosia to move the process forward.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

After informal meetings in 2025, followed by a hiatus of several months, deliberations are underway for a new meeting in broader format to be held, as the term of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres nears its end. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties.

We insist on linking studies with the labour market, aiming, among other things, at the immediate professional placement of our graduates, and a rate exceeding 82% of graduates are employed immediately in professions related to their studies, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Monday evening addressing the graduation ceremony of the School of Business Administration of the University of Nicosia.

The President announced that from next year the Government will also honour students graduating from private universities, adding that his administration is at an advanced stage of creating an organization composed of the Government and the state together with all universities in Cyprus, modeled on the British Council, “so that we can attract even more high-quality foreign students”.

He referred to the recent inauguration of the University of Nicosia’s facilities in Athens, saying this development demonstrates the drive of our country’s higher education and the university’s outward orientation, which brings multi-layered benefits to the country, education and the economy, always with a strong social impact.

Addressing the students, the President said that digital transition, artificial intelligence, green growth and the need for sustainable business models are shaping a new reality, and in this new era societies need people with scientific training, vision but also ethics, and social sensitivity.

“Dear graduates, looking you in the eye, I tell you that Cyprus needs you, depends on you and we approach you as partners and companions in the great effort we are making to change our country. This country has enormous prospects with you as protagonists”, he said.

He added that Cyprus needs young scientists who believe in the potential of our country and invest in knowledge and innovation, people who understand that true success is not measured only by economic indicators but also by social contribution, respect for fellow human beings and the creation of opportunities for future generations.

The practical application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the real economy, accelerating its adoption by businesses, and positioning Cyprus as an agile environment for the development and deployment of AI solutions were at the centre of the Digital Cyprus Conference, held on Tuesday in Nicosia.

Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Nicodemos Damianou, said that the discussion around Artificial Intelligence has now moved beyond the boundaries of technology and has evolved into an economic, industrial and geopolitical issue.

As he noted, global developments demonstrate that governments, businesses and societies are now called upon to decide how Artificial Intelligence should be governed and deployed, stressing that the real challenge is not the development of new models, but their application to solve real-world problems.

Damianou said that the European Union has already shifted its focus from regulating Artificial Intelligence to developing the infrastructure, skills and investment needed to enable its widespread adoption, with particular emphasis on small and medium-sized enterprises.

He noted that Cyprus performs above the European average in the overall digital transformation of businesses. However, it still lags significantly behind in AI adoption, with only 9.3% of businesses currently using AI technologies, compared with approximately 20% across the European Union.

The Deputy Minister announced that the new National Artificial Intelligence Strategy will be launched for public consultation within the coming weeks. Its key objectives include leveraging AI in high value-added sectors, improving the efficiency of the public sector, and developing a strong national innovation ecosystem around trustworthy AI solutions.

For his part, George Malekkos, President of the Cyprus Information Technology Enterprises Association (CITEA), argued that Artificial Intelligence is no longer a technology of the future but rather the new driver of business competitiveness.

As he stated, “speed is the new capital,” noting that AI now connects knowledge with execution, while businesses that continue to rely on traditional processes risk losing their competitive edge.

Malekkos added that Artificial Intelligence tools are already being used in software development, customer service, sales, accounting and legal services, expressing the view that in the coming years organisations will employ AI agents alongside human teams across every business department.

The findings of a new survey on AI adoption among Cypriot businesses were presented by Christina Kokkalou, Managing Director of IMR/University of Nicosia.

According to the survey, 89% of businesses in Cyprus currently use Artificial Intelligence tools, while 98% believe that their use contributes substantially to the operation of their organisations.

The survey also found that 91% consider AI adoption critical to their future competitiveness, while 87% say they possess at least a basic understanding of the technology.

However, organisational readiness remains considerably lower. Only 16% of businesses have an official AI roadmap, 20% use performance indicators to monitor AI implementation, and just 31% have appointed a person responsible for AI-related matters.

The most significant benefits identified include timesavings (90%), increased productivity (82%), content and presentation creation (84%), data analysis (74%), automation of routine tasks (57%), and applications in marketing and communications (54%).

Presenting Dell Technologies’ international experience, Ihab El Ghazzawi said that Artificial Intelligence is being adopted faster than any previous technological transformation.

He noted that the rapid expansion of ChatGPT and generative AI applications has no historical precedent, while global investment in AI continues to grow at an exceptional pace.

He further stated that sectors such as financial services, shipping, tourism, the public sector and healthcare are among those that can make significant use of Artificial Intelligence capabilities in Cyprus.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 30/06/2026 UNTIL 0600 01/07/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1008hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine, but locally increased low cloud coverage is likely to be present at times. Tonight and during dawn, there is risk of local mist, mainly over the southern and eastern coasts.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist

Sea surface temperature: 26°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, gradually locally West to Northwest 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 4, locally 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Night West to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

South Coast Morning Variable 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 4 to 5, locally Southwest to West 5 Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, later Variable 3 Slight, later Smooth to Slight

East Coast Morning Southwest to Northwest 3, gradually Southeast to South 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, later Southwest 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Southwest 4, soon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

North Coast Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally at first Southeast to Southwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 4, locally 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Night Southeast to Southwest 3, locally Southwest to West 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Time of issue: 0530

Date: 30/06/2026

Weather Temperature for Cyprus

Today’s weather and temperatures for Cyprus according to the Department of Meteorology

Date 30/06/2026

Station

TEMPERATURE (C) (FROM 20:00 PC of the previous one until the time of the show)

Humidity at

1200 UTC

Highest

Lowest

Nicosia (Athalassa)

40

25

15

Larnaka Airport

35

22

47

Limassol (New Port)

33

21

52

Pafos Airport

32

21

80

Frenaros

35

24

39

Prodromos

28

18

30

Polis Pafos

34

22

46

The process which is underway as regards the Cyprus issue has not frozen and we hope to have the result we expect, which is none other than the resumption of talks on the Cyprus issue, said the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, on Monday afternoon, in statements to journalists, upon his arrival at a ceremony for renaming Argyroupoleos Avenue, in Strovolos, to Dimitris Christofias Avenue.

Asked whether the delay in the schedule of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, Maria Angela Holguin, means that the process on the Cyprus issue has been frozen until she completes her contacts, the President of the Republic responded in the negative, adding that “the only thing that is certain is that the effort is not frozen, the effort continues.”

‘Ms. Holguin will go on July 13 (to Brussels), the NATO Summit will also take place, all processes are in full swing, with the aim of convening an expanded conference, during which the resumption of talks will be announced,’ he pointed out. ‘So, nothing has been frozen, this great effort continues, we support this great effort of the Secretary-General and we hope that there will be a response from everyone,’ he added.

At the same time, President Christodoulides stressed that ‘we are at a very critical juncture, we are focusing, we have constant contacts both in Cyprus and in New York, and at EU level, with one and only goal, to have a positive result.’

At the same time, he recalled that ‘this mobility began through our own efforts and the more active involvement of the EU with the Conclusions of April 2024 and the appointment of a personal envoy’.

‘We had said from the beginning that our goal was to link potential developments in Euro-Turkish relations, as Turkey considers progress on these issues as a strategic goal, with the Cyprus issue. There is progress in this direction, we hope to have the result we expect, which is nothing other than the resumption of talks’, he concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

After informal meetings in 2025, followed by a hiatus of several months, deliberations are underway for a new meeting in broader format to be held, as the term of the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres nears its end. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 29/06/2026 UNTIL 0600 30/06/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1009hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine, but later tonight and during dawn locally increased low cloud coverage is possible.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 25°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3, soon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon West to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Night West to Northwest 3 to 4, soon Northwest to Northeast 3 Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3, later locally Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 4, later locally Southwest to West 4 Smooth to Slight, later locally Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3, soon locally Variable Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning Northwest to Northeast 3, later Northeast to East Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, later Southwest Smooth to Slight

Night West to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning Variable 3, gradually Northwest to Northeast 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Northwest to Northeast 3 to 4, soon Southwest to Northwest Smooth to Slight

Night Southeast to Southwest 3 Smooth to Slight

CNA/PC/EPH/2026

Cyprus’ Chief Scientist for Research, Innovation and Technology, Demetris Skourides, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to nurturing the country’s next generation of scientists and innovators during a meeting Monday, with the Robotheadz robotics team, ahead of their departure to Sydney where they will represent Cyprus at the FIRST® LEGO® League Asia Pacific Open Invitational 2026, taking place from 9-12 July.

A press release issued by the Research and Innovation Foundation said that the meeting formed part of the Chief Scientist’s broader initiatives to connect talented young people with Cyprus’ research and innovation ecosystem while strengthening the country’s international presence through youth excellence.

The Cypriot delegation consists of ten outstanding students who earned first place in the national FIRST LEGO League competition with a project focused on archaeology. During the meeting, the students presented their innovative mobile application, which combines programming and digital technologies to promote Cyprus’ archaeological heritage.

The Chief Scientist encouraged the students to pursue their passion for science, technology and innovation and shared practical advice ahead of their international competition.

During the meeting, he also held a live discussion with Cyprus High Commissioner to Australia, Antonis Samoutis, to coordinate support for the delegation in Sydney, including engagement with the Cypriot community to ensure the students enjoy a successful and memorable experience while representing Cyprus abroad.

As part of this initiative, the Office of the Chief Scientist, in collaboration with the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF), provided the team with material showcasing Cyprus’ scientific and cultural achievements, including two 3D-printed cultural artefacts created by the research team of Professor Marinos Ioannides, audiovisual material highlighting Cyprus’ cultural heritage and innovation ecosystem, and an introduction to flagship national research projects, including Cyprus’ nanosatellite initiative, demonstrating how research conducted in Cyprus is contributing to cutting-edge developments in space technologies and biomedical science.

“Investing in young people is investing in the future of our country. Through the Office of the Chief Scientist, we remain committed to supporting every initiative that promotes scientific thinking, innovation and international outreach. Robotheadz represents not only Cyprus in a competition, but also a nation that believes in knowledge, research and technology’,’ the Chief Scientist said.

Robotheadz team is led by coach Dr. Pericles Cheng.

Deposits and lending in Cyprus’ banking system gathered pace in May, with both indicators recording significantly stronger growth compared with the previous month, according to data released on Monday by the Central Bank of Cyprus.

Total deposits in monetary financial institutions increased by a net pound 343.8 million in May, reversing a net decline of pound 123.1 million recorded in April. The annual growth rate of deposits accelerated to 5.1% from 4.5% a month earlier.

The outstanding stock of deposits reached pound 58.0 billion at the end of May.

Resident deposits contributed most of the increase, rising by pound 239.0 million during the month. Household deposits grew by pound 171.3 million, while deposits held by non-financial corporations increased by pound 194.0 million. These gains were partly offset by a decline of pound 126.2 million in deposits held by other domestic sectors, including investment funds, insurance companies, pension funds and government entities.

At the same time, lending activity continued to strengthen, reflecting sustained credit demand across the economy.

Total loans recorded a net increase of pound 260.3 million in May, compared with a rise of pound 40.5 million in April. Annual loan growth accelerated to 12.6% from 12.0% in the previous month.

The outstanding stock of loans reached pound 28.1 billion.

Loans to Cyprus residents increased by pound 173.7 million. Lending to households rose by pound 52.7 million, while loans to non-financial corporations expanded by pound 63.0 million. Other domestic sectors recorded a combined increase of pound 58.0 million.