Category: Cyprus News Agency

Trade in goods between Cyprus and Greece reached pound 3.3 billion in 2025, with Greece being an important trading partner for Cyprus, Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Michalis Damianos told CNA on Saturday, ahead of his meeting on Monday, in Nicosia, with Greece’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, responsible for Economic Diplomacy and Extroversion, Harry Theoharis.

Speaking to CNA, Damianos said that the meeting with the Greek Deputy Minister would focus primarily on trade issues, as part of efforts to further strengthen the already close economic and trade relations between Cyprus and Greece.

‘The meeting will be constructive in the context of further strengthening the already close economic and trade relations between Cyprus and Greece,’ he said.

He explained that the meeting would focus on the international trade portfolio of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, noting that Greece is an important partner for Cyprus in both imports and exports.

‘In 2025, total trade in goods between the two countries reached pound 3.3 billion,’ the Minister said, adding that Greece is ‘a very important partner, beyond everything else that Greece is for Cyprus.’

He clarified that foreign policy issues would not be discussed at the meeting, which would focus primarily on trade matters.

Meanwhile, asked about energy issues concerning Cyprus-Israel relations, following the recent visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to Cyprus, Damianos said he just had a brief discussion with Herzog at the airport, where he welcomed him, on some issues such as the Aphrodite-Ishai gas fields dispute and the electricity interconnection.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 12/09/2026 UNTIL 1200 13/09/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1012hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather over the coastal areas will be mainly fine, but tonight and in the morning locally increased low cloud coverage may be present at times, with risk of local mist over eastern and southern areas.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist

Sea surface temperature: 29°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Afternoon West to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Night Northwest 3 to 4, gradually Northwest to Northeast 3 Smooth to Slight

Morning Northwest to Northeast 3, gradually Southwest to West Smooth to Slight

South Coast

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

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

Morning Variable 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Afternoon South to Southwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Morning Variable 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, at times locally 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight

Night South to Southwest 3, gradually near the coast Southeast to Southwest Smooth to Slight

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3, later Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 12/09/2026 UNTIL 0600 13/09/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1011hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine, but tonight and in the morning locally increased low cloud coverage may be present at times, with risk of local mist over eastern and southern areas.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist

Sea surface temperature: 29°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3, gradually Southwest to West 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon West to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Night Northwest to North 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight, locally at first Slight

South Coast

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

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

Night Southwest to Northwest 3, locally at first West 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning Variable 3, later East to Southeast Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Variable 3

North Coast

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3, later Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

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

Night Variable 3, locally Southwest to West Smooth to Slight

Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Minister, Christos Senekis, highlighted on Saturday the importance of cooperation between Cyprus and Greece, as well as European solidarity in tackling forest fires, during an event held Saturday at the Platania Forest Station in the Troodos National Forest Park in honor of members of a Greek forest firefighting team currently visiting Cyprus.

In his address Senekis noted that this marks the first time Cyprus is participating in the European “Prepositioning” program as a host country for a pre-positioned forest firefighting force, emphasizing the significance of the fact that the first team hosted under this program comes from Greece.

He noted that the 21 members of the Greek mission are in Cyprus to familiarize themselves with the forest fire prevention and suppression system, the organization and coordination of operations, fire protection infrastructure and the specific conditions of Cypriot forests.

The Greek members are also participating in training sessions and joint activities alongside personnel from the Department of Forests. The Minister of Agriculture noted that the fundamental goal of “prepositioning” is to ensure that cooperation does not begin only at the moment of a crisis, but preparation, familiarization, coordination and building of trust are in place before the forces are called upon to operate jointly.

Senekis noted that for Cyprus this initial experience, as a host nation, facilitates the enhancement of force interoperability, the exchange of experience and expertise and the acquisition of shared operational experience prior to the onset of an actual crisis.

The Minister also noted that forest fires know no borders and can, within a few hours, threaten human lives, property, communities and natural resources, potentially overwhelming even the capabilities of well-organized states. For this reason, he pointed out, cooperation and solidarity are an essential necessity, rather than merely concepts included in European plans and protocols.

He described the presence of the Greek mission as a tangible example of European solidarity, referring also to the close ties between Cyprus and Greece. He recalled that the two countries have repeatedly stood by each other during difficult times, particularly in combating forest fires.

He also thanked the Department of Forests and the Civil Defence for their cooperation in the preparation, hosting and operational integration of the Greek mission, as well as the Greek government and the Hellenic Fire Service.

Addressing the 21 team members, he expressed Cyprus’ gratitude for their presence and voiced the hope that the readiness built through joint training would not need to be tested in a real-life incident. But, he noted, should that difficult moment arrive, we know we will stand together, side by side.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 11/09/2026 UNTIL 1800 12/09/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1011hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine, but tonight and in the morning locally increased low cloud coverage may be present at times, with risk of local mist over eastern and southern areas.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist

Sea surface temperature: 29°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Night Northwest to North 3 to 4, locally near the coast North to Northeast 3 Slight, locally near the coast Smooth to Slight

Morning Northwest to Northeast 3, gradually Southwest to West 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon West to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

South Coast

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

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

Afternoon Southwest to West 4, gradually locally 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, gradually locally Slight

East Coast

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Morning Variable 3, later East to Southeast Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 4 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Night Southwest to West 3, near the coast Southeast to Southwest Smooth to Slight

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3, later Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

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

Cyprus government condemned the Houthi attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the legitimate Yemeni Government.

The Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X that the targeting of civilians and civilian infrastructure is unacceptable.

”Cyprus stands in full solidarity with the affected countries and their peoples, and stresses the importance of upholding freedom of navigation and international law, in accordance with UNCLOS”, the post says.

From April 2024 until today, 80 fishing vessels have been modernised, whilst, for the first time, small-scale coastal fishing professionals have been able to benefit from grant schemes covering 100 per cent of eligible expenditure, with no private contribution required, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and the Environment, Christos Senekis said addressing the 1st Fish Festival – Fishermen’s and the Liopetri River Festival on Thursday evening. He added that the compensation scheme for damage caused to fish catches by dolphins and other protected marine mammals is continuing, supporting around 300 professional fishermen each year, whilst ‘since the scheme came into effect in 2025, compensation totalling pound 1 million has already been paid out, whilst total support is expected to reach pound 4 million by 2029.

He added that, at the same time, targeted measures are being implemented to support fishermen’s incomes and address the day-to-day challenges they face. ‘This includes compensation for the temporary suspension of fishing activities, as well as support for the collection and removal of pufferfish,’ the Minister said.

He also emphasised that the support measures are adapted to changing circumstances which are creating new pressures on the sector, explaining that, in view of the energy crisis arising from the situation in the Middle East, “we have gone ahead with implementing a financial compensation scheme for the cost of diesel used in agriculture.”

Regarding to the co-funded project to develop the Liopetri River Fishing Shelter, he stated that “this is one of the largest infrastructure projects for the Cypriot fishing industry, which will substantially upgrade the infrastructure and operations of the coastal zone, whilst also generating benefits for the economy of the wider region.”

He acknowledged that ‘the project’s progress has not been without difficulties.” The implementation of a project of this scale and complexity, he explained, “presented challenges along the way, which affected the initial timetable and, inevitably, the daily lives of the region’s professional fishermen.”

“We are aware of this reality and the difficulties they have faced,” he noted.

Senekis added that work is now “back on track”. As he said, work on the construction of roads and pavements has already been completed, while the port works are expected to be finished in the first half of 2027, followed by the completion of the building facilities.

At the same time, he noted that progress on the project must be accompanied by “substantial support for the people affected by its prolonged implementation period.” In this context, support for each eligible professional fisherman has been significantly increased for the years 2025 and 2026, he said.

The Agriculture Minister expressed his confidence that, upon completion of the project, “our fishermen will now have at their disposal a safe haven with all the modern and necessary infrastructure and facilities that will substantially improve the conditions under which they practise their profession.”

The employment rate among people aged 20 to 64 in Cyprus remained at 82.3% in the second quarter of 2026, unchanged compared with the first quarter of the year, according to data published by Eurostat on Friday.

At EU level, the employment rate edged up to 76.4% in the second quarter, from 76.3% in the first quarter of 2026. As a result, the rate in Cyprus was 5.9 percentage points higher than the EU average.

Between the first and second quarters of 2026, the employment rate increased in 14 EU countries, remained unchanged in four, including Cyprus, and decreased in nine.

The largest increases were recorded in Portugal and Malta, at 0.6 percentage points each, followed by Greece with an increase of 0.5 percentage points. In Latvia and Slovenia, the employment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points.

The largest decreases were recorded in Austria, at 0.4 percentage points, as well as in Lithuania and Sweden, at 0.3 percentage points each.

Cyprus managed the tourist crisis in a successful manner because of the excellent cooperation between the public and private sectors, Tourist Deputy Minister Costas Koumis said Friday. He also pointed out that the decrease recorded during the first seven of the year was limited to 8%, and it is estimated that the annual decline will stand around 5%.

Koumis participated in a meeting with representatives of the Limassol Tourism Development and Promotion Company, the Limassol hoteliers and local authorities, to discuss the challenges and prospects of the tourism sector of the city.

He spoke of the cooperation between public and private sectors, noting that we all have a responsibility to ensure that tourism industry operates effectively and efficiently, and that our country remains a competitive destination.

He referred to the crisis that all had to handle due to the war and tension in the region that resulted in thousands of cancellations, pointing out that that ‘we managed it very successfully’.

Koumis referred to data saying that the decrease for June was around 1% and slightly above 1% for July. He said that estimations show that figures will be higher than in 2024.

Speaking in particular about Limassol, he noted that its share of the tourism product has remained around 12% for years. He went on to say that each geographical area of the island ought to highlight its comparative advantages and strive for its share in the market.

He referred specifically to the village of Pissouri in the Limassol district and the new museum that will be set up there. He said that such sites will become comparative advantages for the tourism product of the city and district of Limassol.

Asked about the sea pollution in Limassol Koumis said that this is an issue under the competence of the Shipping Deputy Ministry and that they are in constant contact as regards the problem.

He noted that Cyprus’ waters are one of the country’s comparative advantages, adding that we have a duty to safeguard the high quality of the island’s seas.

Chair of the Limassol Tourism Development and Promotion Company Andreas Tsouloftas said that the aim of the meeting was to set up a plan for the upcoming period and how best to promote the tourism product of Limassol city and district.

He explained that over the years smaller hotels have been converted into other types of premises, such as residential units, resulting in a loss of bed capacity.

He stressed the fact that Limassol attracts tourists with higher income levels.

Head of Limassol hoteliers Christos Tsanos said that the goal is for Limassol to maintain its current standard. He said that the Hoteliers Association has a multi-faceted campaign and is in contact with other bodies and organizations with the aim of strengthening their marketing committee on various levels.

The Cyprus Center for Trustworthy AI (CyCAT) at the Open University of Cyprus has successfully concluded its PINNACLE project (Public Engagement in AI Evaluation for Education and System Benchmarking), carried out with the generous support of the Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation (BRIDGE2HORIZON/0823E/0203). Over 18 months, the funding (150.000 Euro) enabled our team to conduct initial scientific research and to coordinate a proposal to extend the work through Horizon Europe.

With the continued emergence of Generative AI and Foundation Models, new AI-enabled products and services enter the market every day. Google’s AI-generated answers to our search queries, or the recommendation systems that quietly decide what appears next in our Netflix and Spotify feeds, are just some of the ways in which we now interact with AI in “everyday” contexts, often without even realising it. Yet as these systems become ever more embedded in daily life, most of us have little means of judging whether they treat us fairly, safeguard our privacy, or behave as they should. PINNACLE set out to address precisely this gap by placing the people who use AI at the centre of evaluating it.

Throughout the project, our team developed innovative mechanisms by which members of the public can participate actively in discovering and evaluating AI-enabled products and services, in the spirit of the EU’s vision for Trustworthy AI. According to this vision, which underpins the EU AI Act, to be trustworthy, AI systems must respect a particular set of principles, such as being technically robust, fair, non-discriminatory, and respectful of users’ privacy. The PINNACLE methodology enables members of the public to have their say in evaluating the extent to which the AI-enabled systems they encounter are truly “trustworthy,” in a systematic way that can be documented.

In this spirit, we offered the online course “AI in Everyday Life” twice, using it to test two complementary approaches to public AI evaluation. In the first run, participants adopted a bottom-up approach, reporting each week on an AI application they had genuinely used and assessing its adherence to key ethical principles. In the second, they took a top-down approach, each selecting a single chatbot (ChatGPT, Gemini, or Copilot) to use throughout the course and following guided weekly tasks to evaluate it. Across the two runs, more than 500 members of the Cypriot and Greek communities took part, and the project successfully collected user-sourced evaluations of AI across both groups.

Beyond the course, PINNACLE laid down a conceptual framework for user-centred AI evaluation, produced nine peer-reviewed scientific publications, and coordinated a Horizon Europe proposal that scored well above threshold and will be revised for a future resubmission. Together, these outcomes have strengthened the team’s participation in Horizon Europe and expanded its network of collaborators across Europe.