Category: Cyprus News Agency

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 09/09/2026 UNTIL 0600 10/09/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1007hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 29°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

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

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

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

South Coast

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

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

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

East Coast

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

Afternoon South to Southwest 4, at times Southwest 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight

Night West to Northwest 3, at times 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

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

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally at first Northwest to North 3 Smooth to Slight

Night Southeast to Southwest 3, at times offshore 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Cyprus’ trade deficit widened by pound 821 million in the first seven months of 2026, compared with the corresponding period of 2025, mainly due to a significant increase in imports, according to preliminary data released by the Statistical Service on Wednesday.

The trade deficit rose to pound 5,620.1 million in January-July 2026, from pound 4,798.9 million in the same period last year.

Total imports of goods increased by 11.4% year-on-year to pound 8,928.7 million, from pound 8,016.2 million, while total exports rose by 2.8% to pound 3,308.6 million, from pound 3,217.3 million.

In July alone, total imports reached pound 1,609.4 million, up 22.8% from pound 1,310.9 million in July 2025. Imports from other EU Member States amounted to pound 787.8 million, while imports from third countries stood at pound 821.6 million, compared with pound 745.7 million and pound 565.2 million, respectively, in July 2025.

July imports included the transfer of economic ownership of ships worth pound 136.1 million, compared with pound 23.4 million in July 2025.

Total exports of goods in July 2026 rose by 17.6% to pound 666.8 million, from pound 567.1 million a year earlier. Exports to other EU Member States fell to pound 127.8 million from pound 173.5 million, while exports to third countries increased to pound 539.0 million from pound 393.6 million.

July exports included the transfer of economic ownership of ships worth pound 35.3 million, compared with pound 89.9 million in July 2025.

June 2026 final data

————————

According to final data, total imports of goods amounted to pound 1,311.8 million in June 2026, up 13.9% from pound 1,152.2 million in June 2025.

Exports of domestically produced products, including supplies to ships and aircraft, fell by 31.6% to pound 238.0 million in June 2026, from pound 347.7 million a year earlier.

Domestic exports of industrial products, excluding supplies to ships and aircraft, amounted to pound 228.1 million, compared with pound 336.9 million in June 2025, while exports of agricultural products stood at pound 8.5 million, compared with pound 9.7 million.

Exports of foreign products, including supplies to ships and aircraft, increased by 35.3% to pound 225.2 million in June 2026, from pound 166.4 million in June 2025.

The main categories of domestically produced exports in January-June 2026, excluding supplies to ships and aircraft, were mineral fuels and oils, valued at pound 858.7 million, halloumi cheese at pound 201.9 million and pharmaceutical products at pound 179.8 million.

President Nikos Christodoulides will have a new meeting on Wednesday morning with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman at the Good Offices premises in Nicosia airport in the buffer zone. The meeting is scheduled for 1030 am local time.

On Tuesday the President of the Republic, in an interview with daily Turkish Cypriot newspaper ”Yeni Dzen” expressed his belief that together with the Turkish Cypriot leader they can “write history”, noting at the same time that “as Greek Cypriots we do not have a Plan B” and that the only possible solution is the reunification of Cyprus. He further noted that the current status quo does not allow our country to fully realise its potential.

The UN in New York also announced on Tuesday that UNSG’s personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin, will brief the Secretary-General by phone about her work, as she canceled her planned visits to both New York and Cyprus, for health reasons.

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.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.

Based on the current circumstances, ‘we are ready to resume talks from where they left off at Crans-Montana’, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday, following his approximately one-hour meeting with Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhrman.

Speaking to reporters on his return to the Presidential Palace after the meeting with Erhrman, President Christodoulides said that the next meeting would take place either on Wednesday or Friday next week, following a meeting between the two sides’ negotiators.

He also said that there could potentially be a joint meeting between himself and the Turkish Cypriot leader in New York, either with the UN Secretary-General or his Personal Envoy, Maria Angela Holguin, or at negotiator level.

Asked by a journalist about the relatively short duration of the meeting, the President of the Republic said that it was short, ‘but substantive in terms of the issues discussed.’

He said that discussions had continued on the three issues – methodology, substance and confidence-building measures. ‘On some issues there is progress, in the sense that there is a common understanding, while on others, disagreements and different approaches remain. We will continue the discussion at our level next week, and before the meeting there will also be a meeting of the negotiators,’ he added.

Asked whether there had been any progress on issues over which there had been disagreements for some time, the President said that ‘on some there is a common understanding, regarding, for example, the importance of the convergences, while on others there is still disagreement and a different approach, which is why the discussion will continue.’

Asked by a journalist about the fact that the recording of the convergences was supposed to have been completed by the end of August, President Christodoulides said that, according to the information they had received, it was at a very advanced final stage. ‘It is a matter of days before it is completed, and we will see how the United Nations will handle it.’

‘I imagine that, according to some information we have – although nothing is certain – there may be a joint meeting in New York, either with the Secretary-General or his Personal Envoy, either at leaders’ level or at negotiators’ level. We will see,’ he said, noting that once there was something specific, it would be announced.

Asked by a journalist about Holguín’s announcement that she would not travel to New York, the President of the Republic clarified that the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy had said that she would not go today, when she had been scheduled to meet with the Secretary-General, but that, according to information they will speak by telephone today.

Asked whether there was enough time, with only one meeting remaining with the Turkish Cypriot leader before the trip to New York, to produce deliverables and present them to the UN Secretary-General, President Christodoulides noted that the next leaders’ meeting will be a continuation of their previous meetings but also a continuation of the meetings held by the negotiators. ‘So, we are not starting from scratch at the next meeting to discuss the issues. The matters before us are very specific. On some there is a common understanding, while on others there is disagreement and a different approach, and the discussion on these issues will continue,’ he added.

Asked whether the disagreement concerned the route from the Athienou crossing point, the President noted that discussion today was not so much about confidence-building measures, but rather focused more on the other two aspects, namely substance and methodology.

Asked whether he was satisfied with the methodology and substance as discussed during his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, President Christodoulides said: ‘I believe that the issues concerning both methodology and substance are clear, as is how we can move forward and how the conditions for the resumption of talks can be created. Personally, because I cannot speak on behalf of anyone else, I believe that, based on the current circumstances, we are ready to resume the talks from where they left off at Crans-Montana.’

‘I believe that it is there, at the negotiating table, that we will all be judged, including myself, as to whether there is genuinely the political will to move forward towards resolving the Cyprus problem,’ he added.

Asked by a journalist about the apparent difference of opinion on this matter between himself and Erhrman, the President said that he could not speak for Erhrman, nor comment on the question. ‘Mr Erhrman will speak if he considers it necessary and will express his views,’ he said.

Asked whether Erhrman had also told him in person what he had written in a social media post – that it was not easy to ‘make history’ on the Cyprus issue – the President of the Republic said they discussed that issue as well. ‘I expressed my view, and Mr Erhrman expressed his. We discuss all issues’, he said.

Asked whether Erhrman’s post had affected the atmosphere of the meeting, he said that he was not influenced either by posts or by statements, because he has ‘a clear objective’. ‘I know where we want to go and what we want to achieve. For us, there is no alternative to resolving the Cyprus problem and reunifying our homeland’, he said, adding that he does not let anything to distract him from that objective, or allow himself to get drawn into a blame game ‘or anything else that could, in one way or another, distract us from the substance of the Cyprus problem’. ‘Because, ultimately, we will all be judged on the substance at the negotiating table,’ he added.

Participation of contingent from Egypt at October 1 parade

—————————

Asked to comment on media reports that a contingent from Egypt would participate in the parade marking Cyprus’ Independence on October 1, the President said consultations were underway between the National Guard and the two countries’ Ministries of Defence. ‘As far as I have been informed, there will be a contingent from Egypt’, he said.

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.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.

The next meeting of the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhrman, will take place on Thursday, September 17, at 11:00 a.m., as part of the regular contacts between the two leaders and the continuation of the substantive discussion, the Government Spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, announced on Wednesday, in a post on X.

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. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

Cyprus continues to be viewed positively as a destination for foreign direct investment, according to a survey, while investors identify significant challenges relating to energy costs, access to financing, bureaucracy, connectivity and the availability of skilled human resources.

More particularly, 83% of investors consider Cyprus an attractive destination for foreign direct investment, while 62% of survey participants plan to expand their operations on the island over the next 12 months.

The findings were presented at the EY Cyprus forum ‘Cyprus Future Realized: Bridge. Accelerate. Grow’, which discussed the prospects of the Cypriot economy and the country’s position on the international investment map amid heightened geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

Presenting the results of the EY Attractiveness Survey, Andreas Anastasiou, Partner, Strategy and Transactions Services at EY Cyprus, said that 83% of investors consider Cyprus an attractive destination for foreign direct investment.

Cyprus’s tax regime tops the list of factors enhancing the country’s attractiveness, receiving a positive assessment from 90% of participants. This is followed by quality of life and political and social stability, while Cyprus’s EU membership, the quality of its professional services and its legal system are also viewed positively.

At the same time, Anastasiou said that energy costs have, for the first time, ranked so high among the factors viewed negatively, with 50% of participants identifying them as a key weakness. Access to financing and bureaucracy follow, both of which have also featured in previous surveys.

As regards risks to Cyprus’s future attractiveness, geopolitical tensions rank first, cited by 74% of respondents. These are followed by limited connectivity with the rest of the world, reputational challenges, increased regulatory burden, labour shortages and volatility in energy prices.

As Anastasiou explained, investors view Cyprus’s geographical position in two ways: on the one hand, as a factor exposing the country to regional instability and, on the other, as a source of opportunities due to its position as the closest European territory to markets in the wider region.

A total of 62% of respondents call for stronger technology and artificial intelligence infrastructure, 59% for greater government support and 56% for more skills in these areas. At the same time, 53% identify workforce availability as a key constraint.

In the banking sector, customer onboarding and KYC procedures are identified as the main pain point, followed by transaction processing speed, lending availability and the quality of customer service.

Irene Georgalla, Director of the Office of the Deputy Minister to the President, referred to the role of foreign policy in Cyprus’s investment attractiveness, noting that investors are now clearly factoring geopolitical risk into their decisions but continue to choose Cyprus.

She said the country combines its status as an EU member state with strong relationships across the Eastern Mediterranean, while energy is a characteristic example of efforts to turn geography into a platform for cooperation and regional connectivity.

She also referred to Cyprus’s expanding strategic relationships with countries beyond its immediate region, with particular emphasis on the United States and India. In the case of the US, she noted that the relationship has been elevated to a strategic partnership, encompassing cooperation in security, energy, investment, technology and innovation.

Invest Cyprus CEO, Marios Tannousis, said that once a foreign company establishes operations in Cyprus, it faces many of the same challenges as domestic businesses. The key difference, he said, is that foreign investors are unfamiliar with the Cypriot environment and therefore require greater guidance and clear information.

Clarity, predictability and faster time-to-market are, according to Tannousis, the key elements investors are looking for. He explained that investors need clear requirements, specific timelines and systematic communication with the relevant authorities throughout the licensing process.

Former Portuguese Secretary of State for European Affairs, Bruno Maçães, addressed the broader changes taking place in the international economic and geopolitical environment, describing the current world order not simply as ‘multipolar’, but as ‘metamorphic’ – an order in a state of constant transformation.

He argued that the environment in which governments and businesses are called upon to make decisions is no longer stable, as rules, institutions, technologies and geopolitical balances are constantly changing.

He referred in particular to the rise of China and India, as well as changing international perceptions of the balance of power between China and the United States. In his view, trade confrontations have demonstrated that China’s rise can no longer be regarded as a process dependent on US acceptance or policy choices.

According to Maçães, the key challenge in this changing international environment is for governments and businesses to understand that they are now operating in a world that is no longer fixed but is constantly being ‘built and rebuilt’.

Cyprus tourism entered 2026 after a record 2025, when arrivals reached 4.53 million. Renewed instability in the Middle East then disrupted travel sentiment and reduced arrivals sharply in March and April. By July, however, the picture had improved: arrivals were only 1.1% below July 2025, following a 1.7% decline in June, compared with contractions of 30.7% in March and 27.6% in April.

Figure 1: Tourist arrivals recovered towards 2025 levels during June and July, following the sharp disruption recorded in March and April.

The rebound narrowed, but did not eliminate, the cumulative shortfall. January-July arrivals remained 8.0% lower year-on-year, equivalent to 193 thousand fewer visitors. Israel provided the clearest support, with arrivals increasing by 8.6% and adding 25 thousand visitors. By contrast, arrivals from the United Kingdom-the largest source market-fell by 11.1%, accounting for 90 thousand of the decline. Poland remained stable, while Germany, Greece and Scandinavia recorded more moderate reductions.

Figure 2: The recovery remains uneven: stronger arrivals from Israel partly offset the continuing shortfall from the UK, Cyprus’ largest source market.

Note: Figures show the year-on-year change in tourist arrivals relative to the corresponding period of 2025. Scandinavia comprises Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland; ‘Other markets’ includes all remaining source countries.

Source: CYSTAT; Eurobank Research calculations.

The underlying tourism infrastructure has remained intact. Airport passenger traffic declined by 3.7% during January-July, but commercial flights fell by only 0.9%, indicating that airlines preserved routes and frequencies. The adjustment has therefore reflected lower load factors and softer demand rather than a structural loss of connectivity. The recovery matters beyond hospitality: a stronger peak season supports aviation, transport, retail and food services, helping to contain the wider economic effects of regional instability. Nevertheless, uneven source-market performance demonstrates why expanding access to continental Europe and strengthening shoulder-season demand remain strategically important.

Based on the improvement observed through July, a continuation of the current trend-assuming arrivals during August-December remain around 1% below the corresponding 2025 levels-would result in approximately 4.32 million arrivals in 2026. This would represent a decline of 4.7% from the record 2025 level but would still leave arrivals 6.9% above 2024. A more cautious estimate, assuming that arrivals during the remaining months decline by 3.3%, in line with the average annual contraction recorded in May and June, would place total arrivals at around 4.27 million, 5.8% below 2025 but 5.7% above 2024. Both estimates therefore point to normalisation from an exceptional peak rather than a structural deterioration in tourism demand. The outlook remains cautiously positive, although performance continues to depend on regional stability, travel guidance and visitor confidence.

The Deputy Minister for Shipping, Marina Hadjimanolis, held a bilateral meeting with Bahrain’s Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, Shaikh Abdulla bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, as part of an official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain between 5 and 8 September 2026, following an invitation from the Minister. During the visit, Hadjimanolis also held a bilateral meeting with Bahrain’s Minister for Industry and Trade, whilst a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the maritime sector was signed between the two sides.

According to a relevant press release, the visit took place following the official visit of the President of the Republic of Cyprus to Bahrain in January 2026 and ‘effectively reaffirms the positive willingness of both sides to further expand their bilateral relations.’

With regard to the bilateral meeting with Bahrain’s Minister of Transport and Telecommunications, it is noted that specific areas of interest were discussed, primarily from Bahrain’s perspective.

With regard to the finalisation and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding, it is stated that this creates the framework for the development of practical cooperation and the exchange of know-how and best practices between the two countries. The announcement adds that, following a request from the Bahraini leadership, a bilateral meeting also took place between Hadjimanolis and Bahrain’s Minister of Industry and Trade, during which bilateral economic and trade relations were assessed. It was emphasised that there is significant scope for further strengthening these ties, particularly through new partnerships and business opportunities in the shipping services sector.

The Deputy Minister also visited Khalifa Bin Salman Port, where she was briefed by the port operator, APM Terminals Bahrain, on its facilities, operations and services, including the cruise terminal and the logistics zone. This was followed by an exchange of views with senior Bahraini officials on the development of the port and the wider shipping sector.

The Deputy Minister for Shipping was accompanied by the President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), Stavros Stavrou, and the Chief Executive of the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute (CMMI), Zacharias Siokouros, who held separate meetings with representatives from the government, the business community and the academic sector, exploring new opportunities for cooperation, investment, research and innovation. In this context, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between CMMI and Bahrain Polytechnic for cooperation in the fields of research, innovation, education and the exchange of know-how.

Hadjimanolis gave also an interview to AlAyam Publishing, one of Bahrain’s largest media organisations, it is noted. At all the meetings, the Deputy Minister was accompanied by the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Andreas Eliades.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 08/09/2026 UNTIL 1200 09/09/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1010hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 29°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA

PERIOD

WIND

STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Afternoon

Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, gradually locally West to Northwest

Slight

Night

Northwest to Northeast 3, locally at first West to Northwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight, locally at first Slight

Morning

Northeast to Southeast 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest

Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Afternoon

Northeast to Southeast 4, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4

Slight

Night

West to Northwest 3 to 4, locally Northwest to Northeast 3

Smooth to Slight

Morning

Northwest to Northeast 3, gradually Northeast to Southeast 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Afternoon

Northeast to East 3 to 4, at times 4

Slight, at times Slight to Moderate

Night

Variable 3, gradually West to Northwest 3 to 4

Slight, gradually Smooth to Slight

Morning

West to Northwest 3, gradually Northeast to Southeast

Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Afternoon

Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally at first North to Northeast

Slight

Night

Southeast to Southwest 3, locally at first Southwest to Northwest

Smooth to Slight, locally at first Slight

Morning

Southeast to Southwest 3, gradually Northwest to Northeast

Smooth to Slight

Energy, security and regional developments were at the centre of an informal trilateral meeting between Cyprus, Greece and Egypt in El Alamein on Tuesday, with President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reaffirming the strategic importance of cooperation among the three countries for stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean.

In statements following the trilateral meeting, President Christodoulides described the trilateral as ‘informal in form but strategic in substance’, referring to the significance of the recent Final Investment Decision on the Kronos gas field, which, he said, marks Cyprus’ transition into an era of natural gas exports to Europe through Egypt’s infrastructure.

The Egyptian President placed emphasis on the Egypt-Greece electricity interconnection and on the prospect of transporting Cypriot natural gas to Egyptian infrastructure for re-export to European markets. He also highlighted the importance of defence and security cooperation in addressing regional challenges.

Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reaffirmed Greece’s support for the GREGY electricity interconnection and referred to the prospects of transporting Cypriot natural gas via Egypt to Europe.

The three leaders also discussed developments in Gaza, Syria, Lebanon and Libya, reiterating their support for a two-state solution and respect for international law.

Trilateral cooperation has acquired ‘strategic depth’, Christodoulides said

President Christodoulides thanked President el-Sisi for the invitation and hospitality, saying that the trilateral cooperation, which has been in place for more than a decade, is based on mutual trust and common goals and has acquired ‘strategic depth’.

He said the four main pillars of the cooperation are stability, connectivity, security and cooperation in the wider region, noting that the sixth trilateral meeting of the Defence Ministers will take place in Cairo in less than two weeks, while the Foreign Ministers will meet in New York at the end of September. He also expressed his expectation of hosting the 11th trilateral summit in Cyprus.

Referring to the recent Final Investment Decision for the Kronos gas field in Cyprus’ EEZ, President Christodoulides said it ‘seals Cyprus’ transition into an era of natural gas exports to continental Europe, through Egypt’s infrastructure’.

‘The Eastern Mediterranean can become a reliable alternative energy corridor to Europe,’ he said, stressing the importance of trilateral cooperation in the energy sector.

On regional developments, the President said the aim is a peaceful and stable Eastern Mediterranean and wider Middle East, with an end to hostilities, de-escalation and peaceful resolution of disputes.

Regarding Gaza, he reiterated Cyprus’ support for a two-state solution and opposition to the forced displacement of Palestinians, noting that the maritime humanitarian corridor from Cyprus complements land routes through Egypt and Jordan.

He also expressed support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for Syria’s unity and good-neighbourly relations based on international law. He stressed that, as three maritime states, Cyprus, Greece and Egypt consider freedom and safety of navigation, sea routes and energy infrastructure a strategic priority.

President Christodoulides also referred to Egypt’s role as a pillar of regional and European security and stability and thanked President el-Sisi for Egypt’s long-standing support in efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem. He noted that during Cyprus’ recent Presidency of the Council of the EU, EU-Middle East relations were a ‘top priority’.

In a post on X, the Presidency of the Republic said energy, economy and security were high on the agenda, along with regional and international developments, while the three leaders reaffirmed the importance of the trilateral framework in promoting stability, security and development in the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider region.

Egypt-Greece electricity link a ‘real milestone’, says el-Sisi

President el-Sisi described Cyprus-Greece-Egypt cooperation as a model of strategic regional cooperation based on mutual respect, common benefit and international law.

Energy was at the centre of his remarks, with el-Sisi describing the Egypt-Greece electricity interconnection as a ‘real milestone’ for regional energy integration. He also referred to plans for transporting Cypriot natural gas to Egyptian infrastructure and re-exporting it to European markets.

He highlighted the importance of coordination in defence and security in addressing regional challenges, as well as opportunities for further economic and investment cooperation.

On Gaza, el-Sisi rejected the ‘displacement of Palestinians’ and any ‘change in the demographic composition of the Palestinian territories’, calling for the full implementation of the Sharm el-Sheikh ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian assistance. He reiterated support for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on the June 4, 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

Regarding Libya, he supported a Libyan-led political process, elections and the withdrawal of foreign forces, fighters and mercenaries. On Syria, he stressed the importance of preserving the country’s unity and territorial integrity, while calling for de-escalation and political solutions in Sudan and the Horn of Africa.

Trilateral cooperation a model for stability, Mitsotakis said

Prime Minister Mitsotakis described the meeting as informal but substantive and as a continuation of last year’s successful 10th trilateral summit in Cairo. He said the trilateral is a ‘model in favour of stability and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean’ and ‘is not directed against any country.’

On energy, he reaffirmed Greece’s support for the GREGY electricity interconnection. Referring to the prospects for Cypriot gas exports, he said: ‘Gas produced in Cyprus will be transported to Egypt, use its infrastructure to be liquefied and can return to Europe through Alexandroupolis to meet the needs of countries in southeastern and central Europe.’ He described this as a ‘model of energy cooperation.’

On Gaza, Mitsotakis expressed support for a just peace based on a two-state solution, stressing the need for unhindered humanitarian aid and the disarmament of Hamas. He reiterated Greece’s support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and for a unified Libya, with a UN-led political process and free elections.

Regarding the Cyprus problem, he reaffirmed Greece’s support for a fair and sustainable solution within the UN framework and Security Council resolutions, and for the resumption of talks.

Mitsotakis also stressed the importance of freedom of navigation and respect for international law and the Law of the Sea, saying maritime zones should be delimited through dialogue. He cited the partial maritime delimitation agreement between Greece and Egypt as an example.

‘This has been, is and will be our approach overall, both in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Aegean. Greece threatens no one and seeks stability through functional good-neighbourly relations, always on the basis of international law,’ he said.

Concluding, he said the strong EU-Egypt relationship is an investment in the stability and prosperity of the common neighbourhood, describing the Cyprus-Greece-Egypt trilateral as a ‘stable axis of prosperity and security.’