Category: Cyprus News Agency

The government’s aim is to systematically integrate the gender perspective into all public policies, including fiscal policies, through a gender-sensitive state budget, Commissioner for gender equality Josie Christodoulou said Thursday.

The Commissioner made statements during an event in Nicosia, on the occasion of the completion of integrating gender perspective into the state budget. Christodoulou said that a substantial step was made in safeguarding the management of public resources to equally respond to the needs of all citizens.

She went on to say that this is a process that was adopted by 189 countries, including Cyprus, in the framework of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action at the 4th UN World Conference on Women in 1995.

The declaration explicitly calls on governments to integrate a gender perspective into fiscal policies and to assess the way in which public spending affects women. She noted that thirty-one years later, Cyprus is proceeding with this very important reform.

The Commissioner added that this development is mainly due to the political will of the government, which has set gender equality as a horizontal priority, promoting substantial institutional and legislative reforms.

Christodoulou said that the law ensures that ministries, deputy ministries and the broader public sector plan, implement and review policies taking into account their different impact on women and men.

She described this as a powerful policy tool that, after examining how fiscal decisions, policies and actions affect women and men differently, helps us to ensure that state resources are distributed, precisely, on the basis of these differences, fairly and effectively.

The Commissioner added that the key to the success of the project and to the design of targeted fiscal policies is the collection of gender-specific statistical data which provide the quantitative picture that allows the design of even more targeted policies and actions.

She also said that Cyprus received support through the European Commission and exchanged experiences and good practices with other European states with greater experience in gender budgeting issues.

In her statements the Commissioner noted that preparing a gender budgeting is a long-term process, which requires a change in culture, continuous training, collection of reliable statistical data and close cooperation between all stakeholders.

But she appeared optimistic saying that foundations have now been laid and the progress made allows us to look to the future with greater optimism.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 18/06/2026 UNTIL 0600 19/06/2026

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. Today the weather will be mainly fine, but locally increased low cloud coverage will be present at times, mainly over the western coastal areas. Tonight, locally increased low cloud coverage will be present, but later local mist is likely, mainly over the eastern/southeastern coasts.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist

Sea surface temperature: 24°C

Warnings: NIL

Following the signing of a US-Iran agreement aimed at the immediate cessation of hostilities and the de-escalation of the crisis in the Persian Gulf, the UK Foreign Office has updated its travel advice for countries across the wider Eastern Mediterranean region, including Cyprus.

‘The Foreign Office’s intention is to signal that the crisis is de-escalating,’ a senior diplomatic source told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Thursday, noting that such a development could further boost tourism travel to the region.

This is the second time within a matter of days that the UK Foreign Office has effectively upgraded its assessment of Cyprus in terms of travel safety.

Earlier this month, it issued another update to its travel advice, removing the warning of an increased risk of regional tensions in Cyprus which could cause disruption to travel and have other unforeseen consequences, a caution that had been included in its guidance since the beginning of March.

The story of Cyprus mirrors the very essence of the European project, President Nikos Christodoulides said Thursday at the ‘Cyprus Insula’ exhibition in Brussels.

The exhibition, ‘Cyprus Insula – History, Memory, Reality’ of the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation is open in Brussels as part of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, with the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus.

President Christodoulides, who is in Brussels for the European Council meeting, visited the exhibition, along with Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, and other officials.

In his speech, he said this was a ‘remarkable exhibition’, ‘a project that invites us to read Cyprus through the lasting lenses of Time, Place, and People’.

This travelling exhibition, he said, adapted from the major presentation currently hosted at the Bank of Cyprus Cultural Foundation in Nicosia and curated by Dr. Yiannis Toumazis and Demetra Ignatiou, was commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a flagship cultural milestone of Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the European Union, reflecting over four decades of the Foundation’s invaluable cultural contribution to the island.

‘Cyprus Insula’ he said, provides a unique opportunity to bring the story of Cyprus to audiences around the world. He noted that the very word Insula (island) ‘reminds us that while our geography is defined by the sea, our history has never been one of isolation’. Instead, he said, Cyprus has always been ‘a vibrant crossroad’, a European bridge to the Eastern Mediterranean and the wider world.

President Christodoulides said that the exhibition ‘carries us on a journey through the layered history, memories, and lived experiences that continue to shape the social, cultural, and political realities of Cyprus across generations, including the 1974 Turkish illegal invasion, detailing the trauma, memories, and profound shifts in our island’s societal and geographic landscape’.

At the same time, he added, the exhibition also brings into focus coexistence, identity, and belonging, ‘values that connect people across cultures and generations, far beyond the Mediterranean shores of Cyprus’.

He added that it portrays Cyprus as a place where cultures have crossed paths and flourished, while also acknowledging with raw honesty the complex challenges and divisions that have left an imprint on our collective memory. ‘At its core, it reminds us that understanding our past is essential to understanding who we are today and to shaping a future of peace, without foreign occupation or division’, he said.

Concluding, he said that ‘as we reflect on the core vision of the Cyprus Presidency – to foster an “Autonomous Union, Open to the World” – these cultural bonds resonate more deeply than ever’. The story of Cyprus, an island of synthesis, endurance, and dialogue, mirrors the very essence of the European project, he added. It reinforces the values that unite us, and the common purpose we share within a European Union that is truly united in its diversity, he said.

In his own speech, Toumazis, said that Cyprus, has long stood at the crossroads of civilisations, absorbing and transforming influences from across the Eastern Mediterranean and beyond.

‘From this perspective, Cyprus Insula encourages us to reflect on the island as a dynamic cultural organism whose history remains deeply relevant to the present day’, he said.

He noted that, at the heart of this exhibition lies the concept of insularity, understood not as isolation, but as interconnectedness.

He noted that the title ‘Cyprus Insula’, invites us to consider the island of Cyprus not merely as a geographical territory, but as a space shaped by movement, coexistence, migration, conflict, exchange and continuity across the centuries.

Through photographs, maps, archival material, contemporary artworks, immersive technologies and personal testimonies, the exhibition explores Cyprus as both a historical and an emotional landscape, he added.

DISY and EPP MEP Michalis Hadjipantela referred to the increased role played by Cyprus during the Presidency of the EU, as well as his own participation in important legislative files of the European Parliament, during a briefing for Cypriot journalists, on Wednesday, in Strasbourg.

Hadjipantela noted that through his participation as rapporteur or shadow rapporteur in a series of files, Cyprus gains greater ability to intervene and claim European resources and policies that directly concern the country.

He referred in particular to issues of agriculture, biofuels, the Cohesion Fund, compensation for natural disasters and the RescEU mechanism.

He made reference to the compensation package for last year’s fires in Limassol District, noting that a proposal is being promoted to allocate 9.2 million euros to Cyprus, while he submitted an amendment to increase European funding for the affected areas.

At the same time, the Cypriot MEP spoke about the Decarbonisation Fund under development, emphasising that the aim is to support Cypriot businesses that are burdened by the cost of pollutant emissions, so that they remain competitive against businesses from third countries.

Referring to the European Parliament’s report on Turkey, Hadjipantela noted that the DISY group did not vote in favour of it, as it included references that characterized Turkey as a strategic partner and supported its participation in European security and defence initiatives, something he described as a “red line” for the Cypriot side.

At the same time, he pointed out that, despite the disagreements, there is an increased understanding of the Cypriot positions by many European colleagues, noting that support for Cyprus on issues concerning Turkey is broader than is often believed.

The DISY and EPP MEP also expressed his belief that the Cypriot Presidency contributed to upgrading the country’s image in the European institutions, facilitating cooperation with other political groups and strengthening Cyprus’s ability to promote its interests more effectively.

G7 leaders called yesterday for a strong and coordinated response to combat the ‘Bundibugyo’ Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Uganda. The European Commission’s support is building on pound 493 million in humanitarian aid and health security. This amount brings together frontline medical support for the immediate outbreak response, humanitarian assistance in the Great Lakes region and Uganda, vaccine and treatment research for filoviruses, and longer-term work to improve preparedness and health systems.

The Commission response to the outbreak has been coordinated from day one with Member States, international bodies and partners. Safeguarding public health is the Commission’s absolute priority.

President Ursula von der Leyen said: ‘This is a reminder that health security is shared security. Countries can better protect their citizens by acting together. Europe is choosing reinforced preparedness and evidence-based collective action. Global solidarity is the only option when the world faces a common threat’

Commissioner for Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib: ‘Ebola is a test of our global solidarity. As some turn inward, the EU remains present, engaged, and a reliable partner. In Bunia, I met doctors, nurses and frontline responders working under extraordinary pressure to save lives, as well as communities living with fear and uncertainty. But they are not facing this crisis alone. The European Union stands with all those affected by this deadly virus. The only way to contain this outbreak and save lives is through trust, solidarity, political commitment and coordinated action.’

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control currently assesses the risk to people in Europe as very low. The Commission continues to monitor the outbreak closely in cooperation with its partners. The Health Security Committee brings together Member State representatives every week to coordinate the response and discuss how best to protect European citizens.

(For more information: Eva Hrncírová – Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Quentin Cortès – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 35)

Commission welcomes political agreement to simplify rules for the chemicals sector

The European Commission welcomes the provisional political agreement reached today between the European Parliament and the Council of the EU on its Chemicals Omnibus proposal. The agreed measures will cut red tape and compliance costs for businesses, boost the competitiveness of Europe’s chemicals industry, and keep high standards for human health and environmental protection.

The agreement simplifies rules in three areas of EU chemicals legislation: Classification, Labelling and Packaging (CLP) Regulation, Cosmetics Products Regulation, and EU Fertilising Products Regulation.

The deal simplifies labelling rules for hazardous chemicals, lowering costs for industry while ensuring users and consumers still get clear information on hazards. For business-to-business chemicals, the new legislation will eliminate obligatory font sizes on business-to-business shipments. The deal also strengthens formatting and requirements for legibility for consumer products and ensures that consumers are well informed in ads and online sales.

In cosmetics, the agreement keeps strong consumer protection while simplifying rules and reducing paperwork and costs for businesses, especially small and medium companies. Companies will now have clearer, more predictable rules when adapting to regulatory changes.

Finally, the agreement introduces changes to make fertilisers legislation more agile, helping innovative products such as microbial plant stimulants reach the single market faster. It also speeds up administrative procedures and improves access to digital tools in this area.

The Parliament and the Council will formally approve the political agreement in the coming months so that the legislation can enter into force by the end of the year.

(For more information: Siobhan McGarry – Tel.: +32 2 296 47 98; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 2 299 47 74)

EU research and innovation funding expands to defence and dual-use technologies, new call offering up to pound 30 million to defence companies opens

Today, the European Union is extending its research and innovation funding to defence and dual-use technologies with both civilian and defence applications. This move underscores Europe’s commitment to strategic autonomy, security, and technological leadership in an increasingly competitive global landscape.

The change is the result of an amendment to the European Innovation Council (EIC) Work Programme 2026, adopted by the European Commission to implement the Defence Mini-Omnibus, a legislative package designed to strengthen Europe’s defence industrial base and reduce dependencies on external suppliers.

From now on, start-ups and small and medium companies developing technologies with both civilian and defence applications such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, advanced materials or robotics, can apply for grants up to pound 2.5 million and equity investments up to pound 30 million under the EIC Accelerator and the STEP Scaleup.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation said: ‘The European Innovation Council was built to take risks, and we need to take risks when it comes to developing European technologies that keep us safe. We must invest in critical technologies also to ensure Europe’s strategic autonomy – whether it’s drones, cyber defence, or quantum technologies. This will underpin Europe’s technological leadership and innovation in the decades ahead’.

At the same time, the EIC is launching a new pound 100 million EIC STEP Defence Scale Up call open to companies in the EU, in countries from the European Economic Area associated to Europe’s multi-billion research programme Horizon Europe, and in Ukraine. These companies can receive up to pound 30 million in direct equity financing to accelerate the scale-up of their industrial capabilities on, among others, air and missile defence, drones and counter drones, and other critical defence technologies.

This is the first time any EU funding programme will ever invest direct equity in defence companies. The EIC will co-invest in major funding rounds typically ranging from pound 50 million to pound 150 million or more, leveraging at least three to five times the EIC investment.

More information is available online and on the EIC website

(For more information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: +32 2 296 64 83; Isabel Arriaga E Cunha – Tel.: +32 2 295 21 17)

Commissioners Kubilius and Serafin in France to sign SAFE agreement, host implementation dialogue with industry

Today, Commissioner for Defence and Space Andrius Kubilius and Commissioner for Budget Piotr Serafin participate in Eurosatory, the world’s largest defence exhibition outside Paris, where they will sign the Security Action For Europe (SAFE) loan agreement for France on behalf of the European Commission. With pound 15.1 billion available for France under SAFE, the agreement marks another step forward for Europe’s defence readiness and a concrete delivery under the Commission’s ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 plan, which aims to unlock over pound 800 billion in defence investment across the European Union.

At Eurosatory, the Commission is hosting two Implementation Dialogues with representatives of the defence industry in the event, to strengthen industrial cooperation and accelerate EU production capacity. Commissioner Kubilius will lead the implementation focused on scaling up EU defence production and addressing supply chain vulnerabilities within the European defence technological and industrial base. In addition, Commissioner Kubilius and Canada’s Secretary of State for Defence Procurement, Stephen Fuhr, will co-host the EU-Canada Defence Industry Dialogue with industry and trade representatives to boost collaboration, deepen supply chain integration and support the broader EU-Canada strategic partnership in a rapidly evolving geopolitical context.

Commissioner Serafin will also visit several companies benefiting from EU financing present at Eurosatory, including several enterprises coming from EU countries that will benefit from the SAFE instrument.

(For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel: +32 2 299 10 99; Marine Strauss – Tel: +32 2 298 91 03)

Commissioner Šuica discusses the Pact for the Mediterranean with the youth

Tomorrow, Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica, together with Marilena Raouna, Cyprus’ Deputy Minister for European Affairs, will engage in a discussion with 30 young leaders from the Southern Mediterranean. The discussion will focus on the flagship initiatives under the Pact for the Mediterranean targeting young people. These include, in particular, the Mediterranean University and the Youth Parliamentary Assembly for the Mediterranean. The discussion will also cover the Pact’s contribution to peace and security in the region.

Supported by the Anna Lindh Foundation, an intergovernmental organisation committed to fostering intercultural dialogue, the dialogue will provide an opportunity for young leaders from across the European Union and the Southern Mediterranean to share their perspectives, strengthen their active engagement and identify opportunities for cooperation that can foster shared prosperity across the Mediterranean. Their contributions will feed into the current work for the implementation of the Pact’s evolving Action Plan.

Youth Policy Dialogues are part of the European Commission’s commitment to mainstream the voice of young people in EU policymaking, as set out in President von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines for 2024-2029. These dialogues are designed to ensure that young people’s experiences and ideas help shape the future of the European Union.

(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel.: +32 2 296 75 33; Luca Dilda – Tel.: +32 2 295 21 53)

Commissioner McGrath meets with young Europeans to discuss upcoming Digital Fairness Act

Tomorrow, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, will host a Youth Policy Dialogue in Ljubljana, Slovenia. During the Dialogue, the Commissioner will meet with students, youth ambassadors, young professionals and activists to discuss the upcoming Digital Fairness Act (DFA).

The DFA, which is planned for later this year, will make EU consumer protection rules fit for the digital age – clearer, simpler and easier to enforce to better protect consumers online against practices that exploit consumers’ vulnerabilities. Young consumers often act as early adopters of new technologies and digital products and have specific consumption patterns. In preparing the initiative, the Commission will pay particular attention to the protection of minors online.

As part of this process, Commissioner McGrath will convene 30 young participants from across the EU and the Western Balkans to gather their experiences as young consumers in the digital environment. The Commissioner will invite participants to share the challenges they face online, in particular regarding manipulative interfaces, features maximising spending and attention, unfair personalised advertising and pricing, and problematic influencer marketing practices. Their feedback will inform the preparations of the Digital Fairness Act to make the digital environment safer and fairer for young consumers.

Youth Policy Dialogues are part of the European Commission’s commitment to mainstream the voice of young people in EU policymaking, as set out in President von der Leyen’s Political Guidelines for 2024-2029. These dialogues are designed to ensure that young people’s experiences and ideas help shape the future of the European Union.

(For more information: Markus Lammert – Tel: +32 2 296 75 33; Antoine Lomba – Tel.: +32 2 299 32 33)

2026 State of the Digital Decade report shows progress but urges closing structural gaps to reach 2030 goals

The European Commission published the fourth State of the Digital Decade report, showing that Europe has made progress on its 2030 digital transformation targets, such as secure and sustainable digital infrastructures and the digitalisation of public services – but the challenge now is delivering results at scale, speed and consistency.

The report comes as the Commission published the last Special Eurobarometer, showing that an overwhelming majority of Europeans rank digital policy as a top EU priority, firmly backing a more autonomous European digital future.

The Digital Decade Policy Programme serves as the EU’s strategic compass for advancing and investing in Europe’s digital competitiveness and sovereignty. The report evaluates progress made by the EU in its digitalisation across the board, including in critical infrastructures, digitalisation of business, digital skills, and digitalisation of public services. This year, the report goes beyond stocktaking, outlining priority reforms and investments at EU and Member States level in an attempt to guide digital funding allocations in the next EU Multiannual Financial Framework.

2026: progress and remaining gaps

The report shows that progress has been made in the following areas: with regard to the deployment of basic connectivity infrastructure, 96.8% of households now have basic 5G coverage. However, certain high-capacity bands and ‘Fibre-to-the-Premises’ deployment lag behind.

With regard to the basic adoption of advanced digital technologies by businesses, 46.7% of EU enterprises use cloud computing, 39.9% apply data analytics, and nearly 20% deploy artificial intelligence (adoption jumped by 48% in 2025 compared to the previous year). An example is in the healthcare sector, where it leads with AI-powered medical imaging, improving early detection, faster diagnoses, and better patient outcomes.

Finally, over 60% of Europeans now have at least basic digital skills.

Gaps do, however, remain. In the field of semiconductors the EU accounts for only 9% of the global semiconductor market – far from the 2030 target of 20%. The same can be said about computing capacity. While edge node deployment is on track to meet the 2030 Digital Decade target ahead of schedule, computing capacity still lags significantly behind demand.

Furthermore, despite significant progress in the domain of cybersecurity, Europe remains structurally dependent on non-EU cybersecurity suppliers, with European companies underrepresented in global cybersecurity leadership.

There is also a shortage in ICT skills. Specialists represented just 5% of employment in 2025 – half the 2030 target of 10%. Women accounted for under 20% of employed ICT specialists, a figure that has not changed since 2024, despite soaring demand – especially in cloud security, cybersecurity, data management and software development.

Finally, when it comes to advanced tech adoption, SMEs face persistent barriers in data, skills, integration and resources, making it harder for them to adopt and scale advanced digital solutions.

A Commission study shows that coordinated EU action in digital delivers high returns. Every pound 1 spent in digital policy under NextGenerationEU will generate pound 1.50 in economic output within the EU and pound 2 for the global economy as a whole (incl. the EU) until the end of 2030. This is far above the average in other policy areas. These investments in digital generate spillover effects both across borders and across sectors of the economy.

Recommendations: closing structural gaps and mobilising investments for 2030 and beyond

The report provides clear recommendations for both the EU and Member States to continue scaling efforts, in a time where nearly half of the public budget included in the Digital Decade national roadmaps will be phased out by 2026. To avoid stalling progress, the report urges to secure funding continuity post-2026 to bridge the gap, scale up successful projects (e.g. European Digital Infrastructure Consortia (EDICs), Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs) and strengthen EU-level coordination (e.g. through Multi-Country Projects) to prevent market fragmentation and uneven implementation.

Eurobarometer: Public support for EU’s digital policy

A Special Eurobarometer survey, conducted between February and March 2026, shows 79% of Europeans rank digital policy as a top EU priority in shaping the future. The Eurobarometer explores how citizens’ attitudes have evolved in a year marked by rapid technological change and intense policy debates on digital rights.

Citizens are firmly behind a more autonomous European digital future, prioritising investment in EU-developed infrastructure (85%) and reduced dependency on third-country technology (82%). 80% think it is important to make the EU a global leader in technological infrastructures. Furthermore, 58% of Europeans would switch to an EU provider even at a higher cost. The top five factors encouraging switching to an EU-based provider include: greater security and reliability (50%), better protection of personal data (49%), clearer rules and consumer protection (39%), reduced dependence on non-EU countries (33%), supporting the EU economy and competitiveness (30%).

Europeans believe that digital health (55%), green technologies (50%), faster connectivity (42%) and AI (39%) will have the most positive impact for the next decade.

Around four in ten citizens use generative AI at least weekly, and among those who do, nearly seven in ten report increased usage over the past year. 80% think the development of AI should be carefully regulated, even if it means AI developers face some constraints.

Concerns about the harmful use of digital technologies is widespread and increasing: 92% of citizens want stronger protection for children online, 87% agree that online manipulation (disinformation, deepfakes, AI-generated content, foreign interference) poses a threat to democracy, and feel personally impacted by fake news and disinformation (53%), misuse of personal data (47%) and insufficient minor protection on platforms (41%).

Next steps

Through the 2026 State of the Digital Decade report, the Commission calls on Member States to update their National Digital Decade Roadmaps with concrete measures, while ensuring stronger alignment with the next Multiannual Financial Framework, notably in the context of the preparation of the National and Regional Partnership Plans and the future EU Competitiveness Fund. The first discussions with Member States will take place at the Digital Day and Digital Decade Board meeting organised in Nicosia by the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU on 18 and 19 June.

In 2027, the Commission will review the Digital Decade Policy Programme targets to ensure they reflect the adopted legislations, align with the changing digital landscape and fulfil the EU’s priorities and ambitions. The revision will modernise, simplify and extend the framework beyond 2030.

For more information

2026 State of the Digital Decade report

2026 State of the Digital Decade report – general factsheet

Country fact pages 2026

Study on the economic impact of digital investments under the Recovery and Resilience Facility

Special Eurobarometer on the Digital Decade 2026

2026 Member State-specific Digital Decade recommendations – heat map

Europe’s Digital Decade

Quote(s)

With the Digital Decade policy programme, the foundations of the EU’s digital transformation are in place. We must continue on this path to achieve Europe’s technological sovereignty. We recently adopted measures to strengthen Europe’s capacity in semiconductors, AI, cloud and open source. This marks a pivotal moment and one we have to fully grasp to strengthen Europe’s autonomy and resilience.

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Commission will engage with industry following European Citizens’ Initiative on the disabling of videogames by publishers

The European Commission will engage with consumers and publishers by the end of 2026 to explore ways to improve industry standards, as a response to the European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Stop Destroying Videogames’. 

Modern video games often rely on publishers’ servers to function. Publishers may stop supporting these servers, leading the games to become partially or entirely unplayable. The ECI therefore invited the Commission to propose legislation ensuring that players can continue to play the video games after the publishers stop providing support for these games commercially.

The Commission considers that at this stage it cannot propose a legal obligation to keep video games playable after they stop being provided commercially. This is due, also, to existing intellectual property rights. Under EU copyright law, rights holders enjoy exclusive rights over their creations. In addition to copyright, other intellectual property rights may also be relevant as they may protect different visual and technological aspects of a video game.

Existing EU consumer law already provides for important safeguards protecting the economic interests of consumers. Video game providers must inform consumers about the duration and the conditions for terminating the contract before the consumers signs up for the video game. The Directive on digital content and digital services provides consumers with remedies when the content or service provided does not conform with the contract and what consumers could reasonably expect. Consumers may be entitled to proportionate refund of their purchases.

However, to address players’ concerns, the Commission has committed to taking several steps.

First, it will initiate an exchange with the video game industry and consumer representatives with the aim to draw up an industry code of conduct on managing video games’ ‘end of life’.

Second, the Commission will work with consumer organisations and authorities to raise awareness about the applicable rights that protect consumers, including on safeguards protecting the economic interests of consumers. The Commission will report on the application of the Directive on digital content and digital services before the end of the year. Active enforcement of these existing consumer rights can also incentivise the providers to offer video games with longer lifespans and explore solutions for meeting consumer expectations.

Background

This is the fourteenth initiative to receive a formal Commission response since ECIs were launched in 2012.

For more information

European Citizens’ Initiative (ECI) ‘Stop Destroying Videogames’

Quote(s)

This initiative shows the relevance of video games in today’s cultural field. As it is the tradition in the sector, I hope the industry will listen to player communities and agree on better sunsetting standards so communities can continue to meet and play together. We will take the necessary steps so a dialogue can take place with representatives from consumers.

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Video game providers must treat consumers fairly, including when they decide to discontinue a game. If they stop providing a game earlier than stipulated in the contract or earlier than consumers could reasonably expect, players should be appropriately reimbursed. EU legislation granting consumers redress rights for digital content and services, including video games, has applied since 1 January 2022. It is important that consumers actively exercise these rights. We will continue working with consumer authorities and organisations to protect gamers.

Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection

Commission strengthens migration management along the Channel route

Today, the Commission is presenting an EU action plan for the Channel migratory route, setting out a comprehensive European response to the challenges posed by illegal migration along this route.

The action plan puts forward operational measures starting in countries of origin and transit and extending along the whole route. These include dismantling migrant smuggling and trafficking networks, strengthening the protection of the external borders, and stepping up returns. Illegal migration along the Channel route poses a distinct challenge that causes loss of life at sea and generates significant demands on border control, public order and reception capacities in the most directly affected Member States. It fuels unauthorised movements across the EU and Schengen area and entrenches organised criminal networks facilitating migrant smuggling.

The EU already stepped-up action to manage migration more effectively, leading to an overall decline of illegal border crossings at the EU’s external borders (-55% since 2024). Illegal border crossings on exit along the Channel route also declined (-44% so far in 2026), although they remain high, with nearly 64,000 attempted crossings in the Channel in 2025.

To address these challenges, the action plan focuses on three main priority areas, to be tackled with support from EU agencies and in cooperation with the UK: reinforcing migration diplomacy along the route, disrupting smuggling networks and their criminal infrastructure, and strengthening border management.

The United Kingdom is a key partner in delivering the full potential of this action plan. Given the shared nature of the challenge and building on the steps already taken by the United Kingdom, further actions by the United Kingdom will be essential across all strands of the action plan to strengthen border security, counter migrant smuggling and reduce incentives for illegal migration.

Reinforcing migration diplomacy along the route

Curbing illegal crossings requires sustained and coordinated engagement along the routes used by migrants seeking to cross the Channel. For this, the EU will step up its migration diplomacy, strengthening cooperation with countries of origin and transit, as well as with international organisations.

This includes reinforcing efforts in a whole-of-route approach, coordinating and promoting EU and UK information campaigns for migrants in origin and transit countries, as well as stepping up cooperation on returns and readmission to prevent people from undertaking dangerous journeys and sustain the reduction in illegal arrivals.

Disrupting smuggling networks and their criminal infrastructure

Building on the ongoing cooperation in the context of the Global Alliance to counter migrant smuggling, the action plan calls for enhanced joint operational cooperation in the framework EU’s European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) and for strengthened cooperation between Member States, Europol, Frontex, Eurojust and international partners.

Member States will also work on a mapping of smuggling networks along the Channel, with support from Europol’s Centre Against Migrant Smuggling.

Additional measures will be considered to disrupt logistical supply chains for small boats and to tackle the online dimension of migrant smuggling, together with the EU Internet Forum and online service providers.

Strengthening border management

The action plan will strengthen operational capacity at the borders between the UK and the most exposed Member States, in order to improve situational awareness, information sharing and operational cooperation.

This includes reinforcing Europol’s European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling and the UK-French Joint Intelligence Cell in Calais, as well as the deployment of Frontex staff and equipment (such as surveillance assets) along the Channel and North Sea borders.

Background

This action plan builds on the European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy, which called for stronger migration diplomacy and strengthened cooperation with partner countries, as part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to migration management. It also supports the ongoing joint efforts in the context of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling.

For more information

Action plan

Quote(s)

With this action plan, the EU is stepping up the fight against organised crime and migrant smuggling, in cooperation with the United Kingdom. This is an important component of our comprehensive approach to migration management, to prevent dangerous journeys at sea and reduce illegal arrivals.

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

Illegal migration creates opportunities for criminal smuggling networks. Through this action plan, we are stepping up our cooperation with the UK to fight smugglers, disrupt illegal arrivals, and strengthen support for Member States. This will enhance European security while helping to prevent further loss of life along this route.

Magnus Brunner, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration

G7 Leaders’ Joint Statements, 16-17 June 2026

At the 2026 G7 Leaders’ Summit held in Evian, France, the leaders of the G7 discussed topics that included international peace and security, public health, migration, drug traficking, global economic stability, growth, and emerging technologies. They adopted a series of statements, available on this page.

The view that global prosperity and the fight against the climate crisis can coexist only through reducing inequalities, a radical transformation of the production model, and the creation of new international redistribution mechanisms was highlighted during the discussion entitled ‘Progressive Economic Policy in an International Environment of Crises’, which took place as part of the 3rd International Conference of the Alexis Tsipras Institute and the Prometheus Research Institute.

At the centre of the discussion was the presentation of the Global Justice Report, a new international report prepared by the World Inequality Lab and presented by Thomas Piketty, Professor of Economics at the Paris School of Economics.

A New Model of Shared Prosperity

Presenting the report’s main conclusions, Piketty raised the central question of whether it is possible for all countries around the world to achieve high levels of prosperity without undermining the sustainability of the planet.

As he noted, the report examines a scenario in which, by the end of the century, all countries could converge towards income levels similar to those of today’s most advanced economies, approaching pound 60,000 in annual per capita income in purchasing power parity terms.

According to him, this is achievable, but only under three key conditions: rapid decarbonisation of the economy, a shift of economic activity towards less material-intensive and more socially productive goods and services, and a significant reduction in income and wealth inequalities.

Piketty argued that the current model of growth is not compatible with climate targets, particularly if developing economies follow the same model of resource and energy consumption historically pursued by wealthy countries.

He also made particular reference to the need to change the way progress is defined. As he explained, the objective is not simply to increase GDP but to restructure the economy towards activities with a smaller environmental footprint and greater social value, such as education, healthcare and public services.

Less Inequality, More Investment

He placed particular emphasis on the need to finance the enormous investments required for the green transition, education and healthcare.

As he noted, this financing cannot rely exclusively on middle- and low-income groups but requires a substantial contribution from the highest income and wealth brackets.

Within this framework, he presented the proposal for the creation of a Global Justice Fund, an international fund that would be financed through a global tax on large fortunes and very high incomes.

According to the proposal, the Fund’s resources would be directed towards investments in climate transition, healthcare and education, while also serving as a tool for reducing global inequalities.

Responding to a question on how realistic proposals for global wealth taxation are, Piketty argued that change can begin even at the national level, without initially requiring a global agreement.

As he noted, the current reality allows individuals who have accumulated wealth by making use of a country’s infrastructure, institutions and education system to simply transfer their tax residence to another jurisdiction and effectively avoid taxation.

‘Someone cannot benefit for decades from a country’s education system, public infrastructure, legal framework and institutions in order to build wealth and then simply move their residence to another country to avoid paying taxes,’ he said.

The French economist proposed a taxation system linked to the number of years an individual has lived in a country, arguing that tax obligations should not automatically disappear when tax residence is transferred.

At the same time, he stressed that the objective of a wealth tax is not primarily to increase government revenues but to redistribute economic power and create new forms of collective ownership.

As he noted, the debate on wealth taxation is not only about public finances but mainly about ownership structures, the distribution of economic power and the way societies choose to finance the transition towards a more sustainable and socially just economic model.

In his intervention, former Greek Minister of Finance and former Alternate Minister of Finance George Chouliarakis approached the issue from the perspective of the real constraints governments face today when implementing progressive economic policies.

As he noted, progressive policy is based on empowering citizens through investment in education and human capital, reducing poverty and social exclusion, redistributing income, and creating the conditions for sustainable growth.

He stressed, however, that these objectives entail significant fiscal costs, which are becoming increasingly greater in an environment of geopolitical uncertainty, demographic pressures and climate change.

According to him, governments are now required to operate within a stricter framework of fiscal discipline, particularly within the European Union, where rules on debt and deficits remain a key element of economic governance.

Chouliarakis underlined that redistribution cannot be effective without fiscal credibility and sustainable public finances.

The former Finance Minister described the key dilemma facing governments as a ‘trilemma’ between three objectives: redistribution, fiscal sustainability and low taxation.

As he explained, a government can achieve two of the three objectives, but not all three simultaneously.

‘You can have redistribution and sound public finances, but that requires higher taxes. You can have redistribution and low taxation, but this will lead to fiscal imbalances. Or you can have low taxes and fiscal stability without meaningful redistribution.’

At the same time, he argued that economic growth and the credibility of economic policy can create additional fiscal space for social policies, without fully eliminating the problem of how to finance them.

Mr Chouliarakis described the proposals contained in the Global Justice Report for international taxation of large fortunes as particularly interesting, noting that they could make a substantial contribution to financing the green transition and social investment.

At the same time, he argued that discussion should also begin at the national level on generating additional public revenues, particularly through a more balanced distribution of the tax burden between labour and corporate profits.

‘There is no free lunch,’ he remarked, noting that financing an ambitious progressive agenda requires new resources and political decisions.

A very important initiative is currently underway to restart negotiations on the Cyprus issue, Deputy Government Spokesperson, Yiannis Antoniou said, during his address on behalf of the President of the Republic at the Third International Conference of the Alexis Tsipras Institute in Nicosia on Wednesday, entitled “For Peace and Social Justice.”

Antoniou explained that this is “an initiative that we support and invest in, because we know that with time the faits accomplis of the occupation, with which we will never compromise, are being consolidated.”

He also welcomed the guests at the Conference and congratulated the organizers for their initiative, noting that the Cyprus issue has a key presence in the work of Conference.

The Deputy Government Spokesperson reiterated that the President Nikos Christodoulides is leading the effort to create the conditions for the resumption of direct negotiations for a comprehensive solution of the Cyprus problem, on the basis of the agreed United Nations framework, the negotiating acquis and of course the principles, values and law of the EU.

Regarding the ongoing initiative, he said that it was launched after the government’s efforts and with the international community’s recognition of the government’s political will, while noting that the initiative “is not unrelated to our multi-level foreign policy that upgrades the Republic of Cyprus and makes it a reliable international partner,” as he said.

Antoniou stressed the importance of support from Greece, as well as from EU partners, and expressed satisfaction for “the fact that after our own arduous efforts, the heads of the European Commission and the European Council jointly addressed the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in a historic letter, in which they not only reaffirm the European Union’s interest in the Cyprus issue, but also refer to the substance of the problem,” as he said.

“The joint letter, together with the Conclusions of the European Council of April 2024, which clearly link Euro-Turkish issues with progress on the Cyprus issue, strengthen our diplomatic and political quiver and make it clear in every direction that the Cyprus issue is also a European problem,” Antoniou noted.

“The circumstances are difficult, the challenges are many, but as you know very well, things in the Cyprus issue have never been easy,” he continued and added that “every step is important, because it strengthens our great effort to achieve our one and only goal: to end the occupation and reunify Cyprus, transform the Republic of Cyprus into a modern state, a member of the EU and the United Nations, which will offer all its legitimate residents the right to live and create in conditions of security and prosperity.”

He also referred to the geostrategic location of Cyprus, noting that the country is located in a region of particular geopolitical importance, with many opportunities and challenges. Regarding the recent crisis in the region, Antoniou said that it highlighted the role that the Republic of Cyprus can play.

“With the advantage of its European status, its excellent diplomatic relations with all neighbouring states and, of course, the synergies it has developed with various European and third countries, it always seeks to be part of the solution and never part of the problem,” he noted.

“Our ability to speak directly with all the stakeholders in the region is the comparative advantage that allows the Republic of Cyprus to be a reliable interlocutor and partner,” Antoniou said.

“And in very critical moments, Cyprus has acted and acts as a bridge of peace, understanding and cooperation in the region, something that is demonstrated through the work and results of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union,” 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.

In 2025 the Secretary-General hosted two informal meetings on Cyprus, in March in Geneva and in July in New York, while a tripartite meeting with the Cyprus leaders was also held in late September, at the end of the UN General Assembly High Level Week. An informal meeting in broader format that was expected to take place before the end of 2025, is yet to be announced. María Angela Holguín, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties.

2026 Summer Public Lecture Series on Chinese Language and Culture

Hosted by the Confucius Institute at the University of Cyprus

This summer, the Confucius Institute at the University of Cyprus proudly presents a series of free public lectures. The series offers a rich exploration of Chinese language, culture, education, and society through three engaging topics delivered by expert trainers of the Chinese Culture.

Highlights include:

The deadline for registration for each lecture is the day before the lecture date.

Join us this summer for an inspiring journey into the heart of Chinese civilization.

2026 Summer Public Lecture Series on Chinese Language and Culture

Hosted by the Confucius Institute at the University of Cyprus

Topic One: Relieving Emotional Stress

Cyprus ranks among the EU Member States with strong connectivity infrastructure and high ambition ahead of the Digital Decade 2030, according to the European Commission’s Digital Decade 2026 Report, published on Wednesday. However, the report highlights that Cyprus still faces significant challenges in AI adoption by businesses, digital skills development, and further modernization of public digital services.

To address these gaps, the EU Commission urges Cyprus to accelerate its digital transition by implementing its AI strategy, invest in submarine interconnection cables, enhance cybersecurity for critical systems, including underwater cables, speed up public sector digitisation, particularly in transport, healthcare, and justice, expand digital skills programs for elderly citizens and those with low education levels, and improve access to e-health services through mobile apps, digitized medical records, and inclusive services.

In terms of connectivity and infrastructure, Very High Capacity Network (VHCN) coverage stands at 89.1%, while Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) coverage also reaches 89.1%. 5G coverage has reached 100% of the territory. Cyprus has 14 edge nodes, exceeding the 2030 national target of 10.

In the business and innovation sector, 67.3% of SMEs have at least a basic level of digital intensity, 45.5% use cloud computing services, 33.5% leverage data analytics, and only 7.9% adopt AI applications, a figure below the EU average. The Commission emphasizes that additional actions are needed to accelerate AI integration into the economy. Cyprus also shows significant progress in innovation, with four unicorn companies registered, and its participation in high-tech EU initiatives strengthens its position on Europe’s digital map.

In the area of skills, 49.5% of citizens have at least basic digital skills, a percentage that remains below the 2030 target of 80%. ICT specialists account for 5% of total employment. The Commission warns that differences between age groups and education levels continue to be a significant obstacle to fully exploiting the opportunities of the digital economy.

Citizens’ access to digital public services is steadily improving, with the relevant score at 77.6, while services for businesses reach 86.0. Access to electronic health records is recorded at 75.4. Despite progress, Cyprus still lags behind the EU average in certain areas, mainly in cross-border digital services, digitization of local government, and the digital transformation of the justice system.

Cyprus stands out as a significant factor in cybersecurity and quantum communications, with the CYQCI project being part of a pan-European quantum communication network aimed at creating extremely secure data transmission channels.

Additionally, Cyprus hosts one of the EU’s three Cyber Hubs, created through the Cyber Solidarity Act, strengthening its role in cross-border cooperation on cybersecurity. The Commission also notes the strategic importance of Cyprus in the current geopolitical context regarding subsea cables, as the country intensifies its efforts to become a regional connectivity hub in the Eastern Mediterranean.

At the funding level, the report states that Cyprus has allocated 30% of its Recovery and Resilience Plan, worth 300 million euros, to digital actions, while an additional 100 million euros from the Cohesion Policy is directed towards the digital transition. The country also participates in EUROPEUM-EDIC for blockchain services, as well as in the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and Chips Joint Undertaking initiatives.

The report notes that Cyprus has set all 14 available national targets within the Digital Decade framework, with 86% of them aligned with the EU’s 2030 goals. Of the progress indicators set for 2025, 77% are on track to be achieved. The total public funding associated with the measures of the national roadmap amounts to 117 million euros.

According to the special Eurobarometer on the Digital Decade 2026, 89% of Cypriots believe that digital policy should be a high priority for the European Union. 93% demand stronger cybersecurity, 91% want more digital education and skills programs, and 88% support stricter regulation of online platforms. At the same time, 85% support the prioritization of investments in European digital infrastructure and services.

Finally, the Commission addresses a series of recommendations to Cyprus to accelerate its digital transition. Regarding artificial intelligence, it calls on the country to immediately convert the new national AI strategy into specific support measures for businesses, especially SMEs, through specialized skills development programs, strengthening human capital, attracting talent, and broader utilization of the new AI Factory Antenna in Cyprus.

At the same time, it suggests strengthening investments in the subsea cable ecosystem, aiming to empower the country’s and the EU’s digital sovereignty, as well as participation in European initiatives for the security and resilience of Mediterranean underwater networks.

The EU executive also requests further strengthening of cybersecurity, particularly for critical infrastructure such as subsea cables, as well as an investigation into the utilisation of the national quantum communication infrastructure to protect strategic systems.

It also calls on Nicosia to accelerate the implementation of the public sector digital transformation strategy, with emphasis on cross-border services in transport, health, business, and justice, as well as further digitization of local government.

Additionally, it proposes strengthening digital skills programs for older people and citizens with lower education levels, while in the field of e-health, it requests the rapid completion of projects that will allow citizens access to electronic health records through mobile applications, the provision of medical images and discharge summaries in digital form, and ensuring equal access to e-health services for all social groups.