Category: Cyprus News Agency

Weather Temperature for Cyprus

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

Date 17/06/2026

Station

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

Humidity at

1200 UTC

Highest

Lowest

Nicosia (Athalassa)

37

20

30

Larnaka Airport

33

20

44

Limassol (New Port)

32

20

55

Pafos Airport

28

20

78

Frenaros

33

21

50

Prodromos

26

16

44

Polis Pafos

30

20

66

Press release

17-06-2026

Plenary session AFET

The European Parliament calls for stronger EU action against the weaponisation of water

MEPs deplore the use of water as a tool for coercion and conflict

Stronger EU action on international water management needed

Accountability for attacks on water infrastructure and supplies

Today, 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, 3.5 billion to sanitation services

On Wednesday, MEPs called on the EU to strengthen its external action on water governance and integrate water-related risks into conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts.

In a report adopted in plenary with 431 votes in favour, 111 against, and with 103 abstentions, MEPs urge the EU to step up its response to the growing use of water as a tool for political pressure, coercion and warfare.

Strengthening water diplomacy and cooperation

The MEPs agree that water cooperation remains insufficient despite growing pressure on shared water resources. While share transboundary waters, only 43 agreements are currently in place. They call on the EU to support partner countries in negotiating and implementing such arrangements, arguing that effective transnational water governance can help reduce tensions, and promote regional cooperation and the sustainable management of natural resources.

Funding and resources

The MEPs ask for adequate funding for water governance under the next long term EU budget, including through the Global Europe and Global Gateway programmes. It also supports increased EU investment, and public and private partnerships in climate-resilient water management and sanitation infrastructure, particularly in fragile and conflict-affected regions where reliable access to water can help reduce the risk of displacement and violence.

Justice and accountability

Russia’s destruction of Ukraine’s water infrastructure and the imbalances in the control of water resources in the Middle East affecting Palestinian communities, are among the reported examples of how water can become a source of conflict and instability, MEPs say.

The MEPs stress the need for accountability for the deliberate targeting, destruction or denial of access to water infrastructure and supplies in conflict situations. They also back legal initiatives to ensure justice and compensation for affected communities, underlining the importance of strengthening international law and the role of competent criminal courts.

Quote

‘Access to water is a human right and a prerequisite for stability and peace. Yet it is coming under increasing pressure: more than half of the world’s freshwater resources cross national borders, and their management is often inadequately regulated. Overexploitation, pollution, population growth and climate change are causing severe water scarcity in many regions and fuelling crises, inequalities, instability, migration and armed conflicts, in which access to water can even become a weapon. The report sets out proposals for action to prevent crises and conflicts in the long term and calls for existing foreign policy instruments to be strengthened and better integrated. European leaders and institutions should ensure that the transnational governance of water resources is recognised as a strategic, diplomatic and security priority within the EU’s foreign policy’, said rapporteur Leoluca Orlando (Greens/EFA, Italy).

Background

Growing pressure on water resources, caused by population growth, unsustainable industrial development, poor wastewater management, and unsustainable water use, is contributing to water scarcity, food insecurity and conflict. Today, around 2.2 billion people lack access to safe drinking water, 3.5 billion lack safely managed sanitation services, and around 4 billion people experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year.

Citizens in Cyprus have a generally positive picture for personal doctors (GPs) in the Health Scheme (GeSY), a survey carried out by Federation of Patient Associations of Cyprus (CyFPA) shows.

The survey was presented Wednesday, during a press conference organized by CyFPA.

The survey on the experience of GeSY beneficiaries with GPs was conducted in November 2025. A total of 1,337 beneficiaries island wide participated and the aim was to evaluate the quality of services provided within the framework of GeSY.

The findings demonstrate high levels of satisfaction and trust towards GPs. But communication and access are two areas that need improvement, according to the survey.

In particular, 93% of beneficiaries said that they have been registered with the same GP for more than a year, while 75% have remained with the same doctor for more than two years. At the same time, 35% reported that they have changed their GP at least once since joining the Health Scheme.

The most frequent reasons for changing their GP were the difficulty in communicating with the doctor (25%), dissatisfaction with their behaviour (20%) and failure to provide assistance in an emergency (12%).

The survey also records high rates of use of the digital GeSY portal. Some 79% of participants said that they have access to their personal medical profile. In addition, 78% consider communication with their GP to be ‘very easy’ or ‘fairly easy’.

Regarding waiting times, 53% of beneficiaries are accommodated either on the same day or the next day, while 87% assess the waiting time to secure an appointment as appropriate.

At the same time, 96% of citizens who took part in the survey said that they were satisfied with how their needs were met, during their last appointment with their GP, while 66% said that they would not like to change anything in the way they were assisted.

As regards prevention, 62% of beneficiaries said that they received advice on preventive examinations and 58% on vaccinations. However, 32% said that they did not receive any preventive advice from their GPs.

Based on the findings of the survey, CyFPA has come up with recommendations to further strengthen the role of the GPs and their relation with their patients. Among the recommendations are communication with beneficiaries, the use of digital tools and preventive medicine.

CyFPA also suggests the establishment of a binding response protocol for GPs, the encouragement of the use of alternative communication channels, such as secretarial support and digital messages, as well as the further upgrading of the GeSY electronic portal as a communication tool between doctors and beneficiaries.

Furthermore the Patients’ Federation suggests the introduction of stronger incentives for GPs for preventive actions, such as vaccinations and screening, as well as the organisation of educational programmes for the development of communication skills.

According to the Federation, the strengthening of primary health care could also contribute to the decongestion of A and E Departments.

CyFPA said during the press conference that the institution of the personal physician is the foundation stone of GeSY, noting, at the same time, that improving communication, accessibility and prevention remain key challenges for the further upgrading of primary health care services.

The challenge is to move from a reactive approach to anticipation and prevention of hybrid threats, Deputy Minister for European Affairs, Marilena Raouna, said on Wednesday, speaking at the Plenary Session of the European Parliament (EP), in Strasbourg.

According to a press release issued by the Secretariat of the Presidency of the EU Council, speaking on protecting EU citizen’s data from hybrid threats, Raouna pointed out that “the rapidly increasing number of serious and sophisticated cyber-attacks cause is greatly concerning our citizens and our industries.”

“In today’s environment of hybrid threats and escalating cybercrime, Member States stand stronger together – and that is precisely why we have built a strong and coordinated system to reinforce our cybersecurity as a core pillar of our democracies, but also of the resilience of the Single Market,” she noted.

“We have in recent years developed a solid legislative cyber framework, and we are working to strengthen it further,” Raouna said, while welcoming the Commission proposal for a new cybersecurity package, which is currently under discussion in the Council.

She further pointed out that “the Council supports a strengthened role of ENISA, the EU agency for cybersecurity, to support operational cooperation in enhancing cyber resilience at the EU level and also among Member States.”

“We all recognise that today’s security environment is not only defined by cyberattacks, but by broader hybrid threats by malign actors,” the Deputy Minister said, adding that “these threats are increasingly sophisticated, combining cyber operations, foreign information manipulation and interference, economic coercion, sabotage, and other tactics.”

“While the primary responsibility for cybersecurity and countering hybrid threats remains with the Member States – as a matter of national security – the Council has developed a comprehensive Framework for a Coordinated EU Response to Hybrid Campaigns, as well as the EU Cyber Diplomacy Toolbox, to increase the EU’s ability to prevent, discourage, deter and respond to malicious cyber activity,” Raouna emphasised.

“This includes Hybrid Rapid Response Teams, which can be deployed upon request to support the member states and foreign partner countries in countering hybrid threats,” she added.

“The framework is supported by the European External Action Service (EEAS) which provides a centralised analytical capacity to detect and assess hybrid activity,” the Deputy Minister noted.

She also recalled that in March, the Council adopted conclusions on advancing the EU’s capacity to counter hybrid threats, reaffirming our determination to use all available tools.

Also, the European Democracy Shield initiative, together with the European Centre for Democratic Resilience, further reinforces our collective efforts, she added.

“The challenge is to move from a reactive approach to anticipation and prevention,” Raouna pointed out, while assuring that “the EU is constantly strengthening its ability to support Member States in detecting, deterring, and disrupting hybrid campaigns before they can fully materialise.”

The Harmonized Index of Consumer Prices (HICP) rose by 3.5% between May 2025 and May 2026, according to data published by the Statistical Service on Wednesday.

Compared with May 2025, the categories Transport (9.7%) and Recreation, Sports and Culture (7.8%), showed the largest increases.

The largest negative changes were observed in the categories Clothing and Footwear (-8.5%) and Information and Communication (-2.9%).

Compared with April 2026, HICP increased by 0.8%.

The largest changes compared to April were recorded in the categories Restaurants and Accommodation Services (4.9%) and Housing, Water, Electricity, Natural Gas and Other Fuels (2%).

The largest change in the economic categories, both compared with May 2025 and April 2026, was observed in the category Energy (12.6% and 2.1% respectively).

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 17/06/2026 UNTIL 1200 18/06/2026

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 starts to affect the area. The weather will be mainly fine with risk of increased low cloud and local mist early morning.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist

Sea surface temperature: 24°C

Warnings: NIL

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 17/06/2026 UNTIL 0600 18/06/2026

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 starts to affect the area. The weather will be mainly fine with risk of increased low cloud and local mist early morning.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist

Sea surface temperature: 24°C

Warnings: NIL

Greek Foreign Affairs Minister George Gerapetritis reiterated Greece’s support for the efforts of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to reach a comprehensive, just, and viable settlement of the Cyprus issue, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, during a meeting, on Wednesday, in Athens with the UN SG’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar.

The Greek Foreign Minister emphasized the importance of maintaining the momentum that has been built on the Cyprus issue over the past two years and beyond, a Greek Foreign Affairs Ministry press release said.

Gerapetritis reiterated “Greece’s support for the efforts of United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres to reach a comprehensive, just, and viable settlement of the Cyprus issue, in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions,” the press release pointed out.

He also noted that Greece, in full agreement with the Republic of Cyprus, remains ready to contribute constructively to the next steps aimed at restarting negotiations on the basis of the agreed framework and under the auspices of the United Nations.

Holguín’s visit to Athens follows her recent meetings with the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot leader.

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.

Cypriot products with Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status were promoted at a specialised trade event entitled ‘REGAL Branchentreff 2026’, held in Vienna on June 11.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, the Ministry, in cooperation with the Trade Centre of the Republic of Cyprus in Vienna, participated in the event, showcasing, among other products, halloumi, commandaria and zivania.

Traditional indigenous Cypriot wine varieties, such as Xynisteri, Maratheftiko and Mavro, were also presented.

A halloumi tasting event took place, pairing the product with fresh and dried fruit and vegetables. According to the press release, the activity received positive feedback and helped highlight alternative ways of consuming halloumi, both raw and grilled.

‘REGAL Branchentreff’ is organised by REGAL Verlagsgesellschaft m.b.H. and is a specialised meeting for retail and food supply sector in Austria.

The event was attended by professionals from the food and beverage sector, including importers, representatives of major supermarket chains, food wholesalers, purchasing and promotion officers, quality controllers, as well as senior sales and marketing executives.

Representatives of Austrian institutional bodies also attended the event, along with the Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus in Vienna, Andreas Ignatiou.

According to the press release, Cyprus’ participation helped create new professional contacts and strengthen ties with partners in the Austrian food and beverage market.

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 17/06/2026 UNTIL 1800 18/06/2026

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

Seasonal low pressure starts to affect the area. The weather will be mainly fine with risk of increased low cloud and local mist early morning.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist

Sea surface temperature: 24°C

Warnings: NIL