Category: Cyprus News Agency

Developments regarding the Cyprus issue are among the topics highlighted in the European Parliament’s Resolution on the European Commission’s 2025 Report on Turkey, which was adopted on Wednesday by the plenary with 381 votes in favour, 107 against and 171 abstentions, with MEPs reaffirming support for a bizonal, bicommunal federation and calling on Turkey to abandon a ‘two-state’ position for Cyprus.

In the Resolution, the European Parliament welcomes the steps taken by the United Nations Secretary General to relaunch talks on the Cyprus issue, including the appointment of a Personal Envoy for Cyprus, and calls on the European Commission to swiftly appoint a new EU Special Envoy.

The European Parliament reaffirms its position that “the only acceptable solution to the Cyprus problem is a fair, comprehensive, viable and democratic settlement within the framework of the United Nations and based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation with a single international legal personality, a single sovereignty, a single citizenship and political equality, as set out in the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.”

The Resolution stresses that the desired settlement should also be based on the agreed convergences, the framework established by the UN Secretary-General, and the principles and values of the European Union and international law.

The European Parliament calls for the swift resumption of negotiations for the reunification of Cyprus under the auspices of the UN Secretary-General, from the point at which they were interrupted in Crans-Montana in 2017.

At the same time, it calls on Turkey to abandon its support for a two-state solution in Cyprus and return to the agreed basis for resolving the Cyprus issue, as defined by United Nations resolutions and the UN framework.

The Resolution also welcomes the two informal enlarged-format meetings held under UN auspices in Geneva in March 2025 and in New York in July of the same year, as well as the contacts between the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community, Tufan Erhrman, including their meeting in December 2025.

The European Parliament notes that these contacts highlighted the solution of the Cyprus issue as a shared objective, based on political equality as provided for in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. At the same time, Members of the European Parliament expressed satisfaction with the attitude of both sides following the election of the new Turkish Cypriot leader.

The Parliament calls on the European Union and its member states to strongly support the continuation of the dialogue and to stand ready to contribute in every necessary way to the success of the process.

Green Line and the withdrawal of Turkish troops

The European Parliament also calls on Turkey to respect the status of the Green Line and the mandate of UNFICYP, to end and reverse unilateral actions and violations in and around the Green Line.

At the same time, it reiterates its call for cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United Nations aimed at implementing concrete demilitarisation measures along the Green Line in order to reduce tensions and create more favourable conditions for the resumption of UN-led talks.

The Resolution also calls on Turkey to withdraw from Strovilia, facilitate the full implementation of the Pyla agreement, withdraw its troops from Cyprus and refrain from actions that could entrench the island’s division or alter its demographic composition.

Particular reference is made to Turkish occupied Varosha, with Parliament condemning the ongoing efforts to open and settle the area in violation of relevant UN resolutions. It also calls on Turkey to reverse these actions and return the area to its lawful inhabitants under temporary United Nations administration, in accordance with UN Security Council Resolutions 550 and 789.

The Resolution further expresses regret over attempts to turn Varosha into a dark tourism attraction and condemns the continued usurpation, sale and illegal exploitation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied areas.

At the same time, it condemns the destruction of cultural and religious monuments while praising the work of the bicommunal Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage.

Turkish Cypriot community

Elsewhere, the Resolution calls on Turkey to allow the Turkish Cypriot community to exercise its role as a legitimate community of the Republic of Cyprus. It also calls on the European Commission to intensify its engagement with Turkish Cypriots in order to facilitate a solution to the Cyprus issue and strengthen their ties with the European Union.

Finally, it underlines the importance of the work of the Committee on Missing Persons and calls for improved access to military zones under Turkish control, access to military archives, and information regarding possible relocations of the remains of missing persons.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Varosha, the fenced off section of the Turkish occupied town of Famagusta, is often described as a ‘ghost town’.

UN Security Council resolution 550 (1984) considers any attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than its inhabitants as inadmissible and calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the UN. UN Security Council resolution 789 (1992) also urges that with a view to the implementation of resolution 550 (1984), the area at present under the control of the United Nations Peace-keeping Force in Cyprus be extended to include Varosha.

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.

The University of Nicosia is pleased to announce that the research article ‘Uncertainty-Aware Artificial Intelligence Reconstruction of Wall-Pressure Dynamics from Sparse Data in Extreme Flows’ has been selected as a Featured Article by Physics of Fluids, published by the American Institute of Physics (AIP). The article will be promoted prominently on the journal homepage and marked with a dedicated featured-article icon.

In addition, the journal editors recommended the work for AIP Scilight, which has published a dedicated article highlighting the significance of the hybrid AI framework developed by the UNIC Research team. The framework reconstructs hypersonic wall-pressure signals from sparse measurements, addressing a key challenge in the modelling of extreme-flow environments.

About the Research

The research presents a novel approach that combines mathematical interpolation with transformer-based machine learning to reconstruct complex, high-speed wall-pressure dynamics with high accuracy. The framework is designed to be interpretable and grounded in the underlying flow physics, making it applicable to high-impact technology challenges including those relevant to aerospace and Air Force supersonic and hypersonic research priorities.

This recognition strengthens the visibility of UNIC’s work in advanced AI modelling and underscores the University’s commitment to research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and engineering science.

Statement from Professor Dimitris Drikakis

‘I am delighted that our work has been selected as a Featured Article in Physics of Fluids and highlighted by AIP Scilight. This recognition reflects the growing importance of uncertainty-aware AI in advancing high-fidelity modelling for extreme-flow environments, where direct measurements are costly and sparse. By combining mathematical interpolation with transformer-based learning, our framework demonstrates how AI can reconstruct complex, high-speed wall-pressure dynamics with high accuracy while remaining interpretable and grounded in the underlying flow physics. The broader significance is that such methods can help accelerate the design and analysis of next-generation aerospace and other complex engineering systems.’

Cyprus is seeing a gradual stabilisation of its tourism sector, with Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis confirming that the industry is returning to a “stable path” following a challenging start to the year.

The latest figures from the Statistical Service reveal that approximately 455,000 tourists arrived in May 2026. While this represents a 4.9% dip compared to the same month last year, it marks a significant 8.1% increase over May 2024.

The first five months of 2026 saw a 13.3% drop in arrivals compared to 2025, a slump largely attributed to “unprecedented” challenges in March. Koumis noted that the government had to manage the most difficult situation in decades-barring the pandemic-navigating the fallout of geopolitical tensions and a global debate over aviation fuel shortages.

The government and the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, he said, “were called upon to manage an unprecedentedly negative situation-perhaps the most difficult situation of recent decades, excluding of course the pandemic period that paralyzed global tourism-since, apart from the negative influence of geopolitical tensions, the tourism sector was also affected by the discussion regarding the shortage of aviation fuel supply.”

“What is important is that our country’s tourism is returning to a stable track, leaving behind the events of March and the negative impact caused during that period,” Koumis said.

To counter the downturn, the Deputy Ministry launched an aggressive international campaign over the last three months, he noted. According to Koumis this included enhanced digital promotion across 27 countries and hosting foreign journalists and influencers to safeguard Cyprus’s brand as a “safe and competitive” destination.

Our responsibility and duty, he added, “was to safeguard our country’s air connectivity, the long-term partnerships with our country’s strategic partners, but primarily, our country’s excellent reputation as a safe and certainly competitive tourist destination.”

Looking ahead, the Deputy Ministry remains “on alert,” shifting its focus toward maximizing results for the second half of 2026. While the government works to minimize year-end losses, official preparations for the 2027 season are already underway, he remarked.

Cyprus recorded an annual inflation rate of 3.5% in May 2026, higher than both the euro area and European Union averages, according to figures published by Eurostat on Wednesday.

According to the data, annual inflation in Cyprus reached 3.5%, up from 3.0% in April, while prices increased by 0.7% on a monthly basis.

Across the European Union, annual inflation stood at 3.3% in May 2026, compared with 3.2% in April, while in the euro area it rose to 3.2% from 3.0% in the previous month. In May 2025, inflation had stood at 2.2% in the EU and 1.9% in the euro area.

Eurostat reported that the lowest annual inflation rates among Member States were recorded in Sweden (1.1%), Denmark (1.8%) and Czechia (1.8%).

By contrast, the highest inflation rates were registered in Romania (9.7%), Bulgaria (6.3%) and Lithuania (5.1%).

Minister of Foreign Affairs Constantinos Kombos concluded on Wednesday his official visit to the Republic of San Marino, the first official visit by a Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus to the country.

According to an official press release, during his stay in San Marino, Kombos had a meeting with Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Political Affairs, International Economic Cooperation and Digital Transition of San Marino Luca Beccari, in the presence of delegations from both countries.

The talks focused on bilateral relations, the prospects for further strengthening cooperation between Cyprus and San Marino, EU-San Marino relations, as well as issues of common interest at European and international level.

In the context of the visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in the field of Higher Education and Research, which aims to promote cooperation between the two countries in these areas.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs was also received by the Captains Rigent of the Republic of San Marino Alice Mina and Vladimiro Selva, while during the visit he had a meeting with the Members of the Congress of San Marino and delivered an official lecture (Lectio Magistralis).

The Cypriot Foreign Minister was awarded the honorary distinction of the Grand Cross of the Knights of the Order of Saint Agatha.

The visit took place in the context of the further strengthening of the bilateral relations between Cyprus and San Marino, following the completion of 40 years since the establishment of official relations between the two countries, as well as the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the press release concludes.

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 Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC) on Tuesday issued a detailed announcement of its findings into the investigation of the allegations in the book ‘Mafia State’, in which it says that former President of Cyprus Nicos Anastasiades and other officials, individuals and legal entities, may be potentially criminally liable of corruption.

The probe of the IAAC is based on the book “Mafia State” written by journalist Makarios Droushiotis, who in the past worked as advisor to former President Nicos Anastasiades.

The IAAC, that stresses the principle of the presumption of innocence, lists the names of individuals for “possible criminal offences of corruption”.

Former President of the Republic, Nicos Anastasiades, is found in seven cases to have possibly committed offences in trading in influence, abuse of power (crime), abuse of power (misdemeanor), or attempt to commit a criminal offence.

Other individuals included in the probe, that may have committed offences of corruption, are former Minister of Agriculture Nikos Kouyalis (abuse of power, misdemeanor), former Deputy Attorney General Rikkos Erotokritou (abuse of power, misdemeanor), Eva Rossidou Papakyriakou, former Head of Unit for Combating Money Laundering, MOKAS (abuse of power- misdemeanor, attempt to commit a criminal offence, neglect of official duty), George Varnava, former MP (abuse of power- misdemeanor or attempt to commit a criminal offence), Haris Solomonides, Former President of the District Court (indictment of a public official), Efthymios Bouloutas, CEO of Laiki Bank (trading in influence, money laundering), Ioannis Soteriadis, Senior Police Officer (abuse of authority-misdemeanor), Dmitry Rybolovlev (trading in influence), Andreas Hadjikyriakos (trading in influence).

Other individuals or legal entities are Stathis Lemis, Partner at Nikos Chr. Anastasiades and Partners Law Firm (trading in influence, money laundering), Fanos Philippou Partner at Nikos Chr. Anastasiades and Partners Law Firm (trading in influence, money laundering), the Law Firm Nikos Chr. Anastasiades and Partners (trading in influence, money laundering), A. Neocleous and Co. LLC (bribery of a public official, active bribery of public officials and corporate liability of a Legal Person) and Panayiotis Neocleous, Attorney (conspiracy to pervert the course of justice).

The Report and the evidence collected will be forwarded to the Attorney General and to the Tax Commissioner.

During the investigation, a total of 214 sessions/hearings were held for the purpose of taking testimony or evidence, 150 individuals testified as witnesses, evidence was submitted by 41 legal entities and government departments. The total number of documents submitted reached 793. The Report consists of approximately 3000 pages.