Category: Cyprus News Agency

The 40th General Assembly of the Cyprus Universities Rectors’ Conference, convened by the University of Cyprus

The 40th General Assembly of the Cyprus Universities Rectors’ Conference took place on 12 June 2026 at the University of Cyprus, chaired by the President of the Conference, Rector of the University of Cyprus, Professor Tasos Christofides.

Discussions during the Assembly focused strongly on student-centred issues, highlighting the importance of active student participation in placement programmes, skills development initiatives and lifelong learning activities.

The discussion placed particular emphasis on the role of universities in actively contributing to the ongoing dialogue aimed at shaping the regulatory framework for paid internships.

The Assembly also reaffirmed the value of the tool developed by the Conference to increase the visibility and accessibility of doctoral-level research produced by Cypriot universities. In particular, the Cyprus Repository of Doctoral Dissertations brings together the full collection of doctoral theses awarded by Cypriot universities, providing broader access to research outputs and enhancing the visibility of scientific knowledge with significant societal impact.

As part of the Assembly, meetings were also held with key partners of the Cypriot higher education sector. Discussions with representatives of the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth explored opportunities for collaboration with the Educational Psychology Service in developing enrichment programmes for gifted and talented students. In addition, a meeting took place with the Foundation for the Management of European Lifelong Learning Programmes to explore joint initiatives in areas of mutual interest. The assembly also held an introductory meeting with the newly appointed President and Vice-President of the Council of the Cyprus Agency of Quality Assurance and Accreditation in Higher Education.

The Cyprus Universities Rectors’ Conference remains committed to strengthening cooperation among Cyprus’ universities, promoting the value of higher education and research, and further enhancing Cyprus’ role as a dynamic and influential partner within the European and international higher education and research landscape.

Cyprus recorded an employment rate of 82.3% among recent graduates aged 20 to 34 in 2025, remaining very close to the European Union average, according to data published by Eurostat on Monday.

More specifically, the employment rate of recent graduates in Cyprus stood at 82.3%, with the rate reaching 81.3% for men and 83.3% for women.

According to Eurostat, at EU level the employment rate of young people who had recently graduated from upper secondary or tertiary education reached 83.0% in 2025, compared with 82.3% in 2024.

The highest employment rates among recent graduates were recorded in Malta (91.0%), Germany (90.6%) and the Netherlands (90.1%), while the lowest were observed in Greece (62.4%), Italy (71.8%) and Romania (72.7%).

Eurostat also highlights that, at EU level, male graduates had a higher employment rate (84.4%) than female graduates (81.5%).

In a total of 18 EU Member States, employment among recent graduates was higher for men. However, in some countries, including Cyprus, women recorded higher employment rates than men. The largest gaps in favour of women were registered in Greece (11.8%), Estonia (5.0%) and Finland (4.4%).

The Turnover Value Index of Wholesale Trade (Division 46) during the first quarter of 2026 recorded an increase of 11.2% compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year, according to data published by the Statistical Service on Monday.

For the same quarter, the Turnover Value Index of Sales and Repair of Motor Vehicles (Division 45) recorded a decrease of 3.6% compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

According to data published by the Statistical Service, wholesale trade recorded growth across all economic activities, with the exception of wholesale trade on a fee or contract basis, which registered a decline of 18.5%.

A significant decrease of 9.4% was also recorded in the sale of motor vehicles, although vehicle maintenance and repair services, as well as the sale of vehicle parts and accessories, recorded increases.

All samples examined so far for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) have tested negative, the President of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association and member of the epidemiological team on FMD, Dr. Dimitris Epameinondas, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Monday.

He said 121 infected units currently remain, noting that some final samples are still pending from the Limassol district.

Regarding the likelihood of easing measures, Epameinondas said authorities are awaiting the overall picture from sampling results and the completion of vaccinations before discussing potential timelines.

‘The positive element is that surveillance and tracing samples received so far from Limassol and Nicosia have tested negative,’ he said.

‘We will know tomorrow about these final samples. We hope the last samples from the Limassol area will also be negative,’ he added.

‘With the completion of the final samples, surveillance and tracing within a three-kilometre radius will be concluded,’ he said.

He noted that culling operations were completed on Friday and that ‘there are no pending issues.’

On vaccinations, Epameinondas said immunisation will begin today in units in Paphos and Limassol that had not been vaccinated due to vaccine shortages.

‘Vaccines have been received. Vaccinations will begin today with the aim of achieving 100% coverage nationwide,’ he said.

Regarding checks along the Green Line, he said police patrols have begun along the ceasefire line, along with measures at crossing points.

‘The existing measures will be supplemented by additional steps currently being discussed with the army and the police,’ he added.

On next steps and possible easing of restrictions, he said authorities are awaiting the complete sampling results and completion of vaccinations, and are now considering the next phase, including whether and when measures could be eased.

‘To begin discussing easing measures and set timelines, we must first complete vaccinations and have a clear epidemiological picture of Cyprus based on sampling results. These are two key criteria for assessing the next stage,’ he stressed.

Regarding livestock replenishment, he said that given the losses recorded, internal replenishment can be carried out easily and there is no need for imports.

Epameinondas stressed that if the final samples in the Limassol area are also negative, it would be a very positive development.

‘This would mean the positive unit in Pahna was the first outbreak in Limassol and that there were no others, meaning we managed to prevent the spread of the virus within the district,’ he said.

In response to a question on how the virus reached the Pahna unit, he said there are some indications, but the epidemiological report and sampling analysis are still pending, adding that further details would be given later.

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 15/06/2026 UNTIL 1200 16/06/2026

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

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. Low clouds are expected at times. Risk of local mist over night and dawn.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist

Sea surface temperature: 24°C

Warnings: NIL

Presidential Commissioner Marios Hartsiotis co-signed on Monday, at the Presidential Palace, with the Head of the UNDP Office in Cyprus Jakhongir Khaydarov, a pound 380,000 funding agreement to support the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus (CMP) and its operations in 2026.

According to a statement issued by the Office of the Presidential Commissioner, with this year’s contribution, the Republic of Cyprus’ total financial support to the CMP since 2005 has reached pound 4.77 million.

The funding will support the committee’s efforts to locate, exhume, identify and return the remains of missing persons to their families.

Hartsiotis welcomed the signing of the agreement, saying it further strengthens the CMP’s humanitarian work.

He said the issue of missing persons remains a top government priority and reaffirmed the Republic of Cyprus’ commitment to supporting the committee’s work until every missing person is identified.

According to the statement, 1,069 missing persons from both communities in Cyprus have so far been identified and returned to their families for burial.

The Republic of Cyprus will continue to support the CMP and all those working to advance its humanitarian mission, the statement added.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Since then, the fate of hundreds of people remains unknown.

A Committee on Missing Persons has been established, upon agreement between the leaders of the two communities, with the scope of exhuming, identifying and returning to their relatives the remains of 492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,510 Greek Cypriots, who went missing during the inter-communal fighting of 1963-1964 and in 1974.

The European Commission on Monday launched two calls for evidence and feedback aimed at helping shape the future European Ocean and Water Research and Innovation Strategy, under the EU Water Resilience Strategy and the European Ocean Pact. In a statement on the initiative, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis stressed that oceans and water know no borders, and that the European Union’s ambition to protect them should be equally borderless.

He added that European research and innovation in the fields of oceans and water remain fragmented. Challenges such as biodiversity loss, climate change and pollution, he noted, require unity rather than isolation.

In a statement, the Commission said that the new strategy aims to strengthen Europe’s leadership in ocean- and water-related research, innovation and technology, while enhancing the European Union’s competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy.

According to the Commission, the first consultation focuses on ocean research and innovation, covering issues such as the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems, ocean observation, and the development of a sustainable blue economy.

The second consultation concerns water resilience and focuses on the management of freshwater systems, water efficiency and reuse, as well as the development of innovative solutions for the sustainable management of water resources.

Cyprus aims to strengthen its participation in European innovation networks and make better use of tools such as the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki said on Monday.

Piki was speaking during a meeting with a delegation of the EIT Governing Board, according to a press release.

The meeting focused on EIT’s presence and activities in Cyprus, including the EIT Community Hub, and on ways to better connect research, education and entrepreneurship.

The two sides discussed stronger links between research and the market, with the aim of turning knowledge into commercial results, investments and jobs. They also exchanged views on cooperation in areas such as artificial intelligence, the digital transition, climate technologies, sustainable development and modern skills.

Piki said strengthening innovation and technological development is a key part of government policy to transform the Cypriot economy into a more productive and outward-looking growth model.

The press release said the meeting took place as the government is promoting initiatives to strengthen Cyprus’ innovation ecosystem, including AI and supercomputing infrastructure and international cooperation in cutting-edge sectors.

Both sides said they were ready to further strengthen cooperation, with a view to expanding opportunities for Cyprus’ research and business community.

MEPs have secured an air passenger rules deal that maintains compensation for three-hour delays, ensures faster reimbursement, fee-free child seating and flight price transparency.

On Monday evening, a provisional agreement on a review of air passenger rights rules reached by Parliament and Council negotiators secured unanimous backing from the EP delegation to the so-called Conciliation Committee. The deal seeks to protect passengers against travel disruption, such as denied boarding and delayed or cancelled flights. The rules had not been updated since 2004.

‘The European Parliament has always been the strongest advocate for strong air passenger rights. This agreement will strengthen the rights of air passengers across Europe. It will bring greater transparency and predictability for both consumers and airlines, without creating unnecessary bureaucracy for our industry. Parliament fought hard to make travel fairer and procedures clearer, and this is what we have delivered,’ Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, said.

Compensation and duty of care

Parliament’s negotiators resisted a push to weaken air passenger rights. Under the deal, air travellers maintain the right to be reimbursed or re-routed and to claim compensation if a flight is delayed by more than three hours, if it is cancelled less than 14 days before a flight, or if they are denied boarding.

Compensation for delayed or cancelled flights will depend on flight distance: pound 250 for journeys up to 1,500 km, pound 400 for journeys between 1,500 km and 3,500 km, and pound 600 for all other longer journeys. Air carriers will have the possibility to reduce compensation by 50% for their longest journeys if passengers are offered re-routing to their final destination following travel disruption, or if the delay at arrival does not last more than four hours.

However, airlines will be able to avoid paying compensation, if the delay or cancellation was caused by events beyond their control. The new rules will have an open list of these extraordinary circumstances, including for instance natural disasters, war, weather conditions, unruly passengers, or airport, air navigation or groundhandling service provider strikes.

In all cases air operators will have a duty to take care of stranded passengers by providing refreshments every two hours of waiting time, a meal after three hours, and, if needed during long delays, an overnight stay of a maximum of three nights, the agreement says.

Faster and easier reimbursement

Air carriers will need to electronically provide passengers facing travel disruptions (delay or cancellation) with clear instructions on how to submit a request for compensation within four days of the termination of their journey. MEPs ensured that passengers are not obliged to have a user account or to use a specific application to receive this information. Air passengers will have nine months to file a compensation request, while airlines will have 30 days to pay the compensation or invoke extraordinary circumstances, explain why compensation will not be provided and refer passengers to complaint handling steps, the deal says.

Protecting vulnerable passengers

MEPs ensured passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility (PRM) will have the right to compensation, rerouting and assistance by airlines if they miss a flight due to the airport’s failure to help them reach the gate on time. They also made sure that families with kids are not separated during seating, by obliging air carriers to ensure that any person accompanying a child below the age of 14 should be seated on an adjacent seat without paying extra. The same right will apply to passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility, and to pregnant women.

Upgrading passenger rights

The new rules now include the right to carry on board, without additional fee, one personal item, such as a small bag or backpack. On the insistence of MEPs price transparency and the comparability of air tickets was increased by obliging airlines, intermediaries and search portals to always display the air fare inclusive of carry-on luggage at the outset of the book process. Negotiators agreed that airlines may offer cheaper tickets for passengers who choose voluntarily to travel without hand luggage.

Air passengers will no longer be charged additional fees for correcting name spelling errors or for getting a printed version of a boarding pass if they have already checked in. MEPs also secured passengers the right to obtain boarding passes digitally upon check-in, without any further request or obligation to have a user account or a specific application. In addition, passengers shall not be denied boarding on the grounds that they used their own printed version of a digitally issued boarding pass, the agreement says.

Quotes

Transport and Tourism Committee Vice-chair Virginijus Sinkevicius (Greens, LT) stressed: ‘Today Europe is delivering for air passengers. We have protected the rights people already have, added new safeguards, and brought greater clarity when things go wrong. Parliament was clear from day one: we wanted to modernise the rules, but we would not let passengers pay the price. After more than a decade of deadlock, Europe is finally updating air passenger rights while keeping passengers firmly at the centre.’

Rapporteur Andrey Novakov (EPP, BG) added: ‘Parliament promised passengers that their rights will be protected. And today we delivered. We fought for people, not for statistics. Because behind every delay and every cancellation there are real lives. We also added many clear improvements for families, PRMs and for a competitive aviation sector. This is a balanced result that we can all be proud of.”

Next steps

Under the third reading procedure, the provisional agreement reached in the Conciliation Committee has to be confirmed by both Parliament and the Council within the next six weeks, with a possibility to extend this deadline by a further two weeks. The two institutions will now vote separately on the joint text after its legal-linguistic revision. The European Parliament is planning to vote on the agreement during its July plenary session.

Press conference

On Monday at 19.45, key negotiators, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, Cyprus minister of transport Alexis Vafeades, EU Commissioner for sustainable transport and tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Parliament’s rapporteur Andrey Novakov (EPP, BG) and Transport and Tourism Committee Vice-chair Virginijus Sinkevicius (Greens, LT) will brief journalists on the upcoming EU air passenger rights changes. You can follow it live on the Parliament’s multimedia centre.

Speech of the Shipping Deputy Minister, Ms Marina Hadjimanolis at the ‘Threads of Friendship Fashion Show’

Celebrating the Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse, women entrepreneurship and the cultural bonds between Romania and Cyprus

Landmark Hotel, Lefkosia, 12th of June 2026

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good evening,

On behalf of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, it is a great pleasure to be with you tonight.

Allow me first to congratulate the Embassy of Romania in Cyprus, and Dr. Lavinia Ochea, for organizing this remarkable event, and to warmly thank all those whose vision and creativity have brought it to life, including Flori de Ie, Ms. Cristina Chiriac, and our own distinguished Cypriot artist, Mr. Michalis Pantelidis.

The title of tonight’s celebration, “Threads of Friendship”, beautifully captures the essence of the relationship between Romania and Cyprus.

Like the intricate threads woven into traditional textiles, the ties between our two countries have been patiently crafted over many years through friendship, mutual respect and shared European values. Today, our cooperation extends across culture, business, education, tourism, and of course maritime, enriching both our societies.

This evening, also celebrates the Universal Day of the Romanian Blouse, a powerful symbol of identity, heritage, and craftsmanship. Traditional garments are much more than pieces of fabric. They tell stories. They preserve memories. They connect generations. And they remind us, that cultural heritage, remains a source of inspiration, in a rapidly changing world, and even most importantly, it shows no borders.

At the same time, tonight, highlights the invaluable contribution of women entrepreneurs. Tonight’s participation of Romanian and Cypriot businesswomen, sends a powerful message about leadership, innovation, and determination. Women entrepreneurs, are not only driving economic growth; they are also building bridges between communities, fostering dialogue, being role models, and inspiring opportunities for future generations.

Dear friends,

As an island nation, and one of the world’s leading maritime centres, Cyprus understands, perhaps better than any other, the power of connections. For centuries, the sea has shaped our identity and brought us together. Across the Mediterranean and beyond, maritime routes have carried not only goods and commerce, but also ideas, traditions, and cultural influences.

In many ways, the spirit of maritime cooperation, mirrors the spirit of tonight’s event: building bridges, fostering understanding, and strengthening relationships across borders.

The launch of the Romanian-Cypriot Friendship Scarf, “Embroidered Dialogues”, is therefore particularly meaningful. By bringing together Romanian and Cypriot textile traditions in a contemporary artistic creation, symbolizing the ability of culture to transcend borders and create lasting connections between people.

May the threads celebrated this evening, continue to strengthen the bonds between Romania and Cyprus for many years to come.