Category: Cyprus News Agency

Generational renewal in fisheries and aquaculture was the focus of an informal meeting of EU Fisheries Ministers held in Cork under the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU, with Cyprus taking part.

Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou was represented by Costas Constantinou, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry’s Directorate General for the Environment. The meeting was chaired by Irish Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon and Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries Timmy Dooley. EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis also attended.

According to an Agriculture Ministry statement, Constantinou welcomed the close cooperation between the Irish and Cypriot Presidencies, noting that the smooth transition between two island member states ensures continuity in efforts to support the European fisheries sector.

He said the Common Fisheries Policy remains a strong framework but should become simpler and better adapted to current challenges, including climate change and the spread of invasive alien species, particularly in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Constantinou stressed that decisions should continue to be based on scientific evidence, while also taking their socioeconomic impact into account.

He said attracting a new generation to the sector requires a stable regulatory environment, easier access for young people, simpler aquaculture licensing procedures, better access to suitable marine areas and stronger support for innovation.

He also underlined the need to invest in fleet modernisation, safety, training, digital technologies and the energy transition, so that fisheries and aquaculture can offer secure and attractive employment and draw more young people and women into the sector.

Constantinou called for adequate EU funding after 2028, particularly for small-scale fisheries, islands and remote areas. He also said imported fishery products should meet standards equivalent to those applied in the EU through effective traceability and stronger action against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Ministers discussed the challenges facing young people seeking to enter fisheries and aquaculture and reaffirmed their commitment to the sector’s long-term sustainability and competitiveness.

CNA/EC/HT/AGK/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has described the agreement for the French investment group Meridiam to become the majority shareholder of Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) as a project of strategic importance for Greece, Cyprus, and Europe.

In a post on X, the Prime Minister emphasized that Meridiam’s investment in GSI-a special purpose company established by the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) to implement the project-represents a strong vote of confidence in Greece’s energy sector, IPTO’s technical expertise, and the strategic significance of this interconnection project.

‘At the same time, we have signed a strategic agreement between IPTO, GSI, and Nexans to accelerate the project’s implementation, with the highest priority being the completion of seabed surveys. We are joining forces for a European Project of Common Interest that strengthens energy security and enhances our country’s strategic position,’ Kyriakos Mitsotakis concluded.

CNA/AZA/MK/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

The Department of Meteorology issued on Wednesday a yellow warning for high temperatures on Thursday, with maximum temperatures expected to reach around 40 degrees Celsius inland.

According to the Department of Meteorology, the warning will be in effect from 1400 to 1630 local time on Thursday.

CNA/LS/??S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

The number of unemployed persons registered at the District Labour Offices in July 2026 recorded an increase of 5.8% or 640 persons, compared to the same month of 2025, reaching 11,728 persons, according to data published on Wednesday by the Statistical Service.

According to CYSTAT, this increase is mainly attributed to the sectors of administrative and support service activities, accommodation and food service activities, public administration and education.

Based on the seasonally adjusted data which reflect the trend of unemployment, the number of registered unemployed for July 2026 decreased to 10,504 persons, in comparison to 10,564 in the previous month.

CNA/MCH/AGK/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, will preside over on Thursday a meeting of the Council of Ministers in a new composition, following a partial government reshuffle announced on Tuesday. The Cabinet will convene at 1300 local time.

Earlier at 0900 the swearing-in ceremony of the new members of the government will take place at the Presidential Palace in the presence of President Christodoulides.

The handover-takeover ceremonies will follow. At 1015 the handover – takeover ceremony will take place at the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, at 1100 at the Ministry of Transport Communications and Works, at 1145 at the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and at 1230 at the Deputy Ministry of Culture.

On Tuesday, the Presidency announced that, exercising the powers vested in him by the Constitution, the President decided to appoint Evanthia Tsolaki as Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Christos Senekis as Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Tina Pavlou as Deputy Minister of Social Welfare and Clea Papaellina as Deputy Minister of Culture.

The President also decided to appoint Elias Myrianthous as Commissioner for the Environment and Animal Welfare, Eirini Poyiatzi as Commissioner for Citizens’ Rights, and Panayiotis Palates as Director of the President’s Office.

CNA/AAR/MK/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Significant differences in deposit and lending rates among Cyprus’ credit institutions are revealed in the data published on Wednesday by the Central Bank of Cyprus for June 2026, with gaps reaching as much as two percentage points in certain categories. At the same time, Cypriot depositors continue to receive markedly lower returns compared with the euro area average.

On term deposits of up to one year from households, the average rate across all monetary financial institutions in Cyprus stood at 1.42%, against 2.03% in the euro area. Ancoria Bank offered the highest return at 1.66%, followed by National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) at 1.64%, Eurobank Limited at 1.51%, Alpha Bank Cyprus at 1.39% and Cyprus Development Bank at 1.35%. Lower rates were recorded by Societe Generale Bank Cyprus at 1.12%, Bank of Cyprus at 0.96% and the Housing Finance Corporation at 0.84%.

A similar picture emerges for deposits from non-financial corporations, where the Cypriot average reached 1.41% compared with 2.19% in the euro area. Alpha Bank Cyprus stood out with 2.05%, National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) offered 1.73%, Ancoria Bank 1.60%, Eurobank Limited 1.43% and Cyprus Development Bank 1.27%. Societe Generale Bank Cyprus was at 0.99%, Bank of Cyprus at 1.16% and the Housing Finance Corporation at a particularly low 0.43%.

On housing loans (new contracts, irrespective of initial rate fixation period) the average rate in Cyprus was 3.28%, slightly below the euro area figure of 3.51%. Cyprus Development Bank recorded the highest rate at 4.15%, Ancoria Bank 3.35%, the Housing Finance Corporation 3.36%, Societe Generale Bank Cyprus and Bank of Cyprus both 3.28%, Eurobank Limited 3.18% and Alpha Bank Cyprus the lowest at 2.71%.

Even wider gaps appear in business loans of up to pound 1 million, where the Cypriot average rose to 4.16%. Banque SBA charged 7.17%, Societe Generale Bank Cyprus 5.39%, National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) 4.44%, Bank of Cyprus 4.31%, Ancoria Bank 4.17%, Eurobank Limited 3.99% and Alpha Bank Cyprus the lowest at 3.57%.

On loans above pound 1 million the average stood at 3.97%. Ancoria Bank recorded 4.69%, National Bank of Greece (Cyprus) 4.16%, Eurobank Limited 4.15%, Alpha Bank Cyprus 3.85%, Bank of Cyprus 3.65% and Cyprus Development Bank the lowest at 3.53%.

CNA/TNE/AGK/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 05/08/2026 UNTIL 0600 06/08/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1008hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine, but during the night and in the morning locally increased low cloud coverage will be present with risk of local mist, while fog patches are likely mainly over the southern and eastern coastal areas.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in mist and very poor in fog

Sea surface temperature: 29°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning South to Southwest 3, gradually Southwest to West 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

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

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally near the coast Northwest to Northeast 3 Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Morning Variable 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

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

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, gradually 3 Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning Variable 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

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

Night Southwest 4, gradually Southwest to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3, locally Northwest to North Smooth to Slight

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

Night Southeast to Southwest 3, offshore Southwest to West 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Department of Meteorology

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

Date 05/08/2026

Station

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

Highest

Lowest

Humidity at

1200 UTC

Nicosia (Athalassa)

40

20

23

Larnaka Airport

34

22

58

Limassol

32

21

56

Pafos Airport

31

24

69

Frenaros

34

22

51

Prodromos

28

18

46

Polis Pafos

33

21

51

CNA/EA/MK/2026, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

Cyprus is not among the countries causing delays in Europe’s air traffic network in 2026, the Civil Aviation Department said, stressing that air traffic control services continue to operate safely and efficiently despite increased traffic in the Nicosia Flight Information Region due to the crisis in the Middle East.

In a statement, the Department responded to media reports, initially published by the Israeli newspaper ‘Israel Hayom’, alleging serious congestion in Greek and Cypriot airspace and citing EUROCONTROL traffic data.

It said that airspace over the Eastern Mediterranean, particularly the Nicosia FIR, has handled increased traffic volumes this summer, as some flight routes have been redirected because of the broader crisis in the Middle East.

The Department stressed, however, that increased traffic should not be confused with air traffic control delays. According to EUROCONTROL network performance data, France and Greece are the main contributors to en-route air traffic flow management delays this summer, together accounting for more than 60% of all delays across the network.

Cyprus is not listed among the network’s delay hotspots in EUROCONTROL’s weekly reports, it added. The capacity and staffing pressures referred to in the media reports concern the air traffic control centre in Greece and not Cyprus.

The Department said that Cyprus’ air traffic control units, including the Area Control Centre and the control towers at Larnaca and Paphos airports, are safely and effectively managing the increased traffic, which has resulted in record flight numbers.

According to the statement, the successful handling of the additional traffic demonstrates the resilience and efficiency of Cyprus’ air navigation system and reflects the efforts of its staff, the reliability of the country’s infrastructure and continued investment in technology and operational procedures.

It added that the increase in traffic highlights the Republic of Cyprus’ critical role as a stable and reliable aviation hub in the Eastern Mediterranean.

‘Cyprus is not part of Europe’s air traffic delay problem. On the contrary, in 2026 it is part of the solution,’ the Department said.

It added that Cyprus would continue to work closely with EUROCONTROL, international aviation organisations and regional partners to maintain high standards of safety, efficiency and service quality for airlines and passengers.

CNA/HT/AGK/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

For the period January – May 2026, the Industrial Turnover Index recorded an increase of 3.4% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, according to data published on Wednesday by the Statistical Service.

In May 2026, the Industrial Turnover Index reached 148 units (base 2021=100), recording an increase of 3.5% compared to May 2025.

In manufacturing, the Industrial Turnover Index for May 2026 reached 151.4 units, recording an increase of 2.6% compared to May 2025.

The largest increase was recorded in manufacturing of furniture, other manufacturing and repair and installation of machinery and equipment with 14.6%, while the largest decrease was recorded in manufacturing of machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and other transport equipment with 10.7%.

Increases were also recorded in the water supply and materials recovery (13.8%), the electricity supply (6.1%) and mining and quarrying (2.1%) sectors.

CNA/MCH/AGK/2026S, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY