Category: Cyprus News Agency

Head of the Special Scientific Committee for the Reconstruction and Upgrading of the Livestock Sector, Stavros Malas and member of the Epidemiological Team Demetris Tsaltas, told CNA Thursday that vaccinations and deterrent penalties are important for containing the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).

Malas told CNA that at Tuesday’s expanded meeting at the Presidential Palace on FMD it was decided to impose very strict penalties for illegal animal trafficking.

“There is already legislation, which provides for an administrative fine of around pound 3,500 and this will now be increased to pound 100,000 and, when someone is convicted in court, it will rise to pound 250,000,” he stressed.

Malas expressed hope that this increase will act as a deterrent to illegal animal trafficking.

“The source of the entry of the virus that causes foot-and-mouth disease is the illegal activity that was taking place along the ceasefire line. This illegal activity obviously must stop. If it does not stop, the risk of reintroduction of the virus will not stop either, because now the virus has entered the government controlled areas,” he explained.

Stressing the importance of paying compensations as quickly as possible, Malas referred to President of the Republic’s statement regarding the possibility of reviewing the amount of compensations.

As regards vaccinations, Malas noted that they have protected many units, adding that thanks to the vaccinations FMD has subsided in the areas where it initially started.

In his statements, Tsaltas told CNA that the number of affected units remains at 120, noting that the laboratory receives new samples constantly.

“But I have not been informed that another positive case has been found,’ he added, saying that the process runs continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Referring to Tuesday’s meeting at the Presidential Palace, he said that it was decided to tighten the measures to contain the foot-and-mouth disease.

‘Nothing changes. The same things apply, but we also asked for the contribution of the President of the Republic and primarily the Police and the National Guard to support the Veterinary Services so that they can do their job” he concluded.

The tourism sector is moving towards recovery, Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis said in a written statement issued on Thursday, expressing cautious optimism that the second half of 2026 will bring positive results.

The Deputy Minister attributed the slowdown recorded in the tourism sector during March and April to geopolitical developments in the Middle East region, following the publication of Statistical Service data on tourism revenues for March.

Koumis noted that 2026 started with positive prospects for Cypriot tourism, pointing out that tourist arrivals increased by 8.5% in January and by 9.5% in February compared with the same period last year.

He said the performance of the first two months of the year indicated that ‘Cypriot tourism was heading towards a third consecutive record year.’

However, he added that the figures for March and April were significantly affected by developments in the wider region. According to the Deputy Minister, the escalation in the Middle East in March led to a substantial reduction in flight schedules to and from Cyprus for about one week.

He also said that the temporary closure of airports in neighbouring countries, such as Israel and Jordan, had a negative impact on Cyprus.

Concluding, he said the government is working in coordination with all stakeholders to ensure that ‘Cypriot tourism achieves the best possible results in 2026.’

‘It is with satisfaction that we see the tourism sector moving towards recovery’, he said. ‘We remain cautiously optimistic that the second half of 2026 will bring positive results’, he added.

Turkey’s policies adversely affect Turkish Cypriots as well, by undermining their identity, restricting their freedoms, and depriving them of the full enjoyment of their rights as Cypriot and European citizens, Nicosia said, rejecting at the same time ‘unfounded allegations’ advanced by Trkeu during the Item 2 General Debate at the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Furthermore, Cyprus argued that ‘the international community must ensure that all Cypriots are afforded the same level of protection as in other situations of foreign military aggression and occupation’, while reaffirming its ‘steadfast commitment to a strong and credible multilateral human rights architecture, with the United Nations and its mechanisms at its core’.

In a Note Verbale dated 20 April 2026, addressed to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Permanent Mission of Cyprus requested the circulation of its response as a document of the sixty-first session of the Human Rights Council. Cyprus said it ‘fully supports the OHCHR’s role in promoting human rights, accountability, and the rule of law globally’.

Cyprus stressed that, ‘at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions,’ both the Human Rights Council and the OHCHR have ‘an important role to play in promoting and protecting human rights.’ In this context, Nicosia said that it remained ‘essential not to lose sight of the situation in Cyprus,’ referring in particular to ‘the ongoing violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law’ which, it noted, are ‘the direct result of Trkiye’s continued military occupation of one-third of the territory of a sovereign UN Member State, the Republic of Cyprus’.

Cyprus argued that ‘the international community must ensure that all Cypriots are afforded the same level of protection as in other situations of foreign military aggression and occupation’. It further warned that ‘the credibility of international law and the UN system would be seriously undermined’ if ‘aggressor states such as Turkey’ were allowed ‘to invoke the passage of time to deflect accountability and diminish the imperative to address these violations’.

Referring to the annual report of the OHCHR on the question of human rights in Cyprus, the statement said the report ‘highlights key aspects of the continuing violations stemming from the 1974 Turkish invasion and the ongoing military occupation of the northern part of the island’.

Cyprus ‘categorically rejected’ Turkey’s allegations, as well as Ankara’s ‘persistent promotion of a secessionist entity condemned by the UN Security Council.’ According to the Cypriot response, these actions amount to ‘an attempt to divert attention from Trkiye’s responsibility for the ongoing human rights violations in Cyprus’.

The statement also rejected Turkey’s position regarding intervention in Cyprus, saying that ‘Turkey’s claim to a unilateral right to invade and occupy Cyprus is untenable’. Cyprus said such a claim ‘runs counter to both reason and the fundamental principles of the UN Charter’ and is ‘unequivocally rejected’.

Cyprus described the 1974 Turkish invasion of the island as ‘an act of aggression and a clear violation of international law, the UN Charter, and the Treaty of Guarantee’. It added that the invasion, the occupation and the secessionist actions had been ‘repeatedly condemned by the United Nations,’ including through General Assembly resolution 37/253 and Security Council resolutions 541 and 550.

It is mentioned that the ‘unlawful military occupation of the northern part of Cyprus has affected all Cypriots.’ Beyond ‘the displacement of nearly one-third of the Greek Cypriot population,’ the statement referred to ‘the ongoing repression of the enclaved population’ and to what it called ‘a systematic policy of demographic and cultural alteration’. It said this included ‘the transfer of settlers’ and ‘the destruction of cultural and religious heritage’.

The Cypriot response also said Turkey’s policies ‘adversely affect Turkish Cypriots’ by ‘undermining their identity, restricting their freedoms, and depriving them of the full enjoyment of their rights as Cypriot and European citizens.’ It accused Turkey of keeping Turkish Cypriots ‘isolated’ and of effectively holding them ‘hostage to its pursuit of recognition for the illegal secessionist entity established in the occupied territory’.

Cyprus further stated that Turkey’s actions aim at ‘undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus’. It also referred to ‘the continued transfer of military equipment’ and ‘the establishment of military infrastructure in the occupied areas,’ which it said take place ‘under the direction and control of the Turkish military headquarters in Turkey’.

Concluding its response, Cyprus said that Turkey ‘must withdraw its occupying troops from Cyprus,’ ‘abandon its ‘two-state’ secessionist policy,’ and ‘enable the reunification of the island and its people’. It also called on Turkey to ‘comply fully with its obligations under international law’ and to ‘bring an end to the ongoing violations of the rights of all Cypriots’.

The European Union needs to act now as one in five Europeans is at risk of poverty or social exclusion and one in four children face the same situation, said on Thursday Permanent Secretary of Social Welfare Yiannis Nicolaides at the 24th European Meeting of People Experiencing Poverty held in Pervolia of Larnaca district.

The meeting, entitled ‘The Politics of Anti-Poverty: Participation, Power and Inclusion – From Lived Realities to Shared Priorities and From Priorities to Advocacy and Action’, is being held as the first EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, which attempts to reach the optimistic target, based on three priorities, quality jobs for all, effective access to quality services and adequate income support, and coordinated action against poverty, was adopted by the European Commission last month, during the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Addressing the meeting, Nicolaides said ‘a clear message is sent, that the European Union, needs to act now! Numbers speak for themselves! One in five Europeans is at risk of poverty or social exclusion and one in four children is at the same situation’.

Noting the Cyprus Presidency is placing high on the EU Political Agenda the first ever EU Anti-Poverty Strategy, Nicolaides said the momentum created by the new Social Package, including the first European Anti-Poverty Strategy, the Housing Initiative, the reinforcement of the European Child Guarantee and the strengthening of the Disability Strategy, all happened during Cyprus Presidency, provides us with a strong framework for action to strengthen the European Social Model in the effort to achieve the goal.

According to Nicolaides, the reality is that, despite all the positives, there is still a long way to go. ‘It is now up to all of us to turn the commitments and tools into tangible and lasting results, especially for children across Europe’ as indeed, now is the time to consider, how we move from Strategy to Reality, then to Positioning and to Action.

‘We must collectively and decisively continue our efforts to ensure a better future for all. A Europe that leaves no one-behind, ensuring social protection and social inclusion, easier access to social services, activation of people excluded by the labor market and living in dignity,” he said.

He emphasized that investing in eradicating poverty, especially for children, is not an obligation, but a necessary strategic investment for the future of Europe, which must be bravely supported.

In her welcoming speech, Eleni Karaoli, President of The National Anti-Poverty Network Cyprus (EAPN Cyprus) and vice President of the European Anti-Poverty Network, remarked that the meeting comes at a moment of renewed attention in Europe to the deep inequalities that undermine social cohesion and human dignity.

She recalled the founding principles of the European project that guide their, work, respect for human dignity, equality, solidarity, and the commitment to peace and prosperity through cooperation among states and peoples, noting these ‘principles are not abstract ideals. They carry obligations’.

In her address, Karaoli reminded that the Cyprus Presidency of the Council in 2026 sets priorities that resonate strongly with our objectives: competitiveness that is inclusive, sustainability, social cohesion, and strengthening the social dimension of the Union.

Referring to the EU’s first European Anti-Poverty Strategy she said it is not just a policy document; it is a signal of intent. It represents a continental recognition that poverty and exclusion are unacceptable and solvable through coordinated action. But strategy is only as good as its implementation. For us, the Strategy must mean concrete national plans that set clear targets, allocate adequate funding, and include robust monitoring and accountability mechanisms.

Karaoli called for national anti-poverty strategies that are co-created with people who have lived experience of poverty. These strategies should be backed by measurable targets – reductions in deep poverty, child poverty, homelessness, and severe material deprivation – and by timelines and budgets that make those targets achievable. She also proposed mechanisms for independent oversight and for complaints. However, to make this real, she added, it requires political courage and administrative capacity at national level. ‘When we lift people out of poverty, we strengthen economies, reduce social costs, and build resilient communities’, said Karaoli.

She urged all partners present – national authorities, EU institutions, civil society, and people with lived experience – ‘to seize this opportunity. Use the Cyprus Presidency’s momentum, shape the first European Anti-Poverty Strategy into a transformative tool, and commit to a model of governance where cooperation is not a slogan but a practice: co-design, co-deliver, co-assess’.

Cyprus recorded an early school leaving rate of 9.8% in education and training in 2025, remaining above the European target of 9% for 2030, according to data published on Thursday by Eurostat.

Although the rate in Cyprus showed an improvement compared with 2024, when it stood at 11.3%, it remains higher than the European Union average, which reached 9.1% in 2025. The data refers to young people aged 18 to 24 who have left education or vocational training early.

According to Eurostat, Cyprus is among the countries where the rate of early school leaving was higher in 2025 compared with 2015. Specifically, the rate increased by 4.6 percentage points over the decade, from 5.2% in 2015 to 9.8% in 2025, recording the largest increase among EU Member States. Germany followed with an increase of 3.0 percentage points and Austria with 2.7 percentage points.

At EU level, the early school leaving rate has steadily declined over the past ten years, from 11% in 2015 to 9.1% in 2025, moving closer to the 9% target set for 2030.

The data also show that 17 Member States have already reached the European target of 9%. The lowest early school leaving rates in 2025 were recorded in Croatia at 2.1%, Greece at 3.0%, and Ireland at 3.6%.

At the other end of the scale, the highest rates were recorded in Romania at 15.5%, Germany at 13.1%, and Hungary at 12.8%.

European competition policy must remain effective, predictable and able to respond to rapidly changing markets, officials said on Thursday, during a European Competition Conference, held in Nicosia, in the framework of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.

Opening the conference, Eva Pantzari, Chairperson of the Commission for the Protection of Competition of the Republic of Cyprus, said the event offered an opportunity to reflect on the present and future of competition enforcement in the European Union.

She said competition law was closely linked to the internal market, as it protects the competitive process, prevents distortions, safeguards openness and supports innovation, investment and consumer choice.

Pantzari noted that at a time of economic uncertainty, technological change and geopolitical pressure, effective competition enforcement was ‘not a luxury’ but an essential component of economic resilience, particularly for small and open economies such as Cyprus.

Cyprus, she said, faces challenges linked to limited market size, sectoral concentration, dependence on imports, transport and energy costs and exposure to external shocks. In such circumstances, she added, competition enforcement must be rigorous where required, but also grounded in evidence, economic reality and procedural guarantees.

Referring to the agenda of the conference, Pantzari said discussions would focus on abuse of dominance, merger control, judicial insights on EU competition law and the consumer goods dimension of competition enforcement in the single market.

She also said that the Cyprus Commission for the Protection of Competition remained committed to active participation in the European Competition Network and to closer cooperation with the European Commission and other national authorities.

Addressing the conference, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Kyriakos Iordanou, said fair competition was ‘the backbone of the European economic model’ and ensured that innovation thrives, consumers benefit and businesses compete on merit rather than market power.

He said the EU must safeguard the internal market while also remaining competitive globally, amid geopolitical volatility, changes in trade, sanctions, protectionism, tariffs and uncertainty over energy and fuel supply and prices.

Iordanou said the EU was advancing its competitiveness and strategic autonomy through initiatives such as the Single Market Strategy, the Foreign Direct Investment Screening Regulation, the Foreign Subsidies Regulation, the Digital Markets Act and revised merger guidelines.

He also referred to recent developments in the technology sector, including Chips Act 2.0 and the Cloud and AI Development Act, saying they were expected to place Europe on a different footing in global competition.

In a video message, Anthony Whelan, Director General for Competition at the European Commission, said the draft new EU Merger Guidelines, published for public consultation on April 30, represented the biggest overhaul of the EU merger framework in the past two decades.

He said the new approach would focus less on categories of mergers and more on their effects, while also placing greater emphasis on dynamic assessments, including innovation, future competitive constraints and potential pro-competitive benefits.

Whelan said the Commission aimed to have the final merger guidelines in place by the end of the year, following feedback due by June 26.

He also said the Commission expected to adopt, after the summer, its first guidelines on exclusionary abuses of dominance under Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

Referring to enforcement, Whelan said cases linked to the integration of the single market remained a priority, particularly in consumer goods markets, where territorial supply constraints can prevent distributors from sourcing products from Member States where prices are lower.

He said more action from DG Competition should be expected in this area, adding that while such cases may be ‘less flashy’ than digital ones, they were ‘extremely important for citizens’ wallets.’

The Republic of Cyprus currently holds the Presidency of the Council of the EU for a six-month term that started on January 1st, 2026, as part of a Trio Presidency along with Poland and Denmark.

The volume of retail trade in Cyprus recorded a decrease of 1.0% in April 2026 compared with March, while increasing by 2.7% year-on-year, according to data published on Thursday by Eurostat.

More specifically, the data show that the Cypriot retail market continued to record positive growth compared with the same month of 2025, although at a more moderate pace than in previous months. In March 2026, annual growth stood at 6.1%, while in February it was 5.0%.

On a monthly basis, Cyprus recorded a decline of 1.0% in April, following increases of 0.5% in March and 0.7% in February.

According to Eurostat, in the European Union the seasonally adjusted volume of retail trade decreased by 0.5% in April compared with March, while in the euro area the decrease was 0.4%. The previous month had recorded increases of 1.1% in the EU and 0.8% in the euro area.

On an annual basis, the calendar-adjusted retail sales index increased by 0.9% in the EU and by 1.0% in the euro area in April 2026 compared with April 2025.

Eurostat reports that the largest monthly decreases in total retail trade volume among Member States for which data are available were recorded in Denmark (-4.5%), Romania (-2.6%), and Belgium and Slovakia (both -1.8%). By contrast, the largest increases were observed in Lithuania (1.9%), Malta (1.0%), and France (0.3%).

On an annual basis, the highest increases were recorded in Lithuania (8.9%), Bulgaria (7.4%), and Luxembourg (6.6%), while the largest decreases were seen in Romania (-5.7%), Belgium (-2.1%), and Austria (-0.6%).

Inflation in May 2026 increased at a rate of 2.6% compared to May 2025 due to a significant increase in oil products prices.

According to CyStat (Statistical Service) the Consumer Price Index in May 2026 decreased by 0.06 points, reaching 102.74 units compared with 102.80 units in April 2026.

Compared with May 2025, the largest increases were observed in the categories Petroleum Products (22.9%) and Agricultural Goods (4.7%), while the largest decrease was observed in Electricity and Water (-3.7%).

Compared with April 2026, the largest increase was recorded in the economic category Electricity and Water (5.5%), while the largest decrease was observed in Agricultural Goods (-2.7%).

Analysis of Percentage Changes

Compared with May 2025, the largest changes were observed in the categories Transport (9.5%), Clothing and Footwear (-8.2%), Recreation, Sports and Culture (4.6%), Housing, Water, Electricity, Natural Gas and Other Fuels (4.2%) and Information and Communication (-4.2%).

In relation to April 2026, the largest changes were recorded in the categories Housing, Water, Electricity, Natural Gas and Other Fuels (1.8%) and Transport.

Analysis of Effects in Units

In addition, according to CyStat, the largest positive contribution to the change in the CPI of May 2026 compared with May 2025 was recorded in the categories Restaurants and Accommodation Services (3.15), Recreation, Sports and Culture (2.85) and Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (1.87), while the largest negative contribution to the CPI change of May 2026 compared with May 2025 was observed in the categories Health (-2.62), Information and Communication (-1.73) and Clothing and Footwear (-1.37).

The largest impact on the month-to-month changes in the CPI in May 2026 compared with April 2026 was recorded in the categories Housing, Water, Electricity, Natural Gas and Other Fuels (0.21), Transport (-0.18) and Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (-0.11).

The largest positive contribution to the change in the CPI of May 2026 compared with May 2025 was attributed to Recreation Services (2.90), while the largest negative contribution was attributed to Mobile Communication Services (-1.50).

Electricity (0.19) had the largest positive impact on the change in the CPI of May 2026 compared with the corresponding index of April 2026, while Vegetables (-0.60) had the largest negative impact.

A landmark decision in the European integration path of Ukraine and Moldova was reached on Wednesday evening, as the EU Committee of Permanent Representatives (Coreper II) under the Cyprus Presidency launched the process for the formal opening of Cluster 1 in the accession negotiations of both countries, a development made possible by Hungary’s change of position, after lifting its two-year veto on the process.

The shift came from Hungary’s new leader, Prime Minister Péter Magyar, who announced in a video statement the conclusion of a “comprehensive agreement” with Kyiv on expanding the linguistic, educational, cultural and political rights of the Hungarian-speaking minority in Ukraine. Hungary’s Permanent Representative withdrew his country’s reservations, prompting a last-minute change to the agenda and unblocking the procedural step that had been frozen for two years.

A Cyprus Presidency spokesperson, chairing the meeting, described the outcome as yet another success for the Presidency. “Today in Coreper, we initiated the process for the formal opening of Cluster 1 in the accession negotiations of Ukraine and Moldova, marking a significant milestone in their European integration path,” the spokesperson said, noting that the Cyprus Presidency, “guided by the merit-based approach, is delivering on enlargement, which is a strategic priority and one of the European Union’s most transformative policies.” The spokesperson added that “this positive development sends a strong message of unity and determination.”

Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European Integration, Taras Kachka, warmly thanked the Cyprus Presidency “for its efforts to advance the preparations for the opening of Cluster 1 in Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, as well as for its unwavering support for our European aspirations.” He stressed that “today’s step towards the formal opening of Cluster 1 brings us closer to our joint European future,” adding that “the future of the EU is stronger with Ukraine.”

Moldova’s Deputy Prime Minister Cristina Gherasimov also welcomed the development. “Moldova welcomes today’s launch of preparations for the formal opening of Cluster 1 in the accession negotiations with Moldova and Ukraine. We thank the Cyprus Presidency for its leadership and remain committed to our EU accession path, on the basis of our own merits,” she wrote.

The EU’s Common Position on Cluster 1 is expected to be formally adopted next week, pending internal Council procedures, with intensive working party-level discussions beginning on Thursday. The plan foresees two separate Intergovernmental Conferences on 15 June in Luxembourg, one for each country.

Cluster 1, known as “fundamentals,” covers the rule of law, human rights and the judiciary, and spans 33 chapters across six thematic clusters.

Nicosia has assessed positively, both at the business and political levels, the first visit of a President of the Republic of Cyprus to Astana, highlighting the high-level reception accorded to President Nikos Christodoulides and his delegation.

The President of Kazakhstan was formerly a senior United Nations official, government sources said, emphasising the significance of Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s reference to respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus. Astana’s positions, they added, have always been based on international law, partly due to Kazakhstan’s own sensitivities regarding similar issues.

‘We must be realistic’, the same source remarked, regarding Kazakhstan’s stance towards Turkey and any expectation that it might adopt a tougher position because of the Cyprus issue.

Since March 2024, Cyprus – Kazakhstan relations have been steadily strengthening through frequent contacts, the opening of embassies in Nicosia and Astana, the President’s visit, and the institutional framework for cooperation established through the memoranda signed between the two countries.

In a region where Cyprus was previously absent, momentum has now been created, the same sources stated, noting that such progress could not have been taken for granted until recently. It was also pointed out that the private meeting between the two Presidents lasted longer than originally scheduled.

Regarding the Caspian Middle Corridor, which was referenced by the President of Kazakhstan in his speech, government sources said that this concerns the maritime component of the project, for which no concrete developments have yet emerged.

It was further noted that Kazakhstan is seeking European Union funding for infrastructure projects through investments from European funds, should the EU decide to proceed with such financing.

Nicosia considers particularly significant the proposal made by the President of Kazakhstan himself for the creation of a roadmap for economic cooperation between the two countries, to be implemented by their respective Ministries of Foreign Affairs. Competent government sources stated that Cyprus’ diplomatic engagement in Kazakhstan, as well as in India last week, is helping to build stronger economic and trade relations.

Reference was made to the existing economic ties between the two countries, with sources noting that investments worth approximately US$5 billion are channelled into Kazakhstan through Cyprus. At the same time, interest has been expressed by the Kazakh side in investing in Cyprus in the fields of financial services, digitalisation and logistics, taking advantage of Kazakhstan’s strategic role as a major trade and transit hub between Central Asia and Europe.

The two countries will also examine the possibility of signing an investment protection agreement. Investments by Kazakh businesses in Cyprus amount to nearly US$2 billion, the same sources added, primarily in financial services and logistics, particularly those linked to the use of ports.