Category: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus’ Migration and International Protection Deputy Minister, Dr Nicholas Ioannides, is travelling to Luxembourg on Wednesday, to chair the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council – Home Affairs composition, which will take place on Thursday, under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

According to a statement by the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, the Council’s agenda includes migration, the overall state of the Schengen Area, internal security, and the fight against organised crime.

Regarding migration, the Ministers will be briefed on progress in implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which is due to come into force on 12 June 2026. The discussion will also cover developments concerning the revised Eurodac system, the EU database containing biometric data of asylum seekers and irregular migrants, ‘which constitutes a key component of the new European framework’, it said.

The Ministers will also exchange views on the external dimension of migration, with particular emphasis on cooperation with Somalia. ‘Strengthening cooperation with countries of origin and transit remains a central pillar of European migration policy, particularly in relation to preventing irregular migration, combating migrant smuggling networks, and improving the effectiveness of returns’, it adds.

Furthermore, the migratory situation on the English Channel will be discussed, as well as the future legal status of displaced persons from Ukraine.

Health ?inister Neophytos Charalambides is travelling to Riga on Wednesday to participate in the 12th High-Level Meeting of the Small Countries Initiative of the European Region of the World Health Organization (WHO). The Ministers will discuss the challenges faced by small countries in terms of staffing the health sector.

A Health Ministry press release says that the Minister will meet with his Latvian counterpart Hosams Abu Meri. During the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed between the two countries in the fields of Health and Medical Sciences, further strengthening the bilateral cooperation.

Charalambides will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts, with the aim of promoting cooperation and exchanging best practices in public health issues.

The Minister will then travel to Brussels to take part in the extraordinary informal teleconference of the EU Ministers of Health, June 5, on the Ebola outbreak in Central Africa.

Cyprus’ leading sustainability conference returns to Nicosia on June 4, 2026

The Green Agenda Cyprus Summit, the country’s largest sustainability conference, returns to Nicosia on June 4, 2026, under the theme ‘Transition as a responsibility (not a trend),” bringing together leading figures from the fields of sustainable development and innovation.

Among this year’s speakers are Kostas Bakoyiannis, former mayor of Athens and chair of the European Committee of the Regions’ ENVE Commission on Environment, Climate Change and Energy; Professor Dimitris K. Melissas, lawyer and managing partner at Dimitris Melissas and Partners; and Dr. Byron Ioannou, head of the Department of Architecture at Frederick University.

Bakoyiannis will speak about what ‘cities of the future’ really mean in everyday life, including for Athens and Cyprus. In a discussion with Professor Melissas and Dr. Ioannou, he will explore how cities can become more sustainable, greener, and better prepared for challenges such as heat, traffic congestion, and rising urban pressure.

The conversation will go beyond theory, focusing on practical issues, from better public spaces and easier mobility to urban planning that genuinely improves residents’ daily lives. It will also touch on what Cypriot cities can learn as they try to balance development with quality of life.

The Cypriot economy continues to demonstrate resilience despite risks stemming from the conflict in the Middle East, according to the European Commission’s assessment conducted under post-programme surveillance as part of the Spring European Semester.

The evaluation was carried out between March and April 2026 by Commission officials in cooperation with representatives of the European Central Bank, the European Stability Mechanism, and the International Monetary Fund.

According to the assessment, Cyprus’s real GDP growth reached 3.8% in 2025 and is expected to moderate to 2.3% in 2026 before rising to 2.7% in 2027, with private consumption remaining the main driver of economic activity. However, imported inflation is expected to erode real incomes, with inflation projected to reach 3.6% in 2026 due to higher energy prices before easing to 2.2% in 2027. Unemployment is forecast to stabilise at 4.2% in both 2026 and 2027, marking its lowest level in a decade.

Regarding public finances, the fiscal balance remained in surplus at 3.4% of GDP in 2025. Surpluses of 2.1% and 2.5% of GDP are projected for 2026 and 2027, respectively. Public debt fell below the 60% of GDP threshold at the end of 2025 and is expected to continue declining, reaching 50.4% in 2026 and 45.5% in 2027.

The banking sector remains strong, with capital buffers continuing to improve. The CET1 ratio-the key measure of banks’ capital adequacy-reached 25.8% in December 2025, which the Commission’s report notes is the highest level in the European Union. Return on equity stood at 14.2%, compared with an EU average of 9.6%. The non-performing loan (NPL) ratio fell below the EU average for the first time, reaching 1.6%.

However, the report expresses concerns about recent legislative initiatives by the House of Representatives of Cyprus regarding the foreclosure framework. According to the Commission, these measures ‘could significantly weaken the effectiveness of the existing framework’ and may negatively affect the completion of state-aid obligations, including the repayment of pound 1.8 billion in state support through KEDIPES.

The report also notes that Cyprus maintains a strong cash reserve of pound 1.7 billion and a healthy debt maturity profile. It highlights the successful issuance of a pound 1 billion 10-year government bond, which was oversubscribed 16 times-a record level of demand.

Cyprus’s credit rating remains in the ‘A’ category with all major rating agencies. As of November 2025, the country was rated: A by DBRS Morningstar (stable outlook), A- by S and P Global Ratings (positive outlook), A- by Fitch Ratings (positive outlook), A- by Scope Ratings (positive outlook), A3 by Moody’s Ratings (stable outlook).

The report notes that its macroeconomic projections are based on the European Commission’s Spring 2026 Economic Forecast, published two weeks earlier, and incorporate macroeconomic data available up to 4 May 2026.

Cyprus recorded an annual decline in industrial producer prices in April 2026, according to data published on Wednesday by Eurostat.

More specifically, industrial producer prices in Cyprus fell by 0.7% compared with April 2025, diverging from the overall upward trend observed in the EU (4.9%).

On a monthly basis, industrial producer prices on the domestic market in Cyprus rose by 0.3% in April 2026 compared with March, recovering from the previous month’s decline of 1.0%.

At European Union level, industrial producer prices increased by 0.7% in April 2026 compared with March, while in the euro area the increase stood at 0.6%.

On an annual basis, industrial producer prices rose by 4.9% in both the EU and the euro area compared with April 2025.

On an annual basis, the largest increases in industrial producer prices in the EU were recorded in Bulgaria (14.5%), Lithuania (13.1%) and Romania (11.5%), while declines were observed in Luxembourg (-3.7%), Estonia (-1.2%), Cyprus (-0.7%) and Latvia (-0.6%).

The largest monthly increases were recorded in Denmark (3.0%), Croatia (2.7%) and Belgium (2.4%), while the biggest decreases were seen in France (-2.1%), Estonia (-0.8%) and Sweden (-0.3%).

The culling of 6,000 animals in units affected by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is pending, while the second phase of vaccination is expected to be completed in 2-3 months, the President of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association (PVA), Dr. Demetris Epaminondas, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Wednesday, speaking of the measures decided during Tuesday’s expanded meeting regarding FMD at the Presidential Palace, in Nicosia.

Referring to the culling of animals, he pointed out that this is stipulated by European legislation where a case is found, adding that the President of the Republic yesterday took the decision for immediate culling in the units that tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease, in order to complete this process as well as the surveillance of the 10 km zones from the new cases found in Nicosia and Limassol.

At this moment, the number of animals that have been killed is around 70,000, while the killing of another 6,000 animals is still pending, Epaminondas said, underlining that this is expected to be carried out “as soon as possible, after suitable burial sites have been found and the crews are ready to kill these animals.”

“It must always be taken into account that the protection of the personnel carrying out the culling is the most important criterion,” he said, adding that the personnel would not go ahead “until the presence of the Police is ensured.”

In relation to the decision taken to prevent the movement of animals to the Turkish-occupied areas, Epaminondas explained that this should be done in two ways. The first is more effective surveillance of legal crossing points and the ceasefire line by the Police and the army, he noted, adding that the second way is to increase the fines imposed for such violations. He also expressed conviction that these measures will be stronger and will contribute to the intended goal, noting that the compliance of livestock farmers with these measures will be decisive.

Responding to a question, the President of the Pancyprian Veterinary Association said that animal vaccinations are progressing depending on the availability of vaccines, noting that there will be more vaccine deliveries within the month. Specifically, he said that at the end of this week, 500,000 doses of vaccines for ruminants (cattle, goats and sheep) will be received, adding that towards the end of the month, another 500,000 doses of vaccines for pigs will be received. ‘Therefore, the second phase of vaccination will be completed, the entire animal population nationwide will be vaccinated and we will probably have quantities left to be used in the third booster dose,’ he pointed out.

Asked when the second phase of vaccination will be completed, Epaminondas explained that there are some units that have not yet received some vaccines, adding that a small number of units have received the first dose of vaccines and are expected to receive the second dose. ‘We will certainly need another 2-3 months to complete the second phase of vaccination,’ he concluded.

Cyprus is expected to be among the countries with the most severe impacts on vulnerable households due to climate change, as it was reported today in a discussion at the extraordinary meeting of the EESC Workers’ Group, held in Nicosia as part of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

In the first part of the conference the impact on labour due to climate change was examined, through a presentation entitled “Climate Change and Labour: Costs of Action and Inaction, by Professor and Acting Director at the Cyprus Institute Theodoros Zachariades.

Through the presentation, Zachariades highlighted the costs of action and inaction in terms of social change in relation to labour productivity and worker health, noting among other things that heat stress harms health and that climate change undermines social justice. He said research has shown that “worker productivity decreases by 2-3% for every degree above 20 degrees Celsius”.

In relation to productivity at work, he said that a “negative footprint” is identified, particularly in relation to outdoor work, noting that the increased heat wave intensity already experienced in Cyprus increases the risk to workers both outdoors and indoors.

Secretary General of the Cyprus Workers Confederation (SEK) Andreas Matsas, referred to the agreement the unions achieved with the government, in order to avoid heat stress for workers. “It is part of the employer’s obligation to either take breaks of a certain duration or to stop work and this is monitored by the labour inspection department,” he said. He also indicated concern that while efforts were initiated for Europe’s energy self-sufficiency, “geopolitical developments and reversals have led to a diversification of priorities from issues related to green development to issues related to defence and military policy.”

The scenarios

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Regarding climate policies, Theodoros Zachariades said that they entail costs particularly for vulnerable households and that they increase inequalities, between the richest and poorest countries on the planet and, respectively, at the level of inhabitants.

As Zacharias said “lower-income countries experience a greater loss of biodiversity due to high consumption by rich countries, while on the other hand, inequality is reinforced within the country due to climate change”, since it is linked to increased costs of electricity, food and health services.

He noted that the impact of climate change by 2050 in an inaction scenario could reach pound 18.3 billion by 2050 and exceed pound 90 billion by 2100. The largest losses are expected in tourism, public health, labour productivity, energy consumption and agriculture.

On the contrary, investments in climate change adaptation are considered to be economically advantageous. It is estimated that around pound 4.1 billion will be needed by 2050, which represents only 0.5% of total GDP over the period. Without these investments, the damages would be at least 3.5 times higher by 2050 and more than 20 times higher by 2100.

According to Zachariades climate change damages without adaptation measures “will be at least 3.5 times higher by 2050, and over 20 times higher by 2100”.

In terms of additional adaptation investments in Cyprus up to 2050 are estimated at pound 4.1 billion (2023), or 0.5% of national GDP for the whole period. He noted, however, that less than 30% is currently planned, i.e. projects worth around pound 1.2 billion, and a gap of pound 2.9 billion is identified in terms of investment in adaptation projects.

“We need to compare the current costs with the costs of the new normal, which will be the additional climate-related damages over the next decade or two. I believe that we will only gain from the green transition,” he said.

He attributed his assessment to the fact that the benefits of avoiding fossil fuel imports outweigh the costs of imported technologies (solar panels, electric vehicles), and added that the benefits of adapting to climate change can help alleviate energy poverty (especially poverty in cooling capacity).

He also underlined that a key challenge for policy makers is to enable the benefits of the green transition to be spread throughout society, which translates into lower energy costs and increased resilience for vulnerable workers and households.

A draft Resolution on the impact of the 1974 Turkish invasion on the women and girls of Cyprus, condemning the illegal occupation and calling for the withdrawal of Turkish troops, was adopted on Wednesday by the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM) of the European Parliament.

The text was adopted with 28 votes in favour, 4 against and one abstention, and also includes a call for accountability, reparations, support for survivors, and meaningful participation of women in peace processes.

Rapporteur Eleonora Meleti (EPP, Greece) said “the Cyprus issue is inseparable from the principles of international law and European values,” adding that with this resolution “we are delivering on that promise ensuring that the suffering and resilience of Cypriot women and girls is finally recognised at European level.”

Cypriot MEP (DISY, EPP), Loucas Fourlas, stressed that “today is a historic day for Cyprus, a day of vindication for the hundreds of women, mothers, grandmothers and sisters who were raped by the Turkish army in 1974.”

According to the draft Resolution, MEPs condemn the Turkish invasion and the ongoing occupation, as well as crimes attributed to Turkish forces, highlighting the long-term consequences for women and girls in Cyprus.

It refers also to conflict-related sexual violence, forced displacement, family separation, psychological trauma, stigma, and long-term socio-economic impacts that persist over time.

The text condemns the use of sexual violence as a weapon, describing it as a serious violation of the Geneva Conventions, and calls for recognition, accountability, and comprehensive support for survivors and their families.

At the same time, MEPs call for strengthened EU support for the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, as well as for victim support services such as psychosocial care, trauma-informed counselling, and programmes addressing intergenerational trauma.

In the same context, they call for the resumption of talks on the reunification of Cyprus under the auspices of the United Nations, as well as the withdrawal of all Turkish troops from the island. The MEPs reiterate that the solution must be fair, comprehensive, sustainable and democratic, based on a bicommunal, bizonal federation with political equality, as provided for in relevant UN Security Council resolutions.

The draft resolution also foresees the full, equal and meaningful participation of Cypriot women in all peace processes, as well as reparations measures.

It expresses support for the initiative to erect a monument in Nicosia in honour of women victims of sexual violence, as well as for the formal recognition of victims’ testimonies.

In addition, it supports the organisation of a high-level public hearing with the participation of survivors of conflict-related sexual violence from around the world, and in particular from Cyprus, representatives of civil society, women’s organisations and experts in international criminal law, with the aim of formally recognising their testimonies and experiences within the institutional framework of the European Union and highlighting the gravity of the 1974 Turkish invasion.

After the vote, rapporteur Eleonora Meleti said that “following the Women’s Rights and Gender Equality Committee mission to Cyprus last year, we made a commitment to listen to survivors and bring their voices into the heart of European action.”

“The Cyprus issue is inseparable from the principles of international law and European values,” she stressed. Today, with this resolution, she added, “we are delivering on that promise ensuring that the suffering and resilience of Cypriot women and girls is finally recognised at European level.”

In related statements, Cypriot MEP (DISY, EPP), Loucas Fourlas, stressed that “today is a historic day for Cyprus, a day of vindication for the hundreds of women, mothers, grandmothers and sisters who were raped by the Turkish army in 1974.”

He added that the European Union ‘does not forget,’ underlining that the responsible must be held accountable even decades later. He stated that through the resolution, the women of 1974 have been vindicated. ‘Those who were raped, those who were abused by the Turkish army,’ he said.

He referred to a commitment made the previous year, which, as he noted, is now being fulfilled.

The MEP also stated that Turkey, even 51 years later, must pay.

It is noted that the draft resolution will be submitted for debate and vote at a forthcoming plenary session of the European Parliament.

Expected staff shortage of almost one million by 2030, including nurses and doctors

Call to increase the number of healthcare workers by at least one million over the next seven years

Increase EU funds for health to ensure investment in the healthcare workforce

The Committees on Employment and Social Affairs and on Public Health adopted proposals to address healthcare sector staff shortages and inadequate working conditions.

The Committees on Employment and Social Affairs and Public Health adopted a report on Wednesday by 85 votes in favour, three against, and with two abstentions, to guarantee the sustainability of healthcare systems and improve employment and working conditions in the healthcare sector.

One million extra healthcare workers

MEPs are asking the Commission for an ambitious strategy to increase the healthcare workforce by at least one million during the next multiannual budgeting period (2028-2034). To increase the number of healthcare professionals, MEPs propose action to attract more young people to the healthcare professions, EU funds for scholarships, cross-border cooperation, and targeted measures to guarantee fair pay and job stability.

Better working conditions

Healthcare workers should have fair remuneration, mental health support, and job security, MEPs say, while emphasising need for high-quality education and training for staff. They also want support for rare specialties and advanced practice roles.

Safeguarding the well-being of frontline staff is a major priority, according to MEPs, as one in three doctors and nurses experience mental health challenges. They call for an obligatory framework to recognise unsafe staffing levels as an occupational hazard, to relieve the physical, psychological and administrative burden faced by healthcare workers.

More funds for healthcare

The report stresses the need for adequate financing to sustain healthcare systems, including increased public funding and the strategic use of EU funds, as well as an increase in the allocation and efficient use of dedicated EU funding.

Use of AI to support healthcare

While human care should remain central, MEPs recognise the benefits of digital health solutions, such as telemedicine and AI-supported diagnostics, also to support rural areas where the workforce deficit is particularly acute.

Workers should be equipped with essential digital skills and training when it comes to AI, for example in relation to AI-supported diagnostics and to make sure they can use new technologies effectively.

Quote

Ruggero Razza (ECR, IT), rapporteur for the Public Health Committee, said: ‘The future of European healthcare depends on our ability to invest in people. Healthcare professionals are the backbone of our healthcare systems, and tackling workforce shortages must become a strategic priority for Europe. We need to make healthcare professions more attractive, strengthen education and training pathways, and create the conditions that allow talent to stay and thrive within our healthcare systems’.

Next Steps

The report still needs to be endorsed by Parliament as a whole. It is expected to be tabled for the upcoming plenary session in July.

Background

The EU is facing a severe healthcare workforce shortage: there was a deficit of 1.2 million workers in 2022, with an expected deficit of almost one million by 2030 in the European region according to the WHO, as demographic changes and rising long-term care needs are exacerbating the demand for care. Potential risks arising from staff shortages include compromised patient safety, overcrowded emergency services, long waiting times, and delayed diagnoses.

The new President of the House of Representatives will be elected via electronic voting for the first time, said DIKO MP Zacharias Koulias, who, as the senior member of the House, presided on Wednesday over the briefing meeting of the parties regarding the procedures for the election of the new President, which will take place on Thursday afternoon.

As Koulias explained, in the event of a tie between two candidates in a second runoff vote, a lottery will follow, to be conducted by the presiding MP.

He also noted that the new regulations provide for the election of a Deputy President of the House, as well as a deputy to the deputy.

‘The process began yesterday. We were briefed by the staff on the procedure we will follow, pursuant to the new regulation, which was enacted for the first time,’ Koulias stated initially.

‘The old system is being phased out and the new regulation is being followed,’ he added.

As the DIKO MP noted, the new regulation stipulates that the 56 members of parliament will be announced by name, followed by a confirmation of their candidacy, and then a vote.

He added that candidates for the House presidency will be nominated by those present, and once they accept their nomination, a vote will be held.

‘If one of our colleagues secures 29 votes-which is the magic number-then they will be the new President of the House. If not, then a vote will follow between the two leading candidates,’ noted Koulias.

He also clarified that if some candidates tie, the vote will be repeated by the entire body, followed by the regular vote. If there is still a tie at the end, then a lottery will be held.

Asked who would serve as the President’s deputy in their absence, Koulias said that ‘the new rules provide for the election of a deputy and a deputy to the deputy.’

Koulias clarified that the election of deputies is not included in tomorrow’s proceedings: ‘Tomorrow’s agenda includes the election of the President of the House of Representatives, and next Thursday will be the regular session. These are procedural matters, there is time.’

‘Each member of the House will have the candidates listed before them and will vote with the push of a button,’ he said regarding tomorrow’s vote.

In conclusion, Koulias noted that it is at the discretion of the presiding MP to grant a recess after each vote, so that there is time for the necessary consultations and deliberations among the members of Parliament and the parties.