Category: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus’ unemployment rate dropped to 4% in the first quarter of 2026, down from 5% in the corresponding period of 2025, according to Labour Force Survey results released by the Statistical Service of Cyprus on Friday.

The number of unemployed persons declined to 21,246 from 26,161 a year earlier, reflecting continued resilience in the labour market amid strong employment growth.

Total employment rose to 510,265 persons in the January-March 2026 period, compared with 493,272 in the first quarter of 2025, while the employment rate increased to 62.1% from 61.2%.

The labour force reached 531,511 persons, accounting for 64.7% of the population, up from 519,433 persons or 64.4% a year earlier.

Employment among people aged 20-64 climbed to 81.5%, compared with 80.0% in the same quarter of 2025. The employment rate for men stood at 86.0%, while for women it reached 77.3%. Among those aged 55-64, the employment rate rose to 70.9% from 69.9% a year earlier.

The services sector continued to dominate the labour market, accounting for 81.8% of total employment, followed by industry with 16.3% and agriculture with 1.9%.

Part-time employment represented 8.9% of total employment, corresponding to 45,173 persons, broadly unchanged from 8.8% in the first quarter of 2025.

Employees accounted for 90% of all employed persons, with 14.5% of them working under temporary contracts, up from 12.9% a year earlier, indicating a rise in flexible forms of employment.

Despite the overall improvement in labour market conditions, youth unemployment increased during the quarter. Among people aged 15-24, the unemployment rate rose to 13.1% from 11.2% in the first quarter of 2025. Youth unemployment stood at 15.8% for men and 10.5% for women.

As regards unemployment duration, 63.9% of unemployed persons had been seeking work for less than six months, while 20.3% were classified as long-term unemployed, down from 23.5% a year earlier.

The EU’s future competitiveness will depend on investments in knowledge, human capital, and strategic technologies, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Nikodemos Damianou said on Friday, in Brussels.

Damianou was speaking during a press conference after the EU Competitiveness Council (Research) concluded, focusing mainly on the progress of the ‘Horizon Europe’ programme, science diplomacy, and strengthening the competitiveness of European research.

He said that it had been a productive session, stressing that it was the last Council meeting on research under the Cyprus Presidency.

He noted that today’s agenda reflected the Presidency’s key priorities concerning competitiveness, knowledge, and innovation in the EU.

Regarding the ‘Horizon Europe’ programme, the Deputy Minister said that substantial progress had been achieved in the negotiations under both the Danish and Cypriot Presidencies, with most technical issues having been stabilised. He added that today’s exchange of views provided political guidance on the remaining issues, such as alignment with the European Competitiveness Fund, European partnerships, widening participation, and collaborative research and innovation.

The Deputy Minister underlined the need to accelerate procedures in order to achieve a timely agreement and avoid uncertainty for researchers, innovators, and industry, with the aim of ensuring the smooth launch of the programme in 2028.

Recommendation on science diplomacy

Damianou stated that a Council Recommendation on science diplomacy had been approved, aiming to strengthen international cooperation in research and promote a more coordinated European approach amid increasing geopolitical competition in science and technology.

He also stressed that this framework would utilise science and innovation as tools to promote European values, strategic interests, and technological sovereignty, while at the same time safeguarding research security.

The Recommendation, he continued, is aligned with the Presidency’s overarching motto, ‘An Autonomous Union, Open to the World’ – outward-looking rather than inward-looking. ‘Implementation now becomes the priority, together with the Member States, the Commission, and the European External Action Service, in order to turn the framework into concrete actions,’ he added.

In closing, the Deputy Minister stated that the discussions confirmed the shared commitment of Member States to strengthening Europe’s leadership in research and innovation, noting that the EU’s future competitiveness will depend on investments in knowledge, human capital, and strategic technologies.

Approximately 3,000 people in Cyprus and 3 million people worldwide live with multiple sclerosis (MS) or sclerosis multiplex, a chronic neurological disease with diverse and often misleading symptoms, making early diagnosis critical but also particularly challenging.

According to the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF), approximately one person is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis every five minutes worldwide, and the disease affects both adults and children, with at least 30,000 people under the age of 18 living with the disease.

As the data show, 69% of patients are women, while 31% are men, with 83% of countries reporting difficulties in timely diagnosis.

At a press conference held on Friday to mark World Multiple Sclerosis Day, the Cyprus Multiple Sclerosis Association called for better training of healthcare professionals regarding the disease, as well as the promotion of new research and clinical developments in the field of multiple sclerosis.

The design of public works must take into account people’s actual needs, promoting safety, functionality, and easier daily mobility, said the Minister of Transport, Communications and Public Works, Alexis Vafeadis, in his address.

‘Accessibility is not just a formality. It is a prerequisite for dignity, autonomy, and active participation,’ he explained.

‘No policy can be comprehensive unless it is shaped through dialogue with the people it affects. That is why cooperation with the Ministry of Health, the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare, and the Cyprus Multiple Sclerosis Association is essential, so that our interventions respond to the real needs of everyday life,’ he further noted.

Cyprus, as the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, is leading substantive consultations aimed at ensuring the competitiveness of European shipping, said Deputy Shipping Minister Marina Hadjimanoli, in her speech at the 18th Efkranti Awards Ceremony, which took place on Thursday in Athens.

According to the Deputy Minister, who represented the Republic of Cyprus at the ceremony, the Efkranti Awards have now established themselves as a leading institution for the Greek shipping community, highlighting individuals who, through their work and contributions, make a substantial contribution to the progress and development of shipping.

‘For all of us who serve this dynamic and multifaceted industry with a sense of responsibility, supporting such initiatives is both a duty and a responsibility. Tonight’s event is not merely an opportunity to recognize prominent figures in the shipping sector. It also highlights the timeless and unbreakable bond between Shipping and Culture, two concepts inextricably linked to the historical course of Greece and Cyprus,’ she continued.

‘Greece and Cyprus, two nations with a long-standing maritime tradition, share common principles and values and are bound by strong historical and fraternal ties. Together we have achieved much, and together we can achieve even more for the sustainable development of European and global shipping,’ she noted.

She added that the exchange of knowledge, expertise, and scientific training highlights seafaring as a driver of progress, innovation, and cultural heritage, while at the same time, creating the conditions for the challenges of our time to be transformed into opportunities for growth and development, while the decisive role of seafarers is increasingly recognized.

‘Cyprus, as the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, is leading substantive consultations aimed at ensuring the competitiveness of European shipping, promoting the green and digital transition, and maintaining a level playing field for European shipping companies’, noted Hadjimanoli.

She added that, at the same time, particular emphasis is placed on addressing the shortage of officers and seafarers, upgrading skills and maritime education, as well as promoting gender equality in the shipping sector.

She also expressed satisfaction for the signing of the Nicosia Declaration last month by all European Union member states.

‘The Declaration highlights the strategic importance of maritime and shipping professions at a time of intense geopolitical developments, technological transformations, and increased demands for the green and digital transition,’ she stressed, adding that at the same time, it addresses common and substantial challenges, such as the skills shortage, the aging of the maritime workforce, the growing risks to seafarers’ safety, and the historically low participation of women in the maritime profession, particularly at sea.

‘Undoubtedly, the shipping industry continues to operate in an environment of heightened uncertainty, characterized by geopolitical tensions and instability in international markets. However, the shipping sector has consistently demonstrated its resilience and adaptability, maintaining a stable, reliable, and competitive operating environment even during periods of crisis and international challenges. The future of shipping will be built on cooperation, trust, and collective effort. We all have a responsibility to invest in the sustainable development of this strategically important sector, which we serve with consistency and dedication,’ the Deputy Minister concluded.

Alexis Vafeades, Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, will be in Brussels on Monday, June 1, to participate in the final stage of the legislative discussion on air passenger rights in the European Union with the European Parliament and the European Commission.

European Parliament and EU Council negotiators are meeting for a critical conciliation committee meeting to finalize the updated Air Passenger Rights Regulation.

One of the main points under discussion is compensation thresholds, with member states (EU Council) wanting to raise the delay threshold for receiving compensation from 3 hours to 4-6 hours, while the Parliament is firmly rejecting this rollback.

The Minister, a press release said, will return to Cyprus on Wednesday.

Greece donated 67,000 euros to the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) in Cyprus.

A post on X by the Embassy of Greece in Cyprus says that the voluntary contribution is for the year 2026 and that Greece supports the important humanitarian work carried out by CMP.

The Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus is a bi-communal body established in 1981 by the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities with the participation of the United Nations.

Its objective is to recover, identify, and return to their families, the remains of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots who went missing during the periods of 1963 to 1964 and during the Turkish invasion of 1974.

Cyprus stands in full solidarity with Romania and the families of the injured, the Presidency of the Republic said Friday referring to the drone crash in a residential building in Galati.

It noted that European coordination in responding to evolving security challenges is crucial.

“The drone crash in a residential building in Galati is a serious and reckless escalation, a flagrant violation of Romania’s sovereignty, and a stark reminder that Russia’s war against Ukraine continues to threaten European security,” the Presidency stressed.

It concluded by saying that “European coordination and solidarity in responding to evolving security challenges is crucial. Cyprus stands in full solidarity with Romania and the families of the injured”.

Weather Temperature for Cyprus

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

Date 29/05/2026

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The government places particular emphasis on the responsible development of the aggregates sector President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Friday, addressing the General Assembly of ‘Aggregates Europe’, organized in Larnaca by the Cyprus Quarries Association. He added that the sector must be developed in a sustainable and environmentally responsible manner to support economic growth, progress and social cohesion.

Christodoulides said that aggregates are becoming critical not only for the European economy, but also for the strategic future of Europe, adding that with cooperation and consensus the sector stands ready to contribute to the resilience, competitiveness and strategic autonomy of Europe.

The President praised the role of the President of Aggregates Europe, Cypriot Antonis Latouros, saying that it is a fundamental role in shaping European industrial policy, a role with great influence in promoting sectors that are important to the economy and society.

Referring to Europe and its path towards its green and digital transition, he said that the importance of raw materials is becoming even more evident as renewable energy infrastructure, transport networks and digital technologies depend on secure and sustainable access to raw materials.

He went on to say that the government is working to improve the efficiency and predictability of licensing procedures, promote the rehabilitation of quarry sites and support the transition to circular economy practices, including the recycling of construction and demolition materials.

The President also said that businesses in Cyprus are investing in innovation, reducing their environmental footprint and collaborating with local communities, adding that these efforts demonstrate that economic growth and environmental sustainability can and must go hand in hand.

He also said that it is important to have secure, sustainable and diversified access to raw materials for Europe’s competitiveness and future resilience. He added that governments, industry and European institutions must work together to address common challenges, relating to access to resources, licensing procedures and environmental issues.

Cyprus’ Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry Michael Damianos stressed the importance of strengthening Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy amid geopolitical uncertainty, speaking to the press ahead of the Competitiveness Council (Internal Market) in Brussels on Thursday morning.

“It is extremely important for Europe to strengthen its competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy” Damianos said, noting that the Council’s work is focused on the Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA) and the 28th regime, as a follow-up to the political message of “one Europe, one market,” with the aim of advancing discussions as much as possible within the remaining month of the Cyprus Presidency.

The Minister noted that this is the final Competitiveness Council meeting under the Cyprus EU Presidency, stressing that “in the last few months, our discussions have been both focused and necessary.” As he put it, “under great geopolitical uncertainty, Europe has to strengthen its competitiveness, strategic autonomy and resilience.”

The broader mood among Ministers arriving at the Council reflected a sense of urgency around the revision of Europe’s industrial policy tools. With the IAA as the central item on the agenda, discussions are expected to focus on which countries and products would fall under a “made in Europe” framework, and whether this should be extended to a “made with Europe” concept, as pushed by countries such as Germany, to include like-minded partners like the United States.

Ministers will also take up the question of low-carbon criteria and the risk of Single Market fragmentation, as well as the competitive challenge posed by third countries such as China. The China question is also expected to feature prominently on Friday, when the College of Commissioners has scheduled a dedicated in-depth discussion on the topic.