Category: Cyprus News Agency

April ended with a 16% decrease in passenger traffic and an aircraft load factor of 76% at Larnaca and Paphos airports, compared to 83% during the same period last year, according to Hermes Airports, which notes, however, that from April 20 onward, arrival load factors have improved to between 80% and 85%, while key tourism markets such as the UK and Poland are performing particularly strongly, with load factors exceeding 90%.

It is also noted that Cyprus’s connectivity remains robust, with 54 airlines operating flights to and from Cypriot airports to 165 destinations in 42 countries. Meanwhile, it is noted the company has been assured that fuel stocks are sufficient, and there has been no impact on flight schedules due to fuel-related issues, adding it is closely monitoring the situation and will provide an update if deemed necessary.

Regarding recent reports on passenger traffic, the company notes in a statement that April of this year closed with a 16% decrease compared to the same month in 2025, representing a decrease of 95,000 arriving passengers in absolute numbers.

‘Aircraft load factors averaged 76% across both airports, down from 83% during the same period last year,’ it is added.

Regarding airlines’ flight schedules for the current summer season, April-October, Hermes Airports reports that some adjustments have been made, with the reduction in total seats not exceeding 5% (600,000 seats), while expanded flight schedules have been announced for September. The estimated loss of passengers for this period is around 9%, or approximately 450,000 arriving passengers.”

Encouraging, it is noted, is the fact that over the last 15 days, that is, from April 20 onward, arrival load factors have ranged between 80% and 85%, while in key tourist markets such as the United Kingdom and Poland, load factors exceed 90%.

The country’s connectivity, the statement continues, remains strong, with 54 airlines operating flights to and from Cypriot airports to 165 destinations in 42 countries, adding that most of the recent adjustments involve fewer reductions in weekly frequencies rather than the cancellation of routes.

Indicatively, Hermes Airport states that for flights to Cyprus airports in May from the UK market, the average number of flights is 30 per day with a passenger load factor of 92%, from Israel 20 flights per day with a 60% passenger load factor, Poland 9 flights per day with a 93% passenger load factor, and Germany 8 flights per day with an 86% passenger load factor.

It is also noted that through ongoing engagement with airlines and tour operators, as well as targeted promotional campaigns, a wide range of offers is being made available for the summer season, initiatives that ‘aim to encourage travelers to choose Cyprus as their next destination, while also supporting outbound travel for the Cypriot public.’

We recognize,” the company’s statement continues, “that this year presents new challenges, following two consecutive record-breaking years for both tourism and passenger traffic. In this context, it is essential to act in a coordinated, realistic, and decisive manner to reverse the current trend and stimulate demand.’

It is further noted that ‘maintaining current connectivity, strengthening targeted promotion in key markets, supporting airlines in a meaningful way, and extending the tourism season remain key priorities.’

‘Through collective effort and timely interventions, we can capitalize on the opportunities of the year, mitigate pressures, and lay the groundwork for sustainable growth in the coming years,’ the statement concludes.

Today, the Commission is launching a consultation on the draft revised European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) and a voluntary sustainability reporting standard for smaller companies.

ESRS cover environmental, social, and governance issues, including climate change, biodiversity and human rights. These standards provide information for investors and other stakeholders to understand the sustainability-related risks to which companies are exposed and their impacts on people and the environment.

Building on the Omnibus I simplification package and the streamlined scope of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the draft standards published today aim to cut administrative burden for EU businesses while maintaining high-quality sustainability disclosures.

The draft revised ESRS are shorter and clearer, add new flexibilities, and streamline key processes. They are expected to cut per company reporting costs by more than 30%, reduce mandatory datapoints by over 60%, and cut total datapoints by over 70%.

The standards are largely based on the technical advice of EFRAG (previously known as European Financial Reporting Advisory Group) informed by stakeholder input gathered in spring 2025 and a public consultation on EFRAG’s draft in summer 2025.

The Commission is proposing targeted adjustments to further reduce burden without weakening the CSRD’s objectives of improving the quality, consistency, and comparability of sustainability reporting across the EU and increasing transparency on companies’ sustainability impacts and risks.

The draft voluntary standard will support companies outside mandatory CSRD reporting and establishes a ‘value chain cap’, preventing CSRD in-scope companies from requiring more information from value-chain partners with 1,000 employees or fewer than what the voluntary standard covers.

Stakeholders can provide feedback via the Have Your Say portal until 3 June 2026; the Commission will then adopt the two delegated acts as soon as possible and submit them to the European Parliament and Council for scrutiny under the no-objection procedure (two months, extendable by a further two).

Further information on the ESRS revisions and draft voluntary standards, as well as questions and answers regarding the ‘value chain cap’, are available online.

Today, Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, is in Ankara to exchange on EU-Trkiye cooperation and issues of shared interests for the wider Mediterranean region. Trkiye is a key partner for the European Union – geographically, strategically, politically, and economically. Commissioner Šuica will meet with Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, Minister of Family and Social Services Mahinur Özdemir Göktas, and Minister of Interior Mustafa Çiftçi.

The Commissioner will address key issues of common interest like migration and security, and potential triangular cooperation under the Pact for the Mediterranean in areas such as energy, connectivity and investment. Through triangular cooperation, the Pact has also the potential to expand its scope beyond the southern Mediterranean, building on synergies with other EU initiatives. Participation of other partners in the region can also be explored, such as with Trkiye or the Gulf countries.

More broadly on the situation in the region, the Commissioner seeks to discuss ongoing support, recovery and reconstruction of Gaza as well as the peaceful and genuinely inclusive transition and socio-economic recovery of Syria.

Commissioner Šuica will give a statement to the press, which will be available at 17:30 CEST on EBS.

Commissioner for Economy and Productivity, Implementation and Simplification, Valdis Dombrovskis, will participate in the 2026 Brussels Economic Forum, taking place tomorrow in Brussels.

For more than 25 years, this Forum has brought together high-level European and international policymakers, academics, civil society, and business leaders to have forward-looking discussions on key issues for the European economy. This year’s edition will explore how Europe can harness artificial intelligence (AI) to boost competitiveness, productivity, and equitable growth. The speakers will exchange on topics such as the effects of AI on the future of work or the impact of AI on environmental sustainability.

Commissioner Dombrovskis will join a panel discussion on the economic impact of AI, assessing how it is transforming Europe’s economy and labour market dynamics. The session will explore the opportunities and challenges of building a competitive and inclusive AI-driven economy in Europe, including its effects on productivity growth, workforce adaptation, and economic inequality. The discussion will also address strategic priorities for the EU, such as balancing innovation with regulation, ensuring fair labour market transitions, and safeguarding public finances in an AI-driven future. The panel will be streamed live here, at 11:00 CEST.

In addition to Commissioner Dombrovskis, speakers in the event will include Nobel Prize Winner in Economics Philippe Aghion and Prime Minister of Luxembourg Luc Frieden, amongst other participants from the European Parliament and prestigious universities and think tanks. The full list of speakers and the programme is available on the Brussels Economic Forum website.

Tomorrow, the European Commission and the European Central Bank (ECB) will jointly host their annual conference on European financial integration.

This year’s event will focus on pensions, banking, and other key building blocks for advancing the Savings and Investments Union (SIU), the Commission’s flagship initiative to expand financial opportunities for EU citizens and strengthen the financial system’s ability to connect savings with productive investments.

Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, Maria Luís Albuquerque, and ECB Vice-President Luis de Guindos will give keynote speeches alongside policymakers and representatives from industry and civil society.

The panel discussions will examine how to rethink pensions for a more entrepreneurial Europe, and how a more integrated banking sector could strengthen the competitiveness of the EU economy as part of the wider aim to build a Savings and Investments Union.

The conference marks the launch of the Commission’s annual European Financial Stability and Integration Review (EFSIR). This year’s edition reviews market developments, financial stability and integration in the EU from 2025 to the first quarter of 2026. In addition, it assesses the financial conditions of non-financial corporations in the EU and takes stock of the funded pensions landscape across the Union.

Today, the European Commission has unveiled an ambitious social plan aimed at helping to eradicate poverty and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities across the EU. The package includes the first-ever EU anti-poverty strategy – the Commission’s plan to help end poverty in the EU by 2050; a proposal for a Council Recommendation on fighting housing exclusion; and two communications: one on breaking the cycle of child poverty – strengthening the European Child Guarantee – and one on reinforcing the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities up to 2030.

With 52% of Europeans citing the cost of living as their top concern, the EU is tackling three urgent challenges: a housing crisis (lack of affordable housing is seen as an immediate and urgent problem by 40% of citizens, and 1 million are homeless); barriers to participation to a rapidly changing labour market; and poverty, affecting 1 in 5 Europeans – and 1 in 4 children.

In addition, many socio-economically vulnerable people are also exposed to discrimination and stigma. More needs to be done to ensure their rights are safeguarded. That includes the rights of persons with disabilities which must be fully realised in every aspect of life.

European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, said: ‘Poverty and exclusion are challenges we can and must overcome. Today, we put forward a strategy to prevent and reduce poverty. We are taking decisive action with a strengthened Child Guarantee, better prevention of homelessness and full inclusion for persons with disabilities. Dignity, opportunity, and equality. These are key values in the Europe we are building.’

A comprehensive approach to eradicate poverty

The EU anti-poverty strategy sets a clear path toward closing in on the EU target laid out in the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan of reducing the number of people at risk of poverty and social exclusion by at least 15 million by 2030, as well as helping eradicate poverty by 2050.

It integrates three priorities: quality jobs for all, as quality employment is the first way out of poverty for those who can work; effective access to quality services and adequate income support; and coordinated action against poverty.

The strategy lists a series of key actions to achieve these priorities. To break the cycle of poverty at every age, the Commission will, for instance, consult social partners on a possible new legal instrument to integrate persons excluded from the labour market. The strategy also lays out ways to support older people through adequate pensions. In addition, it stresses the need to join forces with national, regional and local governments, businesses and civil society to combat poverty, including by establishing a coalition against poverty later this year and a new structured dialogue to consult people experiencing poverty on relevant policies.

Breaking the cycle of child poverty: strengthening the European Child Guarantee

Children in the EU are at a higher risk of poverty or social exclusion than adults, with no meaningful decline in child poverty over the past five years.

The European Child Guarantee is the EU’s main tool to support children in need, in particular through free and effective access to services like early childhood education, healthcare and school meals. The Commission has now proposed to strengthen the guarantee to address the social emergency of persistent child poverty and the needs of vulnerable children. The focus is on securing families’ access to quality jobs, childcare and strong safety nets and improving access of children to mentoring programmes and mental healthcare. Furthermore, the Commission will pilot with Member States a European Child Guarantee Card to facilitate access to services and a coherent support for children in need. In addition, protecting children from online and offline threats, including exploitation and abuse, is key.

Fighting housing exclusion

Housing is a fundamental right – yet housing prices have surged by 60% since 2013 and Europeans face increasing obstacles to access proper housing. The proposed Council Recommendation on housing exclusion emphasises long-term solutions and prevention, to prevent housing exclusion and homelessness. It also promotes more social and affordable housing and takes a people-centred approach to support people finding a place to call home. It marks one of the deliverables of the first-ever European Affordable Housing Plan which the Commission put forward in December 2025 to comprehensively tackle the housing crisis affecting millions of Europeans.

Boosting accessibility and inclusion for persons with disabilities

With 90 million people – over 1 in 5 Europeans – living with a disability, full inclusion is imperative both to ensure rights are respected and also to boost Europe’s economy and democracy. Yet barriers remain: only 55% are employed, compared with 77% of persons without a disability; 1.4 million persons with disabilities still live in institutional settings; and 1 in 3 are at risk of poverty, nearly double the EU average.

To turn rights into reality, the Commission will step up our ambition and our implementation. Our actions include the EU-wide roll out of the European Disability Card and Parking Card, launching an Alliance for Independent Living to replace institutions with community-based support, improving transport accessibility and investing in assistive technologies such as AI tools.

Next steps

The Commission will support all actors in rolling out the EU anti-poverty strategy and the strengthened European Child Guarantee. Member States will discuss the Commission proposal for a Council Recommendation on fighting housing exclusion for its adoption by the Council. The Commission will also continue to support Member States in their full and effective implementation of existing legislation on disability while coming forward with an updated monitoring framework for the strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities 2021-2030.

Background

The EU uses a headline indicator to measure the risk of poverty or social exclusion, combining the three factors: relative monetary poverty, severe material and social deprivation, and very low work intensity.

In 2021, the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan announced an EU headline target on poverty reduction: reducing the number of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion by at least 15 million by 2030. Out of those, at least 5 million should be children.

The EU anti-poverty strategy and strengthening of the European Child Guarantee were announced in the 2024-2029 political guidelines. In the 2025 State of the European Union address, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the EU’s goal to end poverty by 2050. A study by the Commission’s Joint Research Centre helped shape the strategy, demonstrating that an additional 0.25% of EU GDP could help 18 million people escape poverty. In addition, the Commission also surveyed almost 42,000 children aged 8-17 from all EU countries to gather their views on poverty and social inclusion.

Today’s Communication on Enhancing the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities up to 2030 is a renewed commitment by the Commission to push for the implementation of the 2021-2030 EU Disability Strategy, responding to recommendations from the United Nations, as well as calls from persons with disabilities and their representative organisations, the European Parliament and the European Economic and Social Committee for stronger implementation and renewed action. It is part of the EU’s broader Union of Equality objectives.

The leaders of Jordan, Cyprus and Greece have emphasized the importance of elevating their trilateral cooperation to more effective levels to strengthen their collective capacity to address regional challenges and serve the interests of their countries.

Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Nikos Christodoulides, President of the Republic of Cyprus, and Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, met in Amman on 6 May for the 5th Trilateral Summit within the trilateral mechanism framework, to review the course of their partnership and assess the progress achieved since the Summit held in Nicosia in November 2024.

In a Joint Declaration, the three leaders pointed out that “recognizing that this Summit is convened amid a rapidly evolving international and regional landscape, marked by increasing political, economic, and security challenges, we emphasize the importance of elevating our trilateral cooperation to more effective levels to strengthen our collective capacity to address these challenges and serve the interests of our countries”.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, they said that “we emphasize our support to a just, comprehensive and viable settlement of the Cyprus issue, in accordance with international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, which provide for bicommunal, bizonal federation”.

“We underline that all unilateral measures or acts that are inconsistent with relevant United Nations resolutions and international law, or undermine efforts towards a negotiated peaceful solution must cease. We stress the important role of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) in safeguarding peace and stability in line with the United Nations’ purposes and principles. We also stress that a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus issue will not only benefit the people of Cyprus but will also significantly contribute to regional peace and stability. Towards this end, we reaffirm our steadfast support to the ongoing UN-facilitated negotiation efforts,” they added.

They expressed their satisfaction with the progress achieved in trilateral cooperation and reaffirm their commitment to further advancing the existing institutional frameworks, including the Permanent Secretariat in Nicosia, in a manner that enhances coordination, and delivers tangible and practical outcomes.

In addition, they reaffirmed their determination to increase cooperation in the key sectors of trade, energy, investment and culture.

“We will also strengthen our collaboration in strategic priority areas, including enhancing supply chain resilience, supporting the security of trade routes, and developing transport and logistics infrastructure in a manner that reinforces economic interconnectivity, and positions the Eastern Mediterranean as a vital hub linking Europe and the Arab region,” they said.

They also emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation in the areas of food and water security.

The three leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the principles underpinning their cooperation, foremost among them are respect for international law, the United Nations Charter, the maintenance of international peace and security, respect for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of states, the prohibition of the acquisition of territory by force, the promotion of friendly relations among nations, and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

They expressed their deep concern “over the dangerous escalation in the Middle East and its severe humanitarian, economic and security consequences” and ” stress the need to intensify international efforts to advance de-escalation endeavors and reinforce regional peace and stability”.

“We also emphasize the importance of sustaining the ceasefire between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and working towards a comprehensive and lasting solution on grounds that would prevent the recurrence of tensions and ensure respect for international law, state sovereignty, non-interference in internal affairs, and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, in accordance with international law and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (1982),” they stated.

The three leaders stressed the need for concerted regional and international efforts to sustain the ceasefire in Lebanon and ensure compliance with all its terms and to support the Lebanese government in exercising its sovereignty over all its territory, ensure that arms remain exclusively in the hands of the state, and to continue supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces.

“We stress the importance of an effective regional and international humanitarian response to the mounting humanitarian crisis resulting from the displacement of over a million Lebanese citizens. We commend, in this regard, the initiatives undertaken by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, including the organization and delivery of humanitarian aid convoys to Lebanon in cooperation with 11 countries and the European Union, the aerial dispatch of humanitarian aid, and financial material support provided by the Hellenic Republic and the financial and material support from the Republic of Cyprus,” they added.

The three leaders emphasized furthermore that the “implementation of the two-state solution, so that an independent, sovereign Palestinian state on Palestinian national soil can live in peace and security side by side with Israel, on the basis of international law and relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions, is the only path to a just and lasting peace”.

They condemned “all illegal unilateral Israeli measures in the occupied West Bank, including in East Jerusalem, that undermine the two-state solution. We emphasize the illegality of Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territory and the necessity of stopping all settlement activity, land confiscation, and the escalating extremist settlers’ violence against Palestinians. We reiterate our rejection of all attempts and measures to annex the occupied West Bank or any parts thereof. We stress our rejection of any displacement of the Palestinian people,” they said.

Moreover, they emphasized “the necessity of upholding the Historic and Legal Status Quo at Jerusalem’s Muslim and Christian holy sites, and of allowing safe access thereto. Cyprus and Greece reaffirm their support of the historic Hashemite Custodianship of Muslim and Christian holy sites in Jerusalem”.

They urged the full implementation of US President Donald Trump’s comprehensive plan for Gaza and United Nations Security Council Resolution 2803, with a view to ending “the dire humanitarian crisis, the creation of conditions conducive to early recovery, reconstruction, and the establishment of a credible pathway to Palestinian self-determination and statehood. We underscore the importance of ensuring the continued, sufficient, safe, and unhindered flow of humanitarian assistance into the Gaza Strip”.

In addition, they underlined the indispensable role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Regarding Syria, they emphasized that Syria’s security, stability, and prosperity are key for regional stability.

“We stress our support for the Syrian Government in its efforts to rebuild Syria on an all-inclusive, Syrian led and Syrian-owned basis that guarantees its security, stability, unity, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and fulfills the aspirations of all Syrians and preserves their rights. We are determined to continue supporting efforts aimed at recovery, reconstruction and institutional building in Syria, and stress the importance of upholding good neighborly relations in accordance with all aspects of international law,” they said.

They also stressed the importance of the full implementation of the Roadmap announced by Jordan, Syria and the United States, and endorsed by the European Union, to end the crisis in Suwayda and stabilize southern Syria.

“Furthermore, we categorically reject any separatist agendas, all unilateral actions, and interference in Syria, urging Israel to withdraw from occupied Syrian territory and, respect the 1974 Disengagement Agreement,” they added.

Furthermore, they warne against ” the serious consequences of the decline in support for Syrian refugees and underline the importance of sustaining international support to refugees and host countries, to help efforts to meet the needs of refugees and maintain the resilience of host communities. Greece and Cyprus express appreciation of the role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in hosting Syrian refugees”.

The Joint Declaration also referred to the Cyprus EU Presidency, saying “we commend the assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union by the Republic of Cyprus as of 1 January 2026, and express our confidence in its ability to play a pivotal role in advancing collective European action, particularly in addressing evolving regional and international challenges. We reaffirm our support for the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency, including strengthening stability and security in the Eastern Mediterranean, addressing migration and asylum challenges, enhancing cooperation with neighboring regions, and advancing the green and digital transitions within the European Union”.

The three leaders welcomed the Pact for the Mediterranean “as an important framework for strengthening cooperation between the European Union and its Southern Neighborhood”.

Moreover, they welcomed the inauguration of the Cyprus Regional Aerial Firefighting Station (CRAFS), officially launched on 23 April 2026 in the city of Paphos, “underscoring that this center represents a significant step in strengthening civil protection mechanisms and rapid disaster response in the Eastern Mediterranean region, and contributes to enhancing cooperation between EU Member States and neighboring countries in addressing climate-related challenges”.

The three leaders also emphasized “the importance of the significant progress our partnership has witnessed since the launch of the first Trilateral Summit in 2018. We reaffirm that the trilateral cooperation mechanism remains a flexible and dynamic framework, reflecting our shared commitment towards building a long-term strategic partnership that contributes to enhancing stability and prosperity in the Eastern Mediterranean”.

Finally, they agreed to convene the 6th Trilateral Summit in the Hellenic Republic next year.

A total of 261 candidacies from 18 party lists, along with four from independent candidates, have been submitted for the 24 May Parliamentary Elections in the Nicosia electoral district, the Returning Officer in that district, Andreas Hadjipakkos, announced on Wednesday.

In statements following the expiration of the nominations deadline, Hadjipakkos said a total of 261 candidacies have been submitted from 18 party lists and four individual independent candidates, he said. He added that 180 candidates, or 69%, are men, while 81 candidates, or 31%, are women.

Hadjipakkos further explained that, based on the provisions of the elections legislation and the number of registered voters, the number of parliamentary seats allocated to the Nicosia district amounts to 19. Eleven party lists are contesting the elections with a full slate of 19 candidates, one list has 16 candidates, one has 11, one has 9, one has 5, one has 4, one has 2, and one list has a single candidate, he added.

He noted that the names of the candidates will be posted at the nomination venue and at the offices of the Nicosia District Administration.

He also said that any voter may submit an objection to any candidacy within 24 hours from the deadline for submission of nominations, that is, from 12:30 pm Wednesday until 12:30 pm on Thursday, 7 May 2026, specifying the grounds on which the objection is based.

Any objections submitted will be examined as quickly as possible so that the candidacies can be finalised and the printing of the ballot papers can proceed, he concluded.

Addressing the housing crisis through coordinated European action and increased supply of affordable homes is a key priority of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Interior Minister, Constantinos Ioannou, said on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Permanent Committee on Cadastre conference and the plenary meeting in Paphos, Ioannou stressed that housing has become one of the most pressing social, economic and political challenges across the EU.

‘Access to affordable, adequate and sustainable housing is not only a social right, but a prerequisite for social cohesion, economic stability and trust in public institutions,’ he said.

He noted that rising property prices and rents, increasing construction and energy costs, limited access to financing and persistent supply shortages have created a complex crisis affecting particularly young people, low- and middle-income households and vulnerable groups.

Ioannou welcomed the European Commission’s European Affordable Housing Plan, describing it as a significant step towards establishing a comprehensive framework to address housing affordability, focusing on boosting supply, mobilising investment and supporting vulnerable groups.

He said the Cyprus Presidency fully supports the initiative and aims to advance it through dialogue and consensus-building among member states, with the objective of delivering concrete and implementable solutions.

Outlining the Presidency’s priorities, Ioannou highlighted four key areas. First, ensuring access to affordable, adequate and sustainable housing for all, with emphasis on young people and vulnerable groups. Second, strengthening investment in the housing sector by mobilising public and private resources, improving the use of EU funding tools and developing innovative financial instruments.

Third, increasing housing supply through new construction, renovation of existing buildings and better utilisation of underused properties, supported by modern technologies and sustainable practices. Fourth, enhancing the collection and use of reliable data and promoting the exchange of best practices among member states.

Ioannou underlined the critical role of land registry and cadastral systems, noting that effective housing policy depends on transparent property markets, clear ownership structures and accessible, high-quality land data.

‘Without reliable land information and efficient land administration systems, housing development cannot proceed effectively,’ he said. He added that such systems also support faster planning and permitting processes, improve transparency for investors and citizens, and contribute to sustainable urban development.

The ?inister stressed that tackling the housing crisis requires political will, coordinated action and the right policy tools, reaffirming the Cyprus Presidency’s commitment to working with EU institutions, member states and stakeholders to achieve tangible progress.

The two-day meeting in Paphos brings together key actors in land governance and spatial data, aiming to contribute to policy discussions and share best practices across Europe.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 06/05/2026 UNTIL 1800 07/05/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1015hPa (hectopascal)

Weak high pressure is expected to affect the area. The weather will be mainly fine but at times increased cloud will be present.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 20°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Night Northwest to Northeast 3 Smooth to Slight

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon West to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Slight

South Coast

Night West to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Morning Northwest to Northeast 3 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Slight

East Coast

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Morning Northwest to Northeast 3 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, at times locally 4 Slight

North Coast

Night Southeast to Southwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon West to Northwest 3 to 4, at times locally 4 Slight

CNA/PC/GV/2026

Cyprus’ Law Commissioner, Sophia Kleopa Hadjikyriakou, welcomes her admission as an Institutional Member of the European Law Institute (ELI), as part of her efforts to strengthen the institution within the European legal community and to enhance cooperation with other European legal bodies, according to an announcement issued by her Office here today.

It is noted that the ELI is an independent, non-profit organisation based in Vienna, which aims to improve the quality of the law. Its membership includes various bodies such as the European Parliament, the Court of Justice of the European Union, Supreme Courts of several countries, universities, bar associations, and others.

‘The inclusion of the Law Commissioner in the ELI is a particularly significant development in the execution of her legislative drafting and reform work, as cooperation with other expert bodies and distinguished institutions enhances expertise and specialisation, promotes and leds to the adoption of best legislative practices and proposals, and supports the modernisation of the law based on international and European standards,’ the statement notes.

Furthermore, it is pointed out that, through her admission to the ELI as an institutional member, the Law Commissioner enjoys full voting rights, ‘demonstrating that the Republic of Cyprus can actively participate in the modernisation of law at a European level, and can also help shape the legislative framework as an equal institutional partner alongside other major institutions, thereby strengthening its international presence.’

Kleopa Hadjikyriakou expresses her ‘sincere thanks’ to the ELI for her admission and the trust shown, as well as to the Cyprus Bar Association, it adds, noting that her participation strengthens cooperation with key European institutions and expands the ability to promote the legal positions and proposals of the Republic of Cyprus at a European level.

Attorney General George Savvides and Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Savvas Angelides are in Brussels for the 17th Meeting and General Assembly of the Network of Prosecutorial Authorities or equivalent institutions at the Supreme Courts of the EU Member States (Nadal Network). The meeting will take place between 6 and 8 May.

A press release from the Law Office says that the main topic of discussion will be the challenges that the Rule of Law is called upon to manage and ways in which the Nadal Network can contribute to strengthening it.

The Nadal Network brings together the Supreme Prosecutorial Authorities from all EU MS.

The right of every European to remain and build their future in the place they call home took centre stage at a high-level event held today at the European Parliament in Brussels, marking the launch of preparations for the EU’s “Right to Stay” strategy. Cyprus’ Finance Minister Makis Keravnos, speaking on behalf of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, stressed that freedom of movement remains one of the EU’s great achievements, but underlined that “mobility must remain a choice and not a necessity.”

Also addressing the event were European Commission Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto, President of the European Committee of the Regions Kata Ttto, and former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta, author of the report on the future of the Single Market.

Drawing on findings from the High-Level Group report on the future of cohesion policy, Keravnos noted that more than 60 million EU citizens live in regions where GDP per capita remains below its 2000 level, while a further 75 million live in regions with near-zero growth. “This is not simply an economic statistic. It is a signal of structural divergence, territorial imbalance, and growing inequality of opportunity,” he said, warning that if left unaddressed, these trends risk creating a “new geography of discontent”, a Europe where entire regions feel excluded from progress and citizens lose trust in the European project.

The Finance Minister recalled that when the Single Market was established in 1988, cohesion policy was introduced as its essential counterpart, to ensure that integration would benefit all regions. “Today, this balance must be reaffirmed and remains more relevant than ever,” he added.

Turning to the chronic challenges facing island, sparsely populated, cross-border and mountainous regions, such as economic stagnation, demographic decline, brain drain, and gaps in services and infrastructure, Keravnos argued that “when opportunities are unevenly distributed, people feel pressed to leave their homeland for more attractive areas and therefore lose their right to stay.” He also highlighted the growing affordable housing crisis in urban centres, which is increasingly pushing young people and middle-income households out of their communities.

Keravnos defended cohesion policy as the instrument that transforms the right to stay from a principle into a tangible reality, through investment in jobs, education, innovation, infrastructure and essential services. He warned that “without targeted, place-based support, these transitions risk widening regional disparities rather than reducing them,” and cited the Draghi report in arguing that “a fragmented Europe cannot be a competitive Europe.”

On the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency, Keravnos announced that Cyprus will host an Informal Ministerial Meeting on cohesion policy on 4 and 5 June 2026, focusing on the right to stay and the specific challenges of island regions. A high-level event dedicated to the new EU strategies for islands and coastal communities is also planned for later that month. Closing his remarks, the Minister stressed that “the success of European integration should not be measured only by how easily people can move, but also by how confidently they can choose to stay.”

At the same event, Executive Vice-President Fitto presented the Commission’s framework for the strategy under preparation, noting that “one in three Europeans, 149 million people, lives in a region that has lost population over the past two decades.” He announced the launch of a public consultation open until early June, inviting citizens, regions and member states to contribute to shaping the strategy, and revealed that the Commission had conducted a Eurobarometer survey of 50,000 Europeans on the factors influencing their decision to remain in or leave their region, with results expected shortly.

Returning Officer Antonis Economides said that candidacies were submitted from 17 party combinations. Twenty-nine candidates or 70.7% are male and 12 or 29.3% are female.

Of the 56 seats at the Cyprus Parliament, three will be occupied from candidates running in Keryneia.

Economides moreover said that eleven combinations are running in the elections with three candidates,while two combinations consist of two candidates, each. Four combinations consist of only one candidate, each.

Objections can be made within 24 hours and will be examined promptly so that ballot papers could be printed in the next days.