Category: Cyprus News Agency

The European Union stands ready to support the transformation of shipping into an industry with cleaner fuels, energy efficiency and innovation, European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, said on Wednesday speaking at the “Maritime Cyprus 2025” Conference, in Limassol.

This year’s theme, ‘Unlocking the future of shipping’, he said, aligns well with the pressing challenges the international shipping sector is facing today. Shipping is a sector undergoing profound transformation.

“The European Union stands ready to support this shift with both ambition and accountability. The European Ocean Pact is a flagship initiative of my portfolio. It is a comprehensive strategy that brings together policies aiming to protect the ocean, promote a thriving and sustainable blue economy, and support the well-being of coastal communities,” the Commissioner noted.

Here in Cyprus, “where almost half of the population lives in coastal areas, these policies have a direct impact on people’s daily lives,” he said, adding that “it is ultimately these communities that are the driving force behind achieving the ambitions of the European Ocean Pact. To support them further in their development and help them tackle their challenges, the Commission will present a new Strategy for EU Coastal and Island Communities”.

“Europe leads the way in high-quality maritime services, advanced ship management, cutting-edge ports and logistics, and in pioneering digital and safety standards. By fostering innovation in cleaner fuels and smarter technologies, we can also secure Europe’s leadership in the global maritime transition,” the Commissioner continued.

In his speech, he said that in the coming months, the Commission will present two interlinked strategies: the European Maritime Industrial Strategy and the EU Ports Strategy. For the maritime industry, priorities will include strengthening shipping capabilities, bolstering shipbuilding and repair capacity, driving digital and green innovation, and securing the skills and investments crucial for these strategic sectors. For ports, we aim to reinforce their role as trade and energy hubs, prepare them for military mobility, ensure robust and sustainable operations, and modernise infrastructure to seamlessly connect Europe to the world, he said.

In the long term, the Commissioner noted, the future of shipping relies on cleaner fuels, energy efficiency and innovation. The European legal framework is setting the sector on a credible course towards climate neutrality, adding that at the same time, we are investing in research and innovation, through Horizon Europe and other instruments, to accelerate the use of renewable fuels and green technologies.

In just a few days, he said, the International Maritime Organisation will hold a decisive meeting to adopt the Net-Zero Framework for international shipping. “A successful outcome in London will be pivotal in steering the sector towards decarbonisation and ensuring global solutions for this international industry, thereby preserving a level global playing field” Kadis said.

Another key driver, Kadis noted, is digital transformation. “Initiatives such as the Maritime Single Window environment, as well as broader EU efforts on data spaces and artificial intelligence, will enhance efficiency, safety and transparency of shipping operations. Likewise, aligning ship finance so that capital markets and EU financial tools can support the sector’s transition is essential,” he went on to say.

Our transformation, he pointed out, cannot succeed without skilled and motivated individuals.

“That is why the EU remains dedicated to supporting seafarers, through training, fair working conditions, and by recognising that their role is essential, especially during crises and ongoing geopolitical disruptions. Their tenacity and expertise remain the backbone of global shipping,” the Commissioner noted.

“Today we are shaping the future of shipping, here in Cyprus, across Europe, and across the world. By embracing innovation, championing sustainability, and empowering those who work at sea, we can ensure that shipping remains a vital force for our economies, societies and communities for generations to come,” he continued.

Referring to Cyprus, he said it is home to shipowners, operators, classification societies and to a highly skilled workforce whose impact on the competitiveness of European shipping is widely recognised.

“At the same time, Cyprus plays a strong role in shaping the future of international shipping at the International Maritime Organisation, in Brussels and beyond,” he underlined.

Minister of Transport, Communications and Works, Alexis Vafeades, will travel to Brussels tomorrow, Thursday, to participate in the Global Gateway Forum (GGF2025), which will take place on October 9-10.

According to a press release by the Ministry, this year’s Forum, building on the success of its inaugural edition in 2023 that boosted the European Union’s external investment initiatives, will focus on promoting global connectivity amid geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges.

The Minister of Transport, Communications and Works will take part in the Forum as a speaker in the thematic session ‘Driving sustainable and strategic transport connectivity’ on October 10.

Vafeades will also represent the Republic of Cyprus in discussions concerning connectivity, geopolitical infrastructure, and the promotion of strategic cooperation in the Mediterranean region.

On the evening of October 9, the Minister will attend an official dinner hosted by European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela.

Minister of Energy, Commerce, and Industry, George Papanastasiou, will participate in the Cyprus-Greece Business and Investment Forum, on Thursday, in Athens.

According to a Ministry press release, the Forum, which is organised by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Invest Cyprus, Enterprise Greece, and the Cyprus-Greece Business Association, is under the auspices of First Lady Philippa Karsera Christodoulidou.

“As part of the Forum’s proceedings, Papanastasiou will deliver a speech highlighting the strong relations between Cyprus and Greece, as well as opportunities for further strengthening cooperation in the areas of investment, entrepreneurship, and innovation,” the press release says.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 08/10/2025 UNTIL 1800 09/10/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1011hPa (hectopascal)

Low pressure is affecting the area. Today, increased cloudiness will occur at times. Local showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected, mainly over the western and northern areas.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 26°C

Warnings: NIL

The funeral of former MP and former Vice-President of the Democratic Rally (DISY), Katie Clerides, who passed away on Monday at the age of 76, was held in deep sorrow, in the presence of President of the Republic, the President of the House of Representatives, leaders and representatives of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot parties, current and former MPs and a large crowd.

Eulogies were delivered by the President of DISY and House President, Annita Demetriou, Meltem Onurkan-Samani, a friend of the deceased and founder of the Cyprus Peace and Dialogue Centre (CPDC), and Andia Ioannides Charaki, a friend of the deceased. A poem was read by her maid of honour, Androula Shati.

In her eulogy, Annita Demetriou said – among other things – that ‘Katie Clerides never fit into stereotypes, she did not fit into titles, she did not fit into boxes, because she was and will always be something much more, a rare person, a special friend and a great colleague,’ she pointed out.

‘Her greatest desire was to see her country free and reunited. She never stopped hoping and working hard for this, until her last breath,’ she noted.

‘She opened roads, she knew how to build bridges, she brought groups of Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots together. She believed in dialogue, she believed in coexistence,’ Demetriou said.

In her eulogy, Meltem Onurkan-Samani said that Katie Clerides remains ‘through all these years a role model enlightening our mission toward peace, a real peace, one grounded on honesty and human dignity.’

‘You were always frank in saying that the majorities were not ready for a peace accord, even 60 years after 1964, yet you never stopped working for it. You were eager to build understanding where others only built rhetoric,’ she emphasised.

On her part, Andia Ioannides Charaki said that Katie Clerides’ books reflect her thoughts and experiences on conflict resolution, social justice and reconciliation, noting that her political action focused on the rapprochement of the two communities towards a common homeland with equal rights.

“Katie Clerides was a beacon of hope, endurance and unwavering dedication to justice. She was modest, far from showing off, always correct and an idealist,” she said. “She did not hesitate to politically judge those who deviated from the principles of her party and deviated from the correct, exemplary political principles that they should respect,” she pointed out.

Katie Clerides, was the daughter of former President of Cyprus Glafcos Clerides. She was born in London on May 10, 1949. She had served three terms as a Democratic Rally MP in the 1990s and early 2000s and was the first woman Vice President of the party. She was a strong advocate for the reunification of Cyprus and rapprochement between Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots. She also championed causes to do with human rights and animal rights.

Renowned Cyprus Professor Kypros Nikolaides, basen in the UK, was elected an external member, in the Medical Sciences section, of the Cyprus Academy of Sciences, Letters and Arts.

The selection took place during during the 66th plenary session of the Academy on September 17, following a proposal by the Order of Positive Sciences.

A press release says that Professor Nikolaides is internationally recognized as a leader in fetal medicine and prenatal surgery and his numerous contributions include the establishment of methods for detecting structural and chromosomal abnormalities, as well as effective intrauterine therapeutic interventions, namely fetal blood transfusions and endoscopic laser separation of communicating placental vessels in monochorionic twins.

Professor Nikolaides is internationally recognized as the founder of the measurement of nuchal translucency, the diagnostic technique that contributes to the early detection of genetic mutations associated with Down syndrome, while he is a pioneer in the research and applications of Cell Free DNA testing for the detection of chromosomal abnormalities in a woman’s peripheral blood, the press release reads.

He is a Professor of Fetal Medicine, Director of the Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King’s College Hospital and Founder/Director of the Fetal Medicine Foundation.

His numerous awards include the Excellence in Sciences, Letters and Arts of the Republic of Cyprus, the Gold Cross of the Order of the Phoenix of the Hellenic Republic, the Ian Donald Gold Medal, the Eardley Holland Gold Medal, the European Maternity Prize, the Erich Sailing Prize, as well as Honorary Doctorates from the Universities of Cyprus, Athens, Thessaloniki, Cairo, Warsaw, Bucharest, Amsterdam, Buenos Aires, among others. He has been elected as a member of the US National Academy of Medicine.

The European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings by sending a letter of formal notice to Cyprus, along with Bulgaria, Denmark, and France, for failing to correctly transpose the provisions of the Firearms Directive (Directive (EU) 2021/555).

The Directive establishes common minimum standards for the acquisition, possession, and commercial exchange of civilian firearms, such as those used for sport shooting and hunting. According to the Commission, the Directive maintains high security standards and protection against criminal acts and illicit trafficking of firearms.

Following the issuance of the formal notices, the member states now have a two-month deadline to respond and address the shortcomings identified by the Commission. If their responses are deemed unsatisfactory, the Commission may proceed with issuing a reasoned opinion, the next step in the infringement process.

The Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE) All Share Index closed at today`s stock exchange meeting as follows:

MEETING DATE: 08/10/2025

INDICES BASE VALUES: FTSEMed=5000, OTH

The current account balance and the international investment position (IIP) of Cyprus recorded an improvement, while its gross external debt decreased in the second quarter of 2025 (Q2 2025), according to provisional data for external statistics for Q2 2025, released by the Statistics Department of the Central Bank of Cyprus on Wednesday.

In particular, the current account balance of Cyprus recorded an improvement, with the deficit decreasing from pound 341.7 million in Q2 2024, to pound 257.3 million, in Q2 2025.

The resulting deficit adjusted for the impact of Special Purpose Entities (SPEs), that is, classifying SPEs as non-residents, stood at pound 280.9 million in Q2 2025, compared with a deficit of pound 363.6 million in Q2 2024.

The international investment position (IIP) recorded an improvement in Q2 2025, presenting a net liability position of pound 30,094.9 million, compared with a net liability position of pound 30,420.9 million in Q1 2025.

With the corresponding data being adjusted for the impact of SPEs, IIP recorded a net liability position of pound 11,480.9 million in Q2 2025, compared with a net liability position of pound 11,871.7 million, in Q1 2025.

The gross external debt decreased to pound 232,988.2 million in Q2 2025 from pound 233,599.8 million in Q1 2025. The external assets in debt instruments decreased to pound 223,083.6 million, from pound 223,482.2 million in Q1 2025. Consequently, the net external debt decreased by pound 213.0 million to pound 9,904.6 million in Q2 2025.

Adjusted for the impact of SPEs, gross external debt reached pound 59,044.1 million in Q2 2025, compared to pound 59,569.7 million, in Q1 2025. The corresponding net external debt indicator decreased to -pound 24,313.4 million in Q2 2025, compared with -pound 23,924.4 million in Q1 2025.

Both the Prime Minister of Greece and the President of the Republic of Cyprus have expressed their positions on the issue, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos said on Wednesday, in relation to the European Commission’s response to a question by the Cyprus News Agency on the Cyprus-Greece electricity interconnection project, known as GSI.

In statements after a meeting with the General Secretariat of SEK trade union on the tax reform, and, asked by a journalist to comment on the position expressed by the European Commission through a spokesperson to a question by CNA on the implementation of the Cyprus-Greece electricity interconnection (GSI), the Minister said: ‘All I can say is that very recently, at the highest level, both the Prime Minister of Greece and the President of the Republic have expressed their positions on the issue called GSI.’

He noted that he had nothing to add.

Earlier, the European Commission, through a spokesperson’s response to the Cyprus News Agency, expressed its expectation for all parties to commit to the rapid implementation of the GSI, following recent developments and statements from Nicosia and Athens. The Commission emphasised that any additional delay harms all sides involved.

In its response to CNA, the Commission notes that ‘we expect all Parties to commit to an as rapid implementation of the project as possible. Ultimately, any further delay is to the detriment of the parties involved.’