Category: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus Independence Day, was celebrated in Brussels, on Wednesday, during an event in front of the Manneken Pis, the iconic statue-symbol of Brussels, which was dressed with the traditional Cypriot vraka.

The event, held during early afternoon on Wednesday in Brussels, drew a large crowd of Cypriots. The Republic of Cyprus and its Permanent Representation to the EU were represented by Ambassador Petros Mavrikios, Head of the Cyprus Mission to the EU’s Political and Security Committee (PSC). The City of Brussels was represented by Karin Lalieux, City Councillor responsible for Culture. Also present were members of the Order of Friends of Manneken Pis, as well as Nicolas Edelman, the Official Dresser of the statue.

In his remarks, Ambassador Mavrikios thanked the City of Brussels for its warm welcome and hospitality.

“Today, we celebrate independence, but we also remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives to make this goal a reality,” Mavrikios said.

He added that despite the challenges of occupation, Cyprus has worked to build a modern, vibrant, and prosperous nation, with the remarkable achievement of EU accession in 2004 as a testament to its commitment to the values at the heart of the European project, respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

“Cyprus is proud to be a member of the European family, working closely with the other member states to improve our societies, protect our citizens, and fulfil our potential,” he underlined.

Karin Lalieux, Brussels’ Municipal Councilor for Culture, highlighted that Manneken Pis is a symbol of Brussels, the capital of the European Union, and that today’s event, dressing the statue in Cyprus’ national costume, is a sign of the city’s friendship with Cyprus.

For his part, Nicolas Edelman, who has exclusively dressed Manneken Pis since 2014, told CNA that while the vraka was a bit more challenging to fit compared to other costumes, he was prepared for the task. “It’s was a bit more difficult, but I’ve been dressing Manneken Pis since 2014, and I’m ready for all challenges,” he noted.

The national costume, featuring the vraka, was donated to the City of Brussels by the Cypriot Embassy in 2010 ahead of Cyprus Independence Day and is displayed in the museum’s “Manneken Pis, a Very European Brussels Resident” exhibit alongside other EU national costumes.

Ireland supports all efforts to seek a resolution of the Cyprus problem, in accordance with the original UN resolutions and processes, which would bring immense benefits to Cyprus, the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence of Ireland, Thomas Byrne, told CNA on Tuesday, in the context of his recent three-day visit to Cyprus, as Ireland will succeed Cyprus at the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2026.

He also highlighted the need for the EU to understand the specificities of all Member States in terms of security and defence, while strengthening relations with key trade partners and at the same time diversifying its trade strategies.

Asked about the significance of his visit to Cyprus, the Irish Minister of State said it is a very important visit, particularly with Cyprus taking on the presidency of the Council of the European Union next year, adding that it is always good to visit Cyprus as the two countries are so close on many issues, ‘sharing so much in our history and in our modern day attitude to the world as well’.

He further noted that Ireland has a big connection with Cyprus through its involvement with the United Nations and he himself met some of Irish police officers stationed in Cyprus.

He added that his schedule included meetings with the Committee of Missing Persons, UN officials, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, Haris Georgiades, as well as a meeting with the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, who, he said, knows well from his time as Foreign Minister and his participation at the Council of EU Ministers and with whom he had some very good engagements.

Asked about Ireland’s priorities as it will be taking over from Cyprus in view of the next EU Presidency Trio, Byrne referred first to the Multiannual Financial Framework, which, as he said, is going to be a major focus of their work.

‘It is going to be a big feature of the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus and indeed of our own Presidency as well because that is the timeline for the negotiation. It means there is a lot of work to do during that time. For us in Ireland to advance our own national interests before we take on the Presidency I think is important and we did make some of those points to Minister Raouna this morning, but it is a big piece of work so there is a major priority to achieve that’, he explained.

Security and defence in all its facets is obviously a major European priority, a major priority of the Member States as well, he continued, adding that ‘it is very important from an Irish point of view and indeed from a Presidency point of view to understand the specificities of all the Member States’.

‘There are different issues on the Russian border, which is obviously a grave threat from Russia really to all of us in many respects, but also you have your own circumstances here on the Eastern Mediterranean too. We have to be cognisant of all the circumstances that Member States face and we will certainly endeavour to do that during our Presidency’, he further stressed, adding that notwithstanding the fact that Ireland is not a member of NATO, it will ‘certainly be acting as an honest broker and pushing forward the agenda of the Member States who quite simply want to protect their citizens’.

Asked whether Ireland is planning to take advantage of the SAFE initiative, Byrne said that is a possibility, however at this moment Ireland is not taking loans.

‘We may do some cooperation but we do not at this point in time need to take loans. We are increasing our defence spending significantly anyway from our own resources and we want more interconnection, more interoperability with other European Defence Forces’, he noted.

‘We already have that in some of the peacekeeping missions that we undertake and we work closely through Partnership for Peace and are deeply cognisant of what Member States are going through. There is a threat from Russia that we face ourselves, not in the context of a land invasion but in the context of threats to cables and threats to the information space and to the public sphere. We have to be cognisant of that and take action at a European level’, he further explained.

‘I think the concept of defence needs to be quite broad. There is defence material that people need to have and to build up their stocks of, we absolutely accept and understand that and we are doing that ourselves, but we have to think more as well about the whole area of cyber security, the whole area of the resilience of our citizens in the face of crisis that can be caused by adverse actors , the issue of the cables as well and the information space, so that is really important’, he stressed in that regard.

Asked whether there a message by the Irish government concerning the efforts to resume the negotiations process on the Cyprus problem at the United Nations level, Byrne said that the Irish government supports all efforts to seek a resolution to the issue, in accordance with the original UN resolutions and processes.

‘I think that is very important and certainly a message that I gave to the President and the Minister when I met them, it is mainly a UN process. I think if the issues can be resolved in accordance with what we know to be the will of the global community, that would bring immense benefits to Cyprus and I have no doubt about that’, he noted.

Asked about recent developments in the Middle East, the Irish Minister of State said that the American peace proposal has been released and there was an initial welcoming reaction from the Irish government but also from some Arab and Islamic countries.

‘I think that is very important and it is very important that Hamas signs up to this. This is too important to allow an organisation like Hamas to stop it. We must look at all genuine peace efforts, no peace process will be perfect, we know that in Ireland more than anybody, but we must give peace and people a chance and ultimately our belief and our faith is in a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine’, he underlined.

He remined that Ireland was the first Western country to advocate for that back in 1980. ‘It has been a long-standing principle of Irish foreign policy that Israel and Palestine should be allowed to live side by side in peace and in security and that the people of Israel and the people of Palestine can have futures and protection in those futures. So we certainly support any efforts to secure peace and President Trump’s efforts are very welcome’, he added.

Asked whether he is worried about the way trade relations or trade competition could affect the European economy as a whole, Byne said that uncertainty is the enemy of economic development, therefore anything that brings certainty is welcome.

‘We welcomed the agreement reached between the European Union and the United States which is holding and that has given some certainty. Ireland is very much an export-led economy and we need that certainty in our relations with the rest of the world’, he said.

He added that at the same time, it is important that Europe diversifies its trade strategies too and work with Southeast Asian countries and other friends, including in Africa and South America, as best it can to ensure that European products can have the widest possible markets, with Canada being another country with which a trade agreement was concluded and implemented and Europe can do a lot more business with.

‘These are important countries but America is a very important country too and we certainly place great store in really positive relations with the United States. We want to see relations with Britain normalised as much as possible and that process has accelerated under the Starmer administration and this (European) Commission. We welcome that and certainly we expect during the Cyprus Presidency and the Presidency of Ireland of the Council of the EU that relations with the UK would be a big feature and we certainly encourage the work of the European Commission in this respect’, he stressed on the issue.

Asked about the relationship with the UK and what Ireland’s experience with Brexit has been so far, the Irish Minister of State said that the experience since the Keir Starmer government came in has been positive.

‘They have a new openness they want to do things that will benefit them and ultimately benefit all of us. We have always said that we need the closest possible relations with the UK, that is the position, we maintain that bilaterally as well. We have our own summit with the UK and our own arrangements under the Good Friday Agreement as well with this cross-border cooperation and east-west cooperation’, he explained.

‘Any move towards bringing the European Union closer to the UK would be welcomed by us and that has happened in the area of security and defence, which we very much welcome, and we certainly hope that either during Cyprus’s Presidency or Ireland’s Presidency that a an SPS agreement, as envisaged by the recent EU-UK agreement, can in fact be put together and finalised and that I think would bring would bring great benefits to all of us’, he concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

The Cyprus Composite Leading Economic Index (CCLEI)1, which is constructed and estimated by the Economics Research Centre (CypERC) of the University of Cyprus, recorded a year-over-year increase of 1.8% in September2 2025.

According to a press release, issued by the Economic Research Centre of the University of Cyprus, this increase follows year-over-year increases of 2.1% in August and 2.2% in July 2025, according to the most recently revised data.

The year-over-year CCLEI growth slowed slightly in September, reflecting developments in both domestic and international leading indicators.

Specifically, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) in the euro area, the temperature-adjusted volume of electricity production, as well as property sales contracts contributed to the slowdown in the rise of the CCLEI in recent months.

On the contrary, the positive development of the other leading indicators that make up the CCLEI, such as tourist arrivals and retail trade, combined with the fall in the weekly price of Brent crude oil, partially offset the negative pressures and strengthened the overall growth of the CCLEI.

In summary, the CypERC said, “the slowdown in the year-over-year growth of the CCLEI in September suggests that the growth momentum of the Cypriot economy which despite maintained positive course, remains vulnerable to geopolitical developments and prevailing economic uncertainty.”

We have an obligation, as a semi-occupied country, to constantly strengthen our defence, Government Spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, said on Thursday, in Nicosia.

Asked, during a media briefing at the Presidential Palace to comment on statements by Turkish Cypriot leader Ersin Tatar on the Republic of Cyprus’ armament programme, following Wednesday’s military parade for the anniversary of the Independence of the Republic of Cyprus, the Spokesperson said that all the actions the government has been taking, ‘regarding the defence of our country are aimed at exactly what I have described, the defence of our country.’ ‘A country which, let us remind Mr Tatar and Turkey, has been experiencing the tragic consequences of a barbaric invasion and an illegal occupation for 51 years. A country where 37% of its territory is under occupation, where 30,000 Turkish soldiers are illegally in our country and where over 160,000 Greek Cypriots are refugees in their own homeland’, he added.

What we are doing, he said, ‘is to strengthen, to further shield our country’s defence, to strengthen the deterrence of our country, a member state of the European Union’, in cooperation and full coordination ‘with our large European family, utilising programmes such as SAFE, with funds exceeding one billion euros, precisely because we have an obligation, especially as a semi-occupied homeland, to constantly shield our defence’, he said.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

The launch of the Competitive Electricity Market is a strategic reform, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Thursday, adding that this is the first step in a broader energy policy plan that the government is implementing with the aim of reducing energy costs.

In statements during a media briefing at the Presidential Palace, the Spokesman said that as of the 1st of October Cyprus has turned a page in the energy sector.

For the first time, he pointed out, citizens and businesses in Cyprus can freely choose their supplier within a competitive environment that includes nine producers.

The Competitive Electricity Market, which is now operational, ‘is a strategic reform’, he stressed.

Referring to the benefits for the citizen, he said that, from today, they will be able to compare prices, choose the supplier that is most beneficial to them, have access to new products and packages, and even green energy options.

From January 2026, he continued, changing suppliers will be done within 24 hours, at no cost and with complete transparency, while consumers will be able to become active participants in the energy market, either as self-producers from renewable energy sources (RES) or as members of energy communities.

The benefits for businesses are equally important, he went on to say, noting that ‘the ability to negotiate with more suppliers allows for better prices and tailored solutions, reducing operating costs”.

Letymbiotis added that participation in savings and RES programs enhances the sustainability and competitiveness of businesses.

The Spokesman stressed that the most important is that the Competitive Electricity Market enhances competition and that this is expected to lead to lower prices, but also to innovative services that will adapt to the needs of households and businesses. He added that the dependence on limited suppliers is reduced and the decentralization of production is promoted.

‘The government proves once again that with a plan, methodical manner and political will, it can solve chronic problems and implement reforms that improve the everyday life of citizens,’ he concluded.

Weather Temperature for Cyprus

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

Date 02/10/2025

President, Nikos Christodoulides, stressed the vital importance of key EU initiatives such as Readiness 2030 and the SAFE Regulation for the security of Europe, during Wednesday’s session of the informal European Council, held in Copenhagen.

According to a written statement by the Director of the President’s Press Office, Victoras Papadopoulos, the President made his remarks during an intervention at the Council’s session on Defence and Security.

President Christodoulides condemned Russia’s recent airspace violations over EU territory, expressing solidarity with the affected member states, stressing that such actions pose a threat to the overall security of the Union.

He underlined that initiatives such as Readiness 2030 and the SAFE Regulation are key tools for achieving the objectives set by the EU in the area of defence and security, Papadopoulos said.

The President further stated that the Cypriot Government is committed to maintaining momentum and achieving further progress in these areas during Cyprus’ upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU.

He stressed that states posing a threat to the security of EU member states cannot be allowed to participate in EU security mechanisms.

Referring to the Readiness 2030 initiative, President Christodoulides noted that although the Republic of Cyprus is not a NATO member, it supports efforts for closer cooperation and joint action with NATO under this initiative. However, he emphasised that such cooperation must be based on equal treatment for all EU member states.

He also highlighted that the EU must not shift its focus away from other critical regions, such as the Middle East. Cyprus, he said, will do its utmost to strengthen key strategic actors in the context of the Military Mobility initiative.

President Christodoulides further noted that, under the SAFE Regulation, Cyprus plans to upgrade its naval infrastructure and air bases to enhance the EU’s collective security and readiness.

On the war in Ukraine, the President strongly condemned the continued Russian missile attacks and the targeting of civilians.

He underscored the urgent need for a peaceful resolution that respects the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter, including the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states.

President Christodoulides reiterated that Cyprus stands ready to contribute constructively to the development of a comprehensive European security framework, Papadopoulos concluded.

President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides held on Thursday, in Denmark, a series of important meetings with heads of state or government in view of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna said.

According to a press release by the Presidency, Raouna, who is accompanying the President of the Republic in Denmark, said that the President of Ukraine was among the leaders and that it was agreed that President Christodoulides would pay a visit to the country in December.

She said that on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit held today in Copenhagen, President Christodoulides held a series of important bilateral meetings requested by our partners in view of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU that will begin in January.

This afternoon, she said, a meeting was held between President Christodoulides and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, during which they discussed the latest developments in the efforts to end the war and particular the issues of guarantees and security for Ukraine.

During the meeting, Raouna said, Cyprus expressed its support to Ukraine as well as its commitment to work during the Cyprus EU Presidency to promote the accession negotiations.

It was also agreed that President Christodoulides would pay a visit to Ukraine in December, in view of the Cyprus Presidency.

The President of the Republic also had a meeting with the Prime Minister of Denmark, during which they reviewed the progress made during the Danish Presidency on important issues that the Republic of Cyprus will have to take over, such as the crucial negotiations and the EU’s Multiannual Financial Framework, as well as issues related to migration.

The Deputy Minister noted that there are currently important legislative proposals before the Council regarding the return of asylum seekers which the Republic of Cyprus will negotiate.

The President of the Republic also met with the President of Moldova, who expressed her intention to visit Cyprus in November, in view of the Cyprus Presidency.

President Christodoulides also met with the President of Switzerland, since the Cyprus Presidency is expected to complete the EU-Switzerland package of agreements. Finally, the President met with Prince Albert of Monaco.

President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, has stressed that countries that violate in any way the sovereignty and territorial integrity of EU member states can not participate in the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) instrument.

The President participated on Wednesday in the informal European Council Summit in Copenhagen and on Thursday in the Summit of the European Political Community. In the context of the consultations, the President of the Republic stressed three key points, firstly the principle that countries that violate the sovereignty or territorial integrity of EU Member States cannot participate in the SAFE instrument. Secondly, he supported the strengthening of cooperation between the EU and NATO, without imposing restrictions on the 27 Member States, ensuring Europe’s independence in matters of defence. Thirdly, he stressed the need for a comprehensive strategy, where the EU will not focus only on Ukraine, but will also have a leading role in other regions, such as the Middle East, strengthening Cyprus’ defence infrastructure.

According to a press release by the Presidency, in statements upon his arrival at the European Political Community Summit in Copenhagen, President Christodoulides said that they held a very interesting and constructive discussion yesterday, starting with the issues of defence and security, noting that significant work was done by the previous Presidencies, both the Polish and the Danish Presidency.”

Referring to the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, President Christodoulides noted that the Republic of Cyprus will institutionally further promote the issue and added that it is important that the European Union has moved forward with concrete actions.

“This is also a priority of our Presidency. So, institutionally, we will further strengthen the EU’s efforts’, he went on to say.

Regarding the SAFE instrument, the President stressed that at the national level, the goal of strengthening the defence and security of the Republic of Cyprus, the deterrent power of the Republic of Cyprus is a key priority. “And within this framework our country will utilize both the SAFE instrument, for which an amount exceeding one billion euro has been determined for the Republic of Cyprus, as well as other collaborations that we have with strategic partners, such as the USA.’

Within this framework, he added, ‘we will work to strengthen the very good, promising Cypriot defence industry, which has enormous prospects for cooperation with both EU member states and countries in the region”.

He noted that it was within this framework that they have decided that the purchase of armament programs of the Republic of Cyprus must also require the participation of Cypriot defence industries at a rate of at least 15%.

‘In the discussions, we raised three issues for which there is a general understanding among the member states. Firstly, countries that violate in any way the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states of the European Union cannot participate in the SAFE instrument and benefit from the financial resources of the European Union’, he stressed.

The second issue, he continued, is the cooperation between the European Union and NATO, that the Republic of Cyprus supports, but without any restrictions for the 27 Member States of the European Union.

The third issue, he noted, is the need for the European Union to have an overall perspective and explained that the issues of Ukraine are particularly important, but at the same time in the defence and security field in particular, the EU should be a protagonist in other regions as well. He went on to say that he made a specific reference to the wider Middle East, but also to the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus to strengthen both the Andreas Papandreou Air Base and the naval base in Mari, in Cyprus.

As regards the Naval Base in Mari, the President said that he held a discussion with the President of the European Investment Bank who was in Cyprus recently.

He welcomed the fact that the EIB has included issues related to defence and security for financial support of EU member states.

Referring to the meeting he had with the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the President said that they discussed EU-NATO relations adding that the NATO official asked to be informed about the latest developments in the Cyprus issue.

‘We discussed the issue of the participation of NATO member states in the European Union’s SAFE instrument and I reiterated the common position of the European Union that NATO member states that violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of member states cannot in any way benefit from this specific instrument” he said.

President Christodoulides added that with regard to Turkey, it is up to Ankara to participate in the SAFE instrument provided that there are positive, specific developments in the Cyprus issue, noting that it is up to Turkey to take the next steps.

Concluding, he said that in the context of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU, that will begin in January 2026, he will have meetings with heads of government, specifically of Ukraine, Moldova and other states, who have requested to advance issues related to their relations with the European Union.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

The 2026 state budget is a growth budget and continues to maintain the resilience of the economy, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos said on Thursday presenting the budget to President of the House of Representatives Annita Demetriou.

The House President noted the importance of the budget having surplus and growth and added that the debate in Parliament begins on October 13.

“It is a growth budget, which continues to maintain the resilience of our economy with the necessary surpluses so that we can reduce public debt, release the potential and strength of the economy, and be able to offer more development, more social policy and more security for the citizens of our country,” the Finance Minister stressed.

Demetriou expressed satisfaction for the fact that the Minister gives emphasis on social policy adding that the Parliament supports vulnerable groups of the society as priority.

The 2026 budget amounts to pound 10.7 billion, excluding amortization expenses. Revenue for 2026 is estimated at a total of pound 12,681,631,000, while expenses are estimated at pound 10,779,960,000.

There is an additional pound 2,274,500,000 for loan repayments, as well as pound 665,200,000 for interest. The total amount of expenses amounts to pound 13,719,660,000.

The Minister of Finance said that since 2024 the state budget is prepared under the new economic governance decided by the European Commission and added that Cyprus as an EU member state “follows these rules faithfully so that we can give what we have to, to the society, the country and our citizens, in this difficult time of conflicts in our region and with the ongoing war in Ukraine”.

He also stressed that all our actions and decisions take into consideration the national problem of Cyprus until the country is reunited.

Meanwhile, replying to a question, the Finance Minister expressed confidence that, despite the Parliament’s workload, “through good cooperation and good understandings” the tax reform will be approved by the Parliament in a timely manner so that it is implemented by the first of January 2026.