Category: Cyprus News Agency

President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides pledged on Tuesday that the Greek Cypriot side will do its utmost for the UN Secretary-General’s efforts for a Cyprus settlement to yield results. He also noted that it is important that after so many years there is activity, as underlined by the SG himself during the Geneva meeting for the Cyprus issue last March.

The President made statements welcoming the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, in Nicosia, on an official visit. The Cyprus issue is one of the few issues on which there is consensus in the Hellenic Parliament, Kaklamanis said in his statements.

President Christodoulides also expressed the view that the outcome of the “electoral” process in the Turkish Cypriot community mid-October will be important. Asked by the President of the Hellenic Parliament if he believes that there can be a change, he replied “we will see what the outcome will be.”

He said that no one at this time can safely jump to conclusions on the outcome. He also went on to note that whatever the outcome is, Turkey is the one to take final decisions on the most serious issues regarding the Turkish Cypriot community.

Kaklamanis expressed the hope that the efforts will be successful, although he stressed that he is moderately optimistic.

President Christodoulides, in his statement before the media, pointed out that Kaklamanis is in Cyprus to attend tomorrow’s parade for the Cyprus Independence, “an important anniversary and the most important conquest of the Cyprus people as a result of the national liberation struggle of EOKA”.

The President told Kaklamanis that the Hellenic Parliament has played a decisive role in developments concerning Cyprus over time and made particular reference to the accession of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union in 2004, “the most important diplomatic success of the Cypriot people and the Republic of Cyprus.”

He noted also that in less than 100 days Cyprus will also assume, for the second time, the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, saying that this is a national challenge “that I am sure we will respond to successfully”.

President Christodoulides told the President of the Hellenic Parliament that he is visiting Cyprus at a time when there are many developments in our region, noting that Cyprus, together with Greece, through actions and not only words, prove that they are pillars of security and stability.

“We are countries that talk to all the states in the region and we are making efforts, through synergies, to prove the importance of cooperation. This is the only path via which to address common challenges,” he said.

The President also praised Kaklamanis’ political career as an MEP, Mayor, Minister and now President of the Hellenic Parliament, as well as his long-standing interventions on everyday issues with which, he said, he agrees and has the same approach.

Kaklamanis thanked the President for his very kind words, which he described as “perhaps a little excessive”. He stated that his interest in Cyprus began in the 1990s, when he was a Member of the European Parliament and Vice-President of the Joint Committee of the European Parliament and the House of Representatives when the effort for Cyprus’ accession had begun.

He referred to his close cooperation at the time with MEP Pauline Green, who was very pro-Cyprus.

Kaklamanis also pointed out to the President that in conditions of political acrimony in Greece, “fortunately the issue of Cyprus is one of the few on which there is complete consensus in the Greek Parliament.”

He said that there may be some verbal differences sometimes for oppositional reasons, but in spite of this there is a complete consensus in views. “There is no political party in Parliament that does not identify with the established national line that has existed for years”, he stressed.

Kaklamanis said that he was informed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece, George Gerapetritis, about the latest developments, noting that “he has a restrained optimism.”

He also referred to a visit to Turkey under President Demirel 30 years ago, noting that what he said 30 years ago is now being repeated by now President of Turkey Tayyip Erdogan on Cyprus and the Aegean.

He said that he is moderately optimistic about the discussions on a Cyprus solution, hoping that these efforts will be successful.

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 due to Turkish intransigence. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

UNSG met with the two leaders President Christodoulides and T/c leader Ersin Tatar last week in New York city. A fresh meeting will probably take place in November. In the meantime his personal envoy Maria Angela Holguin is expected in Cyprus the next weeks to prepare the new meeting.

Head of European Investment Bank (EIB) Nadia Calviño has said that water and housing are the two key challenges in Cyprus and expressed her pride for the European support and impact of European investment in Cyprus.

Calvino was speaking to the press on Tuesday, before a meeting with the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides, who attended the joint meeting of the boards of the European Investment Bank and the European Investment Fund, in Limassol.

“I want to thank Cyprus for the warm welcome. We are having a very productive meeting which has allowed us also to see the impact of the investments we finance on the ground,” she said, adding that they have visited student residences in the Cyprus University of Technology as well as the Waste Water Treatment Plant in Limassol.

On his part, President Christodoulides thanked for the support of EIB in Cyprus for a number of projects all these years, adding that Cyprus is looking forward to their future cooperation.

“We are looking forward to our future cooperation, especially on issues of great interest for the Republic of Cyprus like defence and security, research and innovation. We are going to discuss this during our bilateral meeting,” the President noted.

Meanwhile, Calviño said that they have adopted in Cyprus the second phase of the climate road map.

“We will be focusing on projects that contribute to competitiveness and security of Europe. We are going to be doubling investment into adaptation and prevention on the impact of climate change a challenge that is very clear also here in Cyprus and we will be radically simplifying our processes to reduce cost and red tape for companies, particularly Small and Medium-sized companies,” she concluded.

Attorney General George Savvides and Deputy Attorney General Savvas Angelides are traveling to The Hague on Wednesday to attend the work of the 19th Meeting of the Consultative Forum of the Prosecutors General and the Heads of Criminal Prosecutions of the EU member states (Eurojust Consultative Forum), scheduled for 2 and 3 October.

A Law Office press release says that the participants are expected to debate on issues related to violating and circumventing EU sanctions, the fight against criminal organizations and the fight against online investment fraud.

On the sidelines of the Forum, Savvides and Angelides will participate in a preparatory meeting with the Attorneys General from the outgoing and incoming countries holding the EU rotating Presidency, namely Denmark, Poland and Ireland.

They will coordinate the work of the 20th Forum, which Cyprus will co-chair with Ireland, on the occasion of the two countries assuming the Presidency, in 2026.

During their visit to The Hague, the heads of the Law Office will attend the celebrations organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Cyprus, on the occasion of the anniversary of Cyprus Independence on October 1.

To mark Cyprus Independence Day, the famous Manneken Pis statue in Brussels will be dressed in a specially tailored Cypriot traditional men’s costume, the vraka, during an event organized by the Cyprus Ministry of Foreign Affairs in collaboration with the City of Brussels.

The ceremony will take place on Wednesday, October 1, at 1:00 PM, in the presence of Cyprus’s Ambassador to the EU Political and Security Committee (PSC), Petros Mavrikios, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event serves as a symbolic bridge between Belgian and Cypriot culture, highlighting the importance of independence and national identity.

Manneken Pis is an iconic symbol of Brussels. The 55.5-centimeter-tall bronze fountain sculpture, located in the city center, is regularly dressed in various costumes on a nearly daily basis, with a collection exceeding a thousand different outfits. Since 2017, the costumes-including the Cypriot vraka-have been displayed at the GardeRobe MannekenPis, a museum dedicated exclusively to the statue, located on the same street in Brussels’ historic center.

The vraka was donated to the City of Brussels by the Cypriot Embassy in 2010 ahead of Cyprus Independence Day, and is exhibited in the museum’s “Manneken Pis, a very European Bruxellois” section, alongside other national costumes of EU member states.

The Republic of Cyprus is committed to the implementation of the Great Sea Interconnector project, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Tuesday, adding that there is a provision of 25 million euros in the budgets of both 2025 and 2026.

Furthermore, he noted that the longer the implementation of the project is delayed, it touches on other aspects, including financial ones.

In statements to the media before attending the meeting of the European Investment Bank in Limassol, President Christodoulides referring to the GSI recalled that he had met with the Greek Prime Minister earlier this month in New York and that “we have issued a joint press release. The longer the implementation is delayed, this is not positive. It is something that burdens and touches on other aspects, including financial ones”.

“The Republic of Cyprus is committed to the implementation of this specific project and for this reason, in the state budget of 2025 and 2026 there is a provision of 25 million” euros, he stressed.

Replying to another question, the President said that “it is important that certain things are implemented, when they are delayed this affects the viability of the project, they also affect other issues”.

Replying to a journalist’s remark that the Minister of Finance has stated that if Cyprus returns the 67 million euro EU funding for the natural gas terminal in Vasilikos then the Cypriot economy will be at risk, President Christodoulides referred to the state of the Cypriot economy, expressing satisfaction with the fact that next year’s state budget has a surplus and is a development budget once again with increased spending on development projects, but also on social benefits, more than in 2025.

He continued by saying that public debt has decreased, unemployment is at 2008 levels, and the Cypriot economy is being upgraded, something that had not been achieved since 2011.

Concluding, he said that he will refer to all the above economic figures during the meeting he will have with the executives of the European Investment Bank.

The European Investment Bank (EIB) is a trusted partner for Cyprus, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides has said, noting the Bank’s crucial support both during times of crisis and in the country’s ongoing path of reform and steady economic growth.

Addressing Tuesday the EIB Board Retreat in Limassol, the President also said that Europe must now pursue autonomy across security, the economy and trade, stressing that the European Investment Bank has a central role in turning that vision into reality. He stressed that for Cyprus – the EU’s last divided member state and a bridge between Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean – the Bank’s mission holds particular significance, having long supported the country’s reforms, recovery and growth.

‘Moreover, this ongoing support has complemented our own efforts to build a resilient and forward-looking economy, with great emphasis on reforms. That is our driving force, our vision – reforms that modernize our state, creating accountability, transparency, opportunity. Fulfilling our responsibility to the citizens who put their faith in us to deliver. And we are accountable only to them, to our citizens,’ Christodoulides said.

Despite global turbulence, he added, Cyprus’ economy has shown steady strength. He noted that GDP grew by 3.4% in 2024 and is expected to exceed 3% in 2025. Public debt is set to drop to 58% of GDP by year-end and fall further to 42-43% by 2026, while unemployment has fallen below 4.9%, the lowest since 2008. He also said that the country has secured investment-grade A-level ratings from all major agencies, marking the first time since 2011 it holds such recognition.

‘This is the path we will continue walking as Government: of fiscal responsibility and stability. That is the only path that opens the way for social policies with impact in education, health, housing, social welfare,’ he said.

EIB’s an ‘enduring and steadfast’ partner

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Christodoulides credited the EIB as an enduring and steadfast partner in Cyprus’ growth, with investments of more than pound 5.7 billion making the country the largest per capita beneficiary among EU members. Beyond major infrastructure and energy security, he noted that the Bank has supported SMEs and startups with flexible financing, expert advice, and development assistance.

He cited the Cyprus Entrepreneurship Fund, which expanded financing for small businesses, and the Cyprus Equity Fund, the first public-private fund to provide early-stage capital to startups.

‘Through these projects, and essentially by enhancing the capacity of Cypriot enterprises, backing strategic initiatives, and aligning European priorities with national needs, the EIB has delivered visible benefits that have had a real impact on the everyday lives of our citizens,’ Christodoulides said.

The President noted that Cyprus, as the Union’s southeastern corner and last divided member state under military occupation, has a unique role as both a safe harbor and a bridge between Europe and the complex Eastern Mediterranean region. This, he said, gives added weight to the EIB’s mission in smaller economies like Cyprus.

Cyprus EU Presidency in 2026

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Looking to the first half of 2026, when Cyprus will assume the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU, Christodoulides said the milestone comes at a critical time.

‘A moment of immense responsibility and opportunity lies ahead for Cyprus,’ he said, stressing that the country will act ‘as a genuine honest broker, working in a results-oriented way and in close cooperation with all Member States and EU institutions.’

As he said, the presidency will focus on defense and security, civil protection, migration and border management, water resilience, affordable housing, and competitiveness. Christodoulides also underscored the importance of simplifying EU procedures to enable businesses to thrive.

Christodoulides stressed that the upcoming negotiations on the EU’s long-term budget will be central to Cyprus’s presidency of the Council of the EU in 2026.

He further said that the upcoming negotiations on the EU’s next long-term budget would be a top priority for Cyprus’s presidency in 2026. He noted that the Multiannual Financial Framework must reflect and support the Union’s strategic vision, while underlining that the European Investment Bank is expected to take on a greater role in mobilizing funds and financing the critical investments needed to deliver on the EU’s priorities.

In this context, he underlined that cooperation with the EIB would remain indispensable, to ensure ‘that our goals are not only ambitious in vision but also effective in practice’.

‘Together, we can translate strategic priorities into tangible outcomes, demonstrating the power of cooperation and the shared commitment that underpins the European project. In this respect, we look forward to your support for EU and national priorities, like security and defense, research and innovation etc,’ he said.

A call for EU autonomy and action

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Christodoulides described the EU as standing at ‘a crossroad, at an inflection point.’ He warned of challenges ranging from geopolitical instability to the pressures of green and digital transitions.

‘There is no space or time for hesitation or complacency. Now is the time for decisive urgent action,’ he said.

‘Now is the time for autonomy – from our standing as a global actor and our security to our economy and trade. Autonomy across the board,’ he said, stressing that Europe’s resilience and unity must be strengthened by deepening international partnerships, particularly with the Eastern Mediterranean and the Greater Middle East.

Closing his address, Christodoulides reaffirmed Cyprus’s constructive stance and the importance of collaboration with the EIB on EU and national priorities such as security, defense, research, and innovation. ‘Rest assured that Cyprus will always be part of the solution and never part of the problem,’ he concluded.

Minister of Interior, Constantinos Ioannou, focused on the pillars of the comprehensive housing policy implemented by the Republic of Cyprus over the last two years, during his intervention at the High-Level Conference on Affordable Housing, organised within the framework of the Danish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, in Copenhagen, a press release issued by the Interior Ministry said..

According to the press release, Ioannou elaborated on the two axes of Cyprus’ housing policy, namely the increase in the housing stock, with an emphasis on the production of affordable housing, and the strengthening of citizens’ purchasing power, especially of those who are socio-economically vulnerable.

The press release said that the participants welcomed the actions taken by the Republic of Cyprus to manage the housing problem in the country, taking note of the fact that they are in the right direction and in line with the pillars on which the European Union’s housing policy will be based.

Additionally, in his intervention, Ioannou underlined the need to find, at the European level, tools to finance citizens and enhance their access to affordable housing options. In this direction, the Cypriot Minister conveyed his country’s proposal for a different approach as regards the taxation related to affordable housing projects. This specific position was supported by the majority of those who attended the conference, the press release said.

Ioannou also referred to the political priorities that will be promoted in the context of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026 in relation to the issue of housing. He extended an invitation to his counterparts to attend the Informal Meeting to be held in Cyprus next May, at which the conclusions of the European Affordable Housing Plan will be examined while at the same time the roadmap for the integration of affordable housing into the Cohesion Policy for the period 2028-2035 will be defined.

The conference was held in the presence of the European Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jorgensen, with the participation of Ministers and officials of the competent authorities of the member states, representatives of Local Government Authorities and representatives of EU institutions for housing, the press release said.