Category: Cyprus News Agency

Substantial progress was made in 2025 as regards the privatization of the Cyprus Stock Exchange, Chair of CSE Council Marinos Christodoulides said on Tuesday.

He noted that in 2025 CSE continued its steady upward course, recording significant activity, as well as increased investment interest, within fairly changing international conditions of economic challenges, instability but growth opportunities as well.

Christodoulides said that until December 29, the CSE General Price Index recorded a positive change of 27.29%, compared to the General Index price on December 31, 2024. The average daily trading activity amounted to pound 699 thousand, a factor that also reflects the gradual strengthening of market liquidity.

He went on to say that the increase in the total capitalization of the Stock Exchange in recent years was also significant, reaching pound 37.5 billion, with the participation of foreign investors in the capitalization of listed companies on the CSE amounting to 38.03% of its total capitalization.

He also spoke of significant activity that was recorded by members operating remotely on the CSE, whose participation in daily trading activity amounted to approximately 10% of it.

The Chair of the Council also said that during 2025 the Board, Management and Staff of the CSE focused on the implementation of new projects and initiatives, with the aim of expanding the Organization’s products, markets and services provided, increasing the attractiveness of the CSE, as well as the long-term strengthening of the competitiveness of the Cyprus capital market.

He described as key importance issues the progress in the privatization project expected to proceed within 2026, with the selection of the strategic investor and the conclusion of an agreement with the State, as the current owner of the CSE.

At the same time, he points out that special emphasis was placed on improving liquidity and the functionality of the Market.

In relation to the energy sector Christodoulides said that in 2025, the CSE proceeded to undertake the clearing of transactions in the competitive electricity market from its commencement of operation, October 2, 2025, in close cooperation with the competent bodies of the Electricity Market and mainly the Cyprus Transmission System Operator (TSO) and with the CSE’s partners in this sector (Athens Stock Exchange, Hellenic Energy Exchange).

The Chairman of the CSE Council pointed out that Cyprus has very valuable and dynamic companies, from a wide range of business activities, which are not yet listed on the CSE.

According to Christodoulides, emphasis should be given to the development of the corporate bond market through the Stock Exchange, to finance private sector projects, as well as bonds that could be issued by Semi-State Organizations to enhance their liquidity.

He added that it is imperative to further develop the secondary government bond market on the CSE, through the adoption of recommendations by the Stock Exchange for the issuance of domestic government bond issues that are addressed to a wide range of private investors.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation and call for evidence to evaluate the Single-Use Plastics Directive (SUPD).

In a press release, it says that this is the first step in examining how well the Directive has reduced the impact of certain plastic products on the marine environment and on human health, while promoting a circular, innovative and sustainable economy.

“Four years have passed since key bans and restrictions started to apply across the EU. As required by law, the Commission will carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the SUPD by July 2027. The evaluation will examine the Directive’s effectiveness, efficiency, relevance, coherence and EU added value. The findings of the evaluation will help in deciding if new rules are necessary” it notes.

The consultation and call for evidence are open to all interested parties, including citizens, businesses, non-governmental organisations, public authorities and academia.

All stakeholders are invited to share their views through the online survey, available in the 24 official EU languages until 17 March 2026.

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 30/12/2025 UNTIL 1800 31/12/2025

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1016hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. In the evening, the weather will be partly cloudy and locally cloudy with isolated showers over the west. Gradually the weather will become mainly cloudy with local showers and isolated thunderstorms, mainly from tonight onward. In thunderstorm hail is expected. WARNING NR:15 VALID FROM 302100(L.T) TO 310900(L.T) STRONG TO NEAR GALE LOCALLY NEAR GALE SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS FORCE 6 TO 7 BEAUFORT AND LOCALLY 7 BEAUFORT ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE COASTAL AREAS. THE STATE OF THE SEA WILL BE MODERATE TO ROUGH AND LOCALLY ROUGH.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 20°C

Warnings: WARNING NR:15 VALID FROM 302100(L.T) TO 310900(L.T)

AREA

PERIOD

WIND

STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Night

South to Southwest 5 to 6, gradually Southwest 6

Slight to Moderate, gradually Moderate to Rough

Morning

Southwest 6, locally 6 to 7

Moderate to Rough, locally Rough

Afternoon

Southwest to Northwest 5 to 6

Moderate to Rough

South Coast

Night

South to Southwest 5 to 6, gradually Southwest 6 to 7

Slight to Moderate, gradually Moderate to Rough

Morning

Southwest 6 to 7, locally 7

Moderate to Rough, locally Rough

Afternoon

Southwest to West 5 to 6

Moderate to Rough

East Coast

Night

South to Southwest 5 to 6, locally 6 to 7

Moderate, locally Moderate to Rough

Morning

Southwest 6 to 7, locally 7

Moderate to Rough, locally Rough

Afternoon

Southwest to West 4 to 5, locally 5 to 6

Moderate

North Coast

Night

South to Southwest 5 to 6, gradually Southwest 6 to 7

Slight, gradually Rough

Morning

Southwest 6 to 7, locally 7

Rough

Afternoon

Southwest to West 5 to 6, at times locally 6

Moderate to Rough

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 30/12/2025 UNTIL 1200 31/12/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1019hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. In the evening, the weather will be partly cloudy and locally cloudy with isolated showers over the west. Gradually the weather will become mainly cloudy with local showers and isolated thunderstorms, mainly from tonight onward. In thunderstorm hail is expected. WARNING NR:15 VALID FROM 302100(L.T) TO 310900(L.T) STRONG TO NEAR GALE LOCALLY NEAR GALE SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS FORCE 6 TO 7 BEAUFORT AND LOCALLY 7 BEAUFORT ARE EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE COASTAL AREAS. THE STATE OF THE SEA WILL BE MODERATE TO ROUGH AND LOCALLY ROUGH.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 20°C

Warnings: NIL

The solution to the illegality in relation to the usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus is the settlement of the Cyprus problem, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, has stressed.

“My message to our Turkish Cypriot compatriots, to the Turkish Cypriot leader, to Turkey, is in no way threatening. It is a message that, if they truly have the political will, I invite them to the negotiating table, so that through negotiations the Cyprus problem can be resolved and all these illegalities can be addressed. Illegalities that have existed for 51 years now,” he noted.

The President, who visited on Tuesday the Filoxenia Conference Center in Nicosia, was invited by journalists to comment on statements by Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhurman on the usurpation issue.

“The solution to this illegality in relation to the usurpation of properties in the occupied areas, based on international law, based on decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, is the resolution of the Cyprus problem,” he said.

Incident in the buffer zone

—————–

Meanwhile, asked about an incident of harassment against Greek Cypriot farmers in the buffer zone by the occupation forces, President Christodoulides said that he has been informed of a serious incident that occurred last night and publicly condemned it.

“Since last night the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has contacted the farmer involved in the incident, we are in constant contact with him. We are in constant contact with the United Nations, the Cyprus Police have also been informed about the matter and it is an incident that we are taking very seriously,” the President said.

He stressed, “this is an unacceptable action that took place, and, I repeat, apart from the United Nations, which we informed from the very beginning, we are taking all necessary measures as a priority, because this is what interests us most, the safety of the residents, the safety of the farmer, of the farmers who are active in the specific areas.”

Replying to a journalist’s remarks that provocations by the occupation army contradict the understanding reached during his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhurman, to avoid actions that cause tension, the President of the Republic said that it is an issue that he will raise during his next meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, for creating the necessary environment that will allow conditions for the resumption of talks.

“Let me note that the pirate actions, because these are pirate actions, that took place yesterday, come from the occupation Turkish army,” 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.

So far this year, 12 individuals from the official list of missing persons of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) have been identified, while remains believed to belong to 20 individuals have been found in eight excavations, Leonidas Pantelides, the Greek Cypriot member of the CMP, told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Tuesday.

He stressed the importance of information to the CMP, noting that every detail helps in forming a complete picture regarding burial sites.

Asked by CNA how many identifications were made this year, Pantelides replied that 12 individuals from the official CMP list of missing persons have been identified, adding more identifications were pending, expected to be completed in 2026.

Invited to say whether the numbers were at the same levels as in previous years, he said they were approximately at the same levels, ‘decreased, but stable.’ He noted that everything depends on the findings. ‘This year, for example, we had 20 findings which have not yet been identified,’ he said, adding that identifications take time.

According to Pantelides, the 12 identifications concern remains found in 2024, and possibly some that were located further back and concern difficult cases that were identified only now. He said that once the remains of a missing person are identified, families are informed immediately.

Pantelides also said that this year the CMP found, in eight excavations, remains believed to correspond to 20 individuals, something that will be confirmed through the identification process, which, as he noted, takes several months.

Asked about the locations the remains were found, he said he would prefer not to name the areas until identifications were completed, to avoid causing distress to families who might think the remains belong to their loved ones, only to later find out that they do not.

He added that of the nearly 130 excavations carried out this year, eight yielded findings. He noted that excavations were conducted in about 20% more locations this year compared to last year. He said that last year excavations took place at around 105-106 sites, while this year they are approaching 130 by the end of the week.

Asked about the adequacy of excavation crews, Pantelides said that at present there is sufficient personnel for nine crews, though this does not mean that nine excavations are taking place simultaneously. ‘At the moment we are working on eight,’ he said, noting that if there is an excavation that is urgent, two teams may work simultaneously at the same site.

‘However, we usually work with eight teams and often nine. If we assign two or three archaeologists to a separate group, another excavation begins and a ninth team is formed,’ he explained.

Asked about the flow of information, Pantelides said there is information coming in, ‘but we would like more.’

‘We always ask the public, if they know something that could help us,’ he said. He noted that sometimes new information is received, but most of the information concerns cases already known to the CMP, though without a complete picture, ‘because we have an issue as regards accuracy.’

He stressed that they trust witnesses are telling the truth, but that after so many years they may not remember the exact location. ‘You understand, therefore, that a small detail from someone else may complete the missing pieces,’ he added.

Noting that the first missing persons date back to December 1963, he said that after 62 years it is not easy to locate them. ‘Every detail can help us. That is why we always call on the public, if they know something, even a small detail can help us clarify something else,’ he added.

Pantelides also noted that restrictions continue to be in place in military areas in the Turkish occupied territories and that there has been no change in this regard.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory. Since then, the fate of hundreds of people remains unknown.

A Committee on Missing Persons has been established, upon agreement between the leaders of the two communities, with the scope of exhuming, identifying and returning to their relatives the remains of 492 Turkish Cypriots and 1,510 Greek Cypriots, who went missing during the inter-communal fighting of 1963-1964 and in 1974.

According to statistical data published on the CMP website by November 30, 2025 out of 2002 missing persons 1,713 were exhumed and 1,058 were identified. Out of 1,510 Greek Cypriot missing persons 762 were identified and 748 are still missing. Out of 492 Turkish Cypriot missing persons 296 were identified and 196 are still missing.

The Cyprus Marine Environment Protection Association (CYMEPA) announced on Tuesday its membership approval in INTERCARGO (International Association of Dry Cargo Shipowners) as an Associate (Reciprocal) Member.

As stated, the decision was officially communicated by the Secretary General of INTERCARGO, Kostas G. Gkonis, confirming the commencement of CYMEPA’s active participation in the Association’s international network.

As it is noted, INTERCARGO, founded in 1980 and headquartered in London, is the internationally recognised institutional representative of dry bulk shipowners, with a substantial and continuous presence in major international maritime organisations and decision-making centres.

It is added that today INTERCARGO represents more than 250 shipping companies from approximately 30 countries, managing a particularly significant share of the global dry bulk fleet, and plays a key role in shaping policies and regulations related to maritime safety, environmental protection, the sustainability of international shipping, and compliance with the standards of the IMO (International Maritime Organization) and other international bodies.

‘CYMEPA’s membership in INTERCARGO constitutes a strong international recognition of its credibility and long-standing work in the field of marine environmental protection. At the same time, it strengthens Cyprus’ presence in one of the most influential global maritime fora”, it is further noted.

It is also stated that CYMEPA’s participation in INTERCARGO creates new opportunities for constructive cooperation between the shipping industry and environmental education, marine pollution prevention, and sustainable development, further reinforcing its long-standing mission towards bridging shipping with environmental responsibility and social awareness.

‘CYMEPA’s membership in INTERCARGO further strengthens its international role and provides Cyprus with yet another opportunity to reaffirm that it can play a substantive and credible role in the global dialogue on sustainable shipping and the protection of the marine environment’, the press release concluded.

EU High Representative and Vice-President of the European Commission Kaja Kallas and Marta Kos, EU Commissioner for Enlargement, have issued a statement on the Kosovo parliamentary elections noting that “after the political stalemate following the February 2025 elections, we look forward to the swift formation of the new Assembly and Government and to continuing our engagement with the authorities”.

In their statement, issued on Monday, they say that on Sunday 28 December, the people of Kosovo exercised their democratic right by casting their vote in the early parliamentary elections.

“After the political stalemate following the February 2025 elections, we look forward to the swift formation of the new Assembly and Government and to continuing our engagement with the authorities. The new government should redouble its efforts on much needed EU-related reforms” they note.

The EU, they add, takes good note of the active participation of all communities and their political parties in the elections, the electoral process demonstrated a strong commitment to democratic principles.

The European Union, the statement says, has deployed an Expert Electoral Mission (EEM) which will remain in Kosovo to follow the post-electoral procedures.

They call upon the Parliament once formed to ratify the Growth Plan-related agreements, saying that the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans is a time-limited instrument adopted for the period 2024-2027 and it is in Kosovo’s interest that ratification takes place as soon as possible to make full use of all opportunities under the Growth Plan, for the benefit of its population.

The normalisation of relations between Kosovo and Serbia facilitated by the EU continues to be the only way for both to achieve progress on their European paths, they add.

In addition, they note that “we expect all obligations stemming from the Agreement on the Path to Normalisation, as well as all past Dialogue agreements to be implemented without further delays or preconditions. The EU stands ready to host a High-level meeting once conditions allow”.

“To recall, the EU is moving forward to lift the measures on Kosovo. pound 216 million of financial assistance was already released following the orderly transfer of local governance after the recent local elections. We also intend to release additional pound 205 million early next year” the statement concludes.

The Industrial Production Index reached 116.4 points (base 2021=100) in October 2025 , marking a 3.5% increase compared to October 2024, the Statistical Service said on Tuesday

During the period January-October 2025, according to the Statistical Service, the index recorded an increase of 3.1% compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

As stated, the manufacturing sector registered an increase of 4.3% compared to October 2024, while an increase was also recorded in the water supply and material recovery sector (+7.4%). On the contrary, a negative change was recorded in the electricity supply (-3.4%) and mining and quarrying (-1.7%) sectors.

It is added that in the manufacturing sector, the most significant positive changes compared to October 2024 were in the production of basic metals and fabricated metal products (+13.8%), the wood products and manufacturing of wood and cork products, except furniture (+9.9%), the manufacture of rubber and plastic products (+8.0%), and the manufacturing of furniture, other manufacturing and repair and installation of machinery and equipment (+7.4%).

Correspondingly, the most significant negative changes were observed in the manufacturing of textiles, wearing apparel and leather products (-6.5%) and the manufacturing of paper and paper products and printing (-5.1%).

Comparing the rates for the period January-October 2025 with the corresponding period of the previous year, the Statistical Service reports that the most significant increases were observed in the manufacturing of basic metals and fabricated metal products (+8.7%), the manufacturing of other non-metallic mineral products (+8.5%), the manufacturing of wood and products of wood and cork, except furniture (+8.4%), and in the collection, treatment, and supply of water (+7.2%).

The activities with the most significant decreases in production compared to the period January – October 2024 were those relating to the manufacturing of paper and paper products and printing (-11.2%) and the manufacturing of textiles, wearing apparel and leather products (-6.4%).

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 30/12/2025 UNTIL 0600 31/12/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1019hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine but tomorrow afternoon it will become partly cloudy and gradually local showers and isolated thunderstorms are expected.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 20°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning Northeast to Southeast 3, later East to Southeast 3 to 4 Slight

Afternoon Southwest to West 3 to 4, locally 4 Slight

Night South to Southwest 4, gradually 5 to 6 Slight to Moderate, gradually Moderate to Rough

South Coast

Morning Northwest to Northeast 3, locally Northeast to Southeast Slight, locally Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest to West 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Night South to Southwest 4 to 5, gradually 5 to 6 Slight to Moderate, gradually Moderate to Rough

East Coast

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Night South to Southwest 4, gradually 5 to 6 Slight, gradually Moderate

North Coast

Morning Southwest to West 3 to 4 Slight

Afternoon Southwest to West 4, locally 4 to 5 Slight

Night South to Southwest 4 to 5, gradually 5 to 6 Slight to Moderate, gradually Moderate to Rough