Category: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus Department of Meteorology – Forecast for the Sea Area of Cyprus (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 20/11/2025 UNTIL 1800 21/11/2025

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

High pressure is affecting the area. ?he weather will be mainly fine.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 23°C

Warnings: NIL

First meeting between President Christodoulides-Erhrman underway

The first meeting of President Nikos Christodoulides with the new leader of the Turkish Cypriots, Tufan Erhrman began at around 9:50 am on Thursday at the residence of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the Nicosia Buffer Zone.

UN Secretary-General personal envoy on Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, is also participating in the meeting via videoconference from Lima, Peru.

President Christodoulides arrived first, accompanied by the Greek Cypriot negotiator Menelaos Menelaos.

A few minutes later, at 9:35 am, the Turkish Cypriot leader arrived, accompanied by “under secretary to the president” Mehmet Dana, who is reportedly expected to be appointed by Erhrman, as the new negotiator of the Turkish Cypriot side.

UNSG Special Representative Khassim Diagne, welcomed the two leaders upon their arrivals.

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.

In 2025 the Secretary-General hosted two informal meetings on Cyprus, in March in Geneva and in July in New York, while a tripartite meeting with the Cyprus leaders was also held in late September, at the end of the UN General Assembly High Level Week. An informal meeting in broader format was expected later this year.

María Angela Holguín, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties, while former European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, designated by the Commission as Special Envoy for Cyprus, is also expected to contribute to the settlement process, in cooperation with Holguín.

National Guard upgrading is a key pillar of our strategy, President says

The continuous upgrading of the National Guard, both in terms of human resources and technological capabilities, is a key pillar of our strategy to strengthen the security of our country, said the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, speaking on Wednesday evening during an event marking the 25th anniversary of CyBC programme on defence issues.

Referring to current challenges, the President said that “beyond the Turkish occupation, beyond the occupation of 37% of the territory of the Republic of Cyprus and the need to monitor the ceasefire line, our country’s geographical position in a region of particular geostrategic importance, which, as we see, is constantly plagued by crises, creates increased obligations in both the defence and foreign sectors, and all of this is linked in the field of internal and external security.”

“Migration, terrorism, smuggling, piracy, and the asymmetric threats we face are challenges that require the constant readiness of the security forces of the Republic of Cyprus,” he stressed. Within this framework, and as the closest EU member state in the region, the Republic of Cyprus is called upon, through actions rather than words, to respond to humanitarian and other missions, as well as search and rescue operations, he noted.

“And precisely because of the factors I mentioned earlier, the Turkish occupation, geographical location, EU membership, the continuous upgrading of the National Guard, the continuous strengthening of our country’s deterrent power, both in terms of human resources and technological capabilities, is a key pillar of our strategy to enhance our country’s security,” he stressed.

He added that this goal is being achieved through specific actions, such as, among many others, the use of the EU’s SAFE financial instrument, which provides the amount of pound 1.2 billion for the Republic of Cyprus.

The President of the Republic also referred to the supply of military equipment from the United States of America through the Excess Defense Articles and Foreign Military Sales programs, noting that thanks to the government’s actions, the participation of the Republic of Cyprus was secured in January 2024. The Ministry of Defence has already made a plan for the specific utilization of these programs, as well as the utilization of the promising Cypriot defence industry and the upgrading of critical infrastructure, such as the Andreas Papandreou Air Base and the Evangelos Florakis Naval Base, he added.

“Our government strongly supports the National Guard and invests in its continuous upgrading and strengthening in terms of equipment, infrastructure, and, of course, human resources. Our officers and non-commissioned officers, all the members of the National Guard, are a valuable asset for our country, for achieving the goal of establishing, first and foremost, a sense of security for our citizens, and we are proud of the multifaceted role played by the National Guard,” emphasized the President of the Republic.

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.

Cyprus Department of Meteorology – Forecast for the Sea Area of Cyprus (A)

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 20/11/2025 UNTIL 0600 21/11/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1021hPa (hectopascal)

High pressure is affecting the area. ?he weather will be mainly fine.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 23°C

Warnings: NIL

Oman says it fully supports Cyprus for a solution based on UNSC resolutions

The Sultanate of Oman reiterates its full support for the Republic of Cyprus in achieving a just and comprehensive resolution of the Cyprus issue, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the principles of international law, a press release by the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Nicosia said on Thursday.

In the press release on the occasion of the National Day of the Sultanate of Oman, it is stressed that Oman enjoys strong bilateral relations with the Republic of Cyprus, which have “witnessed significant development in recent years across various fields of cooperation”.

This year, it adds, these efforts culminated in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding in the areas of health, transport, and maritime affairs, reflecting the joint commitment to further strengthening cooperation between our two friendly countries across multiple sectors.

Referring to the Cyprus issue, the Sultanate of Oman “reiterates its full support for the Republic of Cyprus in achieving a just and comprehensive resolution of the Cyprus issue, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the principles of international law, thereby promoting security, stability, and fulfilling the aspirations of the Cypriot people”.

Moreover, it notes that within the framework of these close ties, Oman extends its sincere wishes to the Republic of Cyprus for success and prosperity during its forthcoming presidency of the Council of the European Union in early 2026.

It says that the Sultanate of Oman has established a firm diplomatic approach, grounded in positive neutrality, dialogue, and respect for the Charter of the United Nations and international law. Oman continues to call for the use of peaceful means to resolve disputes without interference in the internal affairs of other states, it adds.

Furthermore, it says that the Sultanate of Oman successfully enhanced its economy by building non-oil commodity exports shaping 30% of the Economy, the State GDP is with the value of RO 10.171 billion with 1.7% increase from last year. Finally, it says that the OMAN 2040 Vision includes developing many public sectors such as education, scientific research and academic publishing, the social protection system, the healthcare sector, the environmental affairs, agriculture, shipping and industry.

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.

In 2025 the Secretary-General hosted two informal meetings on Cyprus, in March in Geneva and in July in New York, while a tripartite meeting with the Cyprus leaders was also held in late September, at the end of the UN General Assembly High Level Week. An informal meeting in broader format is expected later this year.

María Angela Holguín, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties, while former European Commissioner Johannes Hahn, designated by the Commission as Special Envoy for Cyprus, is also expected to contribute to the settlement process, in cooperation with Holguín.

President says he has suggestions for positive developments at meeting with Erhurman

President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, said on Thursday morning that he was fully prepared for his first meeting with the new Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhurman, stating that he had suggestions that could lead to positive developments in the Cyprus issue.

Upon his departure from the Presidential Palace, to go to the residence of the UN Special Representative in Cyprus, Hashim Dian, to attend the meeting, Christodoulides told the media that ‘the sole goal is to have positive results towards resuming the talks from where they were interrupted in Crans-Montana.’

“I have several suggestions and approaches on how to create these positive developments towards this direction,” he added, concluding with the wish that there will be a response by the other side that will produce ‘good news” after the meeting.

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.

Gender Equality Commissioner participates in high-level conference on femicide in Rome

Commissioner for Gender Equality, Josie Christodoulou, will participate in a high-level international conference in Rome on femicide, following an invitation from Italy’s Minister for the Family, Natality and Equal Opportunities, Eugenia Roccella.

According to an announcement from the Commissioner’s Office, ‘the conference is co-organised by the Italian Presidency of the EU and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and will be attended by European ministers, UN and OSCE experts, as well as civil society representatives.’

The Cypriot Commissioner for Gender Equality will take part in a discussion on the legal framework for addressing femicide.

On the sidelines of the conference, the Commissioner is to hold bilateral meetings with the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, the Italian Minister for the Family, Natality and Equal Opportunities, the Serbian Minister for Gender Equality, Violence Prevention and Women’s Empowerment, Tatjana Macura, the Greek Minister of Social Cohesion and Family, Domna Michailidou, and the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women and girls, Reem Alsalem.

According to the announcement, the conference will provide ‘a meaningful opportunity’ to strengthen international cooperation, exchange best practices for tackling femicide, and set a clear path towards eliminating femicide.

PRESS RELEASE – EUROPEAN COMMISSION

EU launches Trade and Investment Dialogue with Trans-Pacific bloc

Today, in Australia, EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefcovic launched, together with his twelve counterparts, the first EU-CPTPP Trade and Investment Dialogue, reaffirming their joint commitment to open, rules-based trade, while delivering tangible results. This is an important milestone, as the EU and the members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) represent 32% of global GDP and 37% of global trade. The EU-CPTPP Trade and Investment Dialogue will cover result-oriented cooperation between the two blocs in five key areas: trade diversification, digital trade, trade and investment facilitation, supply chain resilience and the global trade environment, including World Trade Organisation reform.

Maroš Šefcovic, Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, said: ‘As the world’s largest trading bloc – with a global trade share of close to 16% – the EU remains committed to an open, rules-based and stable trade environment. Our reinforced cooperation with CPTPP partners therefore speaks volumes about the importance of our shared approach to trade. But this goes beyond a symbolic signal, as we are now set to focus our efforts on clear, mutually beneficial results across the five priority areas.’

On the margins, Commissioner Šefcovic held a bilateral meeting with Australian Minister Don Farrell to review the teams’ work on strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations. He also exchanged with Minister Madeleine King on accelerating EU-Australia cooperation on critical minerals, focusing on real, timely projects. This cooperation is central to our economic security agenda, with Australia’s strong capacity and shared high standards seen as key assets.

The Joint EU-CPTPP statement is available online.

(For more information: Arianna Podestà – Tel. +32 2 298 70 24; Marta Perez-Cejuela Romero – Tel.: +32 2 296 37 70)

Commissioner Jørgensen welcomes the Housing Advisory Board’s input for the European Affordable Housing Plan

The Commission welcomes the Housing Advisory Board’s recommendations on how to tackle the ongoing housing crisis that affects millions across Europe. Appointed by the Commission in June, this expert group was tasked with providing concrete policy recommendations to support the Commission in the preparation of the European Affordable Housing Plan.

The recommendations, published today, address topics ranging from social housing and protecting the most vulnerable to construction and urban planning. They add up to the over 13,000 responses received through the recent public consultation, and underline the need to deliver on one of the most important challenges the EU is facing.

Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, welcoming the Board’s efforts, said: ‘I am deeply grateful to the Housing Advisory Board for providing such high-quality expertise in record time. Their contribution strengthens my resolve to put forward an ambitious and comprehensive European Affordable Housing Plan that offers relief, dignity, and opportunity to citizens across Europe. The Board’s ideas and insights light the path toward real, lasting change for our continent. Too many are suffering from this crisis: now is the time to act.’

Planned for adoption by the end of the year, the Plan will outline actions to make housing in Europe more affordable, sustainable and of good quality. It will support EU Member States, regions, and local authorities in overcoming systemic issues and facilitating both public and private investments, to ultimately make sure everyone in Europe has a place to call home.

More information on the recommendations is available online.

(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Cristiana Marchitelli – Tel: +32 2 298 94 07)

Digital Services Act report lays out landscape of systemic risks online

European regulators, the European Commission and the Board of the Digital Services Coordinators, enforcing the Digital Service Act published a world-wide first report on the landscape of prominent and recurrent risks on very large online platforms and search engines in the European Union.

The report identifies systemic risks, such as, among others, the spread of illegal content or threats to fundamental rights, occurring on very large online platforms. It also gives a first overview of the mitigation measures taken by platforms, based on the transparency requirements under the DSA.

Key findings cover risks to mental health and to the protection of minors online; the impact of emerging technologies, such as generative AI, on online platforms; and challenges to intellectual property protection on online marketplaces. Among the notable mitigation measures highlighted are, for example, the use of automated systems to detect emojis used as code for illegal activities online, such as the sale of illegal drugs.

The report draws on platforms’ own risk assessment, audit, and transparency reports, as well as independent research on certain risks, and diverse civil society contributions.

It is the first of an annual cycle of risk landscape reports. Future editions will also expand on platforms’ best practices, as more data become available on the effectiveness of risk mitigation strategies, including through research made possible by the delegated act on data access. Over time, this will provide a long-term perspective on the most prominent and recurrent systemic risks in Europe.

The report provides a reference point for understanding systemic risks in the EU stemming from VLOPs and VLOSEs. It constitutes a key tool for transparency and accountability ultimately contributing to a safer and more trustworthy online environment.

(For more information: Thomas Regnier – Tel.: +32 2 299 10 99; Patricia Poropat – Tel.: +32 2 298 04 85).

Commission approves new geographical indication from Belgium

Today the Commission adds ‘Boudin blanc de Liège’ from Belgium to its register of Protected Geographical Indications (PDI).

‘Boudin blanc de Liège’ is a white pudding made by processing lean meat and pig fat. During preparation, the mixture must be flavoured with whole leaves of dried marjoram. The mixture is stuffed into natural casings, resulting in a sausage that is traditionally eaten cold, cut into slices.

The dried marjoram leaves are the defining ingredient in ‘Boudin blanc de Liège’. The unique characteristics of this Liégeois sausage result from the precise requirements concerning the quality of the dried marjoram leaves and the special care needed during the drying, stripping and storing of the leaves. Grown in open ground, the leaves must be harvested before flowering and dried spread out on racks out of sunlight.

Marjoram is part of the cultural identity of people from the southern Belgian province of Liège. The herb is used to flavour various local dishes such as Liège-style crayfish, calf’s head and meatloaf. The specific expertise involved in the production of ‘Boudin blanc de Liège’ pre-dates the 20th century and is passed on among Liège butchers, from generation to generation, and through apprenticeship or employment.

This new designation joins the more than 3,691 protected names already listed in the eAmbrosia database. For more information, see the Quality Policy pages.

(For more information: Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Emma Marechal – Tel.: +32 2 299 48 18)

President von der Leyen travels to South Africa for the G20 Summit

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, travels today to Johannesburg to start a week of intense multilateral and bilateral discussions, starting with the EU-South Africa Leaders’ Meeting, the first G20 ever to take place on African soil and then the EU-African Union (AU) Summit in Angola.

This afternoon, together with the President of the European Council, António Costa, President von der Leyen will meet with the President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, to discuss a new clean trade and investment partnership, as well as new deals on raw materials and projects under South Africa’s pound 12 billion Global Gateway package. Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy, Stephane Séjourné, will also participate. Signature ceremonies and a press conference will follow as of 15:25 CET live on EBS.

Tomorrow morning, at 10:30 CET, President von der Leyen and President Costa will hold a joint press conference ahead of the G20 Summit which will be broadcast live on EBS. In the afternoon, she will co-host with President Ramaphosa the final pledging event of the ‘Scaling Up Renewables in Africa’ campaign. Launched a year ago together with international advocacy organisation Global Citizen and the technical support of the International Energy Agency at the G20 Summit in Rio, the campaign aims to mobilise investments in clean energy and access to electricity for the millions who still lack it in the wider African continent. Watch the pledging conference and discover the final tally live on EBS, as of 14:30 CET.

On Saturday, the President will take part in the opening session of the G20 Summit, followed by its first working session on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, the role of trade, financing for development and debt. The second working session of the Summit, in the afternoon, will focus on disaster risk reduction, climate change, just energy transitions and food systems. She will also discuss stronger EU-Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) cooperation in a meeting hosted by the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney.

The following day, on Sunday, President von der Leyen will participate in the third working session on critical minerals, decent work, and artificial intelligence. The President will also hold several meetings with global leaders.

On Monday, President von der Leyen will be in Luanda, Angola, for the EU-AU Summit. First, she will deliver an address in the opening ceremony of the Europe-Africa Business Forum, which you can watch live on EBS at 9:30 CET. She will then take part in the official opening of the EU-AU Summit, together with Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission, President Costa, António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, and João Lourenço, President of Angola. Later, the President will take part in the first thematic session of the Summit, on peace, security, and governance, and multilateralism.

On Tuesday, the President will participate in the second thematic session, on prosperity, people, migration, and mobility. A press conference, broadcast on EBS, will close the day.

(For more information: Olof Gill – Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66)

Executive Vice-Presidents Mînzatu and Fitto in Romania to discuss the future of Cohesion policy

Tomorrow, Executive Vice-Presidents for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness, Roxana Mînzatu, and for Cohesion and Reforms, Raffaele Fitto will be in Bucharest, Romania, to participate in a Ministerial Cohesion roundtable and a high-Level conference on the future of Cohesion policy. Discussions in both events will include the mid-term review of Cohesion policy and the essential role of Cohesion in the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) as an enabler of long-term development, economic competitiveness and resilience throughout Europe.

Other participants in the discussions include Romania’s President, Nicu?or Dan, and Prime Minister, Ilie Bolojan, as well as Kata Ttto, President of the European Committee of the Regions, Siegfried Mure?an, Member of the European Parliament and rapporteur for the MFF, Drago? Pîslaru, Romanian Minister of investment and European projects, as well as Cohesion ministers of the participating EU Member States.

On the margins of these events, Executive Vice-President Mînzatu will meet with Croatia’s Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds, Nataša Mikuš Žigman. For his part, Executive Vice-President Fitto will hold meetings with President Dan and Prime Minister Bolojan, Bulgaria’s Deputy Prime Minister Tomislav Donchev, Croatia’s Minister of Regional Development and EU Funds, Nataša Mikuš Žigman, Malta’s Minister for European Funds Stefan Zrinzo Azzopardi, and World Bank Vice-President Antonella Bassani.

(For more information: Maciej Berestecki: +32 229-66483; Isabel Arriaga e Cunha +32 229-52117)

EU, Norway to strengthen energy cooperation at annual high-level dialogue and conference in Brussels

Tomorrow, 21 November, Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, and the Norwegian Minister of Energy, Terje Aasland will co-chair the annual EU-Norway Energy Dialogue in Brussels and convene the 7th EU-Norway Energy Conference in Brussels.

As a significant supplier of oil, gas, and electricity, Norway is an important partner for the EU, and plays a pivotal role as the EU works to fully phase out Russian fossil fuels and enhance energy independence. The Energy Dialogue will focus on energy security, electricity market matters, progress on carbon capture and storage (CCS) and stocktaking on the incorporation of EU energy legislation by Norway.

The Energy Conference, which will see the participation of key actors from the energy sector, will address a variety of topics including reinforcing energy security, advancing the energy transition, ensuring affordable energy, and advancing technologies such as carbon capture and storage (CCS). The opening speeches by Commissioner Jørgensen and Minister Aasland will be broadcast on EBS+.

(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Cristiana Marchitelli – Tel: +32 2 298 94 07)

Commissioners Lahbib and McGrath in Italy for high-level meetings on key aspects of their portfolios such as media freedom and violence against women

Today and tomorrow, Michael McGrath, Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, is in Rome for meetings on key issues focusing on democracy, media freedom and supporting European businesses to establish and scale within the Single Market. Today, the Commissioner will meet Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni, where they will discuss topics such as the European Democracy Shield and 28th regime. He will also meet Tommaso Foti, Italian Minister for European Affairs, Cohesion and the NRRP, as well as Adolfo Urso, Minister for Enterprises and Made in Italy. Furthermore, the Commissioner will also hold bilateral discussions with Giacomo Lasorella, President of the National Regulatory Agency for Broadcasting, the Confederazione Generale dell’Industria Italiana, Italy’s Federation of Enterprises and Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Secretary of State of the Holy See. Today, Commissioner McGrath will also speak in the Italian Parliament as part of a joint Parliamentary committee hearing in the Camera dei Deputati and the Senato, focusing on fundamental rights, democracy and competitiveness. On Friday, Commissioner McGrath will deliver a keynote speech at LUISS Guido Carli University on Democratic Resilience in the Digital Information Era.

On Friday, Hadja Lahbib, Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, will also be in Rome for the High-level International Conference against Femicide, organised by the Italian government together with the Organization for the Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). The event comes just four days before the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25th November, a key date to raise awareness on the topic and condemn all forms of violence against women.

Understood as the intentional killing of women and girls because of their gender, femicide is the most extreme form of violence against women. Eradicating it remains a major global urgency, with data from the United Nations estimating that in 2023, one women or girl was killed every 10 minutes. Commissioner Lahbib’s keynote speech at the opening session of the conference can be followed live online, and will highlight the urgent need for action against gender-based violence. In her speech, the Commissioner will outline how fighting this violence is not just another policy area, and that only by taking action can we build a Europe where every woman is safe, free, and empowered to reach her full potential. The conference will also include sessions on preventing and countering femicide and on protecting all victims, with a focus on human trafficking.

While in Rome, Commissioner Lahbib will also meet with Eugenia Roccella, the Italian Minister for Family, Natality, and Equal Opportunities, Josie Christodoulou, the Cypriot Commissioner for Gender Equality and Tatjana Macura, Serbian Minister for gender equality, prevention of domestic violence, and economic and political empowerment of women.

(For more information: Eva Hrncirova-Tel.: +32 2 298 84 33; Anna Gray – Tel.: +32 2 298 08 73)

Tampere and Dubrovnik selected as 2026 European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism

Yesterday, the European Commission announced Tampere (Finland) and Dubrovnik (Croatia) as the winners of the 2026 competition of the 2026 European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism. The competition celebrates tourism destinations leading in accessibility, sustainability, digitalisation and cultural heritage.

This year’s competitions saw an increase in participants from a wide range of countries. In total, 58 destinations from 22 countries competed for the European Capital and Green Pioneer of Smart Tourism titles. The 15 shortlisted destinations were invited to present their cases to the European Jury in Brussels, who selected the winners of both competitions.

Tampere stood out for its innovative practices, performing strongly across all four categories. The city blends accessible culture, heritage protection, and nature, while being committed to becoming carbon neutral by 2030. Surrounded by lakes and nature, Tampere encourages visitors and locals alike to experience its beautiful landscapes without barriers. The city has opened its first accessible beach at Lake Pyhäjärvi and created four barrier-free nature trails, with guides and route information available online at Outdoorstampere.fi. A shuttle bus service for national parks also guarantees easy access to nature.

Dubrovnik impressed the jury with its pioneering approach to sustainability and its potential to serve as a role model for other destinations. The city is ensuring sustainable tourism growth while protecting the historic centre with innovative measures, such as limiting the number of daily cruise visitors to 4,500 or two ships at a time and working closely with the local community in the ‘Respect the City’ project.

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, stated: ‘Tourism is one of Europe’s most dynamic sectors and a cornerstone of our cultural and economic identity. By investing in sustainability and digital innovation, we are ensuring that Europe remains not only the world’s leading destination, but also the most responsible. This year’s winners embody this ambition, setting a high standard for smarter, more sustainable and more inclusive tourism across our Union.’

More information is available online.

(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Anni Juusola – Tel.: +32 2 296 09 86)

Commission presents strategy to transform and digitalise justice systems across the EU

Today, the European Commission presented the Digital Justice package 2030, an initiative to modernise justice systems across the EU and ensure that justice professionals are equipped with tools fit for the digital age. This strategic roadmap aims to accelerate the digitalisation of justice systems across the EU, empowering citizens, businesses, and justice professionals through innovation and cross-border collaboration.

The Digital Justice package includes the DigitalJustice@2030 Strategy and the European Judicial Training Strategy 2025-2030. Together, these strategies will drive the digital transformation of justice systems, leveraging cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve access to justice for all.

The Digital Justice @2030 Strategy outlines 14 actionable steps to help Member States unlock the potential of AI and digital tools in justice systems, for example:

Promoting the exchange of best practices among Member States of digital tools used by legal practitioners across the EU, hosted on the European e-Justice Portal;

Developing a toolbox to allow Member States to share IT and AI tools used in justice to accelerate digitalisation and help generate savings;

Boosting the European Legal Data Space to further facilitate online access to legislation and case-law, using the access to more judicial data to develop AI tools adapted to the needs of justice systems;

The Commission will conduct a study to find a European solution to technical issues arising from judicial systems cooperating with each other, namely, to help overcome interoperability challenges in cross-border videoconferencing.

By addressing technical barriers and promoting harmonisation, the strategy aims to create a justice system that is agile, inclusive, and fit for the digital age.

Furthermore, the European Judicial Training Strategy 2025-2030 will help ensure that all justice professionals (from judges and prosecutors to court staff and other legal practitioners) are properly equipped to put digital justice into practice. The Commission emphasises the need for skilled, tech-savvy justice professionals to ensure the success of transforming and digitalising justice systems across the EU.

The Judicial Training Strategy includes practical training, for example, on digital case management systems, digital cross-border cooperation tools and secure communication technologies; and further awareness raising activities on the impacts of digital and AI-tools in justice. Judges and other justice professionals also need to have appropriate training to apply EU digital law, such as the Digital Services Act. National and EU-funded training should align further in order to create synergies and increase long-term impact of judicial training and available budgets.

Background

Digitalised justice systems are essential for an attractive business and investment environment. They improve transparency, reduce delays, and make procedures more efficient and accessible – especially in cross-border cases. They are also more resilient in times of crisis – as evidenced during the Covid-19 pandemic – lead to cost savings, and allowing for swift, secure and transparent access to justice for all.

By promoting the use of digital tools and AI, the Digital Justice Package 2030 will help make justice systems across the EU more efficient, resilient and accessible to citizens and businesses, to support Europe’s competitiveness and economic growth.

It contributes to the EU’s broader Digital Decade Policy Programme, which aims at making all key public services available online by 2030. It also supports the Union of Skills initiative to ensure that everyone in Europe, including justice professionals, has the digital and AI skills needed to thrive in a modern and digital society.

The adoption of the Digitalisation Regulation in 2023 was an important step in creating digital cross-border exchanges in 24 judicial cooperation procedures in civil, commercial and criminal matters.

Today’s package further contributes to the goal of strengthening judicial systems in the EU through digitalisation.

For more information

Digitalisation Regulation 2023

Digital Decade Policy Programme 2030

European e-Justice Portal

A Europe fit for the digital age

Digital Justice @2030 Strategy

Digitalisation of Justice

Communication on Digitalisation of Justice

Training of Justice Professionals

Judicial Training Strategy

The Judicial Training Dashboard

Quote(s)

Digitalisation and artificial intelligence are transforming our societies, including the justice system. With the Digital Justice Package 2030, we are modernising Europe’s justice systems, contributing to the competitiveness of our economy while ensuring that technology serves people, keeping justice open, accessible, and based in our values.

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy

With this Package, we are helping Member States take a confident step into the digital era – ensuring that our justice systems become faster, more accessible, and more efficient. This is not only an investment in justice, but also in Europe’s competitiveness. The upcoming Judicial Training Strategy will equip judges, prosecutors, and legal professionals with the digital and AI skills needed to use technology effectively. By embracing innovation, we are building a justice system that is prepared for the challenges of tomorrow – fair, modern, and firmly anchored in our democratic values.

Michael McGrath, Commissioner for

Commission proposes to boost supplementary pensions to help ensure adequate retirement income

The European Commission has today adopted a package of measures to help citizens secure adequate income in retirement by improving access to better and more effective supplementary pensions. The proposed actions aim to complement – not replace – public pensions, which are the foundation of pension systems in all Member States.

Today’s package forms part of the Commission’s Savings and Investments Union (SIU) Strategy which seeks to create more opportunities for households to build their wealth through capital markets, while boosting EU economic growth and competitiveness.

In light of demographic shifts and labour market dynamics, which require pension systems to adapt, supplementary pensions – both occupational and personal pension schemes – can help citizens achieve more diversified retirement income, enhancing financial security and stability when retiring. They can complement the benefits of public pensions which in many cases will not be sufficient to maintain adequate living standards, especially among vulnerable people and women, where the gender pension gap between men and women currently stands at 24.5%.

Stronger and more efficient supplementary pension schemes can also contribute to Europe’s economic growth and competitiveness by mobilising long-term savings for productive investments.

The aim of the proposed measures is to strengthen both the demand for and the supply of supplementary pensions. The initiatives fully respect Member States’ competences to organise and design their national pension systems, as well as the autonomy of the social partners where they are responsible for establishing and managing pension schemes.

This package builds upon, and supplements, the Commission’s other SIU initiatives announced to date, including on financial literacy and the Recommendation on Savings and Investment Accounts, which collectively aim to enhance EU citizens’ financial well-being, in particular by broadening options to get better returns on their savings.

Proposed measures

Recommendation on pension tracking systems, pension dashboards, and auto-enrolment into supplementary pension schemes

The Commission recommends that Member States:

Implement, in line with national circumstances and while fully respecting the role and autonomy of social partners and collective bargaining prerogatives, auto-enrolment i.e. the automatic inclusion of workers in supplementary pensions, with the full freedom for individuals to opt out. This will be guided by existing good practices in the EU and lessons learned from other countries. This is a way to increase participation in supplementary pension schemes and unlock greater scale of supplementary pensions markets;

Further develop comprehensive pension tracking systems to provide citizens with a clear overview of their pension rights and projected benefits across all pensions schemes. Such tracking systems will help address the low participation in supplementary pensions, often due to citizens’ limited awareness about their future pension. They should be compatible with the European Tracking Service, supporting cross-border mobility and;

Develop national pension dashboards, for Member States’ policymakers to have a better view of the coverage, sustainability and adequacy of their multi-pillar pension system. Those national dashboards would ultimately feed into an EU-level pension dashboard.

Legislative proposal to amend the Directive on Institutions for Occupational Retirement Provision (IORP) II

The IORP II Directive set common EU standards to ensure sound management and supervision of IORPs, while respecting the role of social partners. However, many schemes remain too small to diversify their investments and deliver optimal outcomes for savers.

To unlock the potential of occupational pensions, the Commission proposes to strengthen and modernise the framework to better support efficiency, scale and trust in supplementary pensions.

The review enhances the protection of savers and removes barriers to market-driven consolidation and other forms of fostering economies of scale. These measures will help IORPs to operate more efficiently, reduce costs, diversify their investments portfolios including in equity, to deliver stronger returns on citizens’ savings. This also contributes to increased financing opportunities for European companies.

Legislative proposal to amend the Pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP) Regulation

The review of the PEPP Regulation seeks to make the Pan-European Personal Pension Product (PEPP) a more attractive, accessible and cost-effective option for savers. It will remove existing requirements and design features that have hampered the take-up of the PEPP, while at the same time continuing to ensure a high level of consumer protection.

The review introduces an affordable and easily accessible ‘Basic PEPP’, invested in simple financial assets and offered to the public without advice. Savers will also have access to ‘tailored’ PEPPs that may include guarantees and more complex assets, requiring advice to ensure their consumer understanding. As a result, the PEPP will be adaptable to different investor preferences and suitable for various types of providers, including asset managers and insurers. The PEPP will also be open to workplace use and could serve as an auto-enrolment vehicle, where this is allowed under national law and fully respects the prerogatives and autonomy of social partners.

Those changes will ease barriers to provision and distribution, broaden choice for savers, supported by favourable and consistent tax treatment, as Member States will be required to offer comparable tax treatment between national personal pension products.

Clarifying the prudent person principle:

The prudent person principle governs how IORPs and PEPP providers should invest and manage their asset portfolios. However, this principle has been interpreted and implemented very differently across Member States, which has often constrained pension schemes in their ability to diversify investments, in particular in equity. In line with the SIU Strategy, the Commission Communication adopted today clarifies the principle, with the aim to increase investment into equity – both private and listed -to help citizens earn higher long-term returns on their savings and free up new sources of financing for the EU economy.

Next steps

The proposals to amend the IORP II Directive and PEPP Regulation will now have to be negotiated and agreed by the European Parliament and the Council.

The Commission will monitor the implementation of the Recommendation at national level through several mechanisms, including the European Semester. It will promote the exchange of experiences and best practices between Member States.

Background

These measures are in line with recent high-level political statements and reports also underscored the crucial need to mobilise private capital for long-term investment. These include the March 2024 statement of the Eurogroup in inclusive format, the European Council conclusions of both April 2024 and March 2025, the European Parliament’s September 2025 competitiveness report, and the Letta and Draghi reports. Given the long-term nature of pensions’ liabilities, the supplementary pension sector can be a key potential supplier of long-term capital for investment in the EU economy. In the Competitiveness Compass and Savings and Investments Union (SIU) Strategy the Commission committed to put forward measures to unlock this potential.

For more information

Questions and answers

Measures on the supplementary pensions

Quote(s)

Our goal is clear: everyone should be able to maintain good standard of living in retirement. This is why we have adopted a comprehensive approach to strengthen supplementary pensions to complement, not replace, public pensions. Our measures will give Europeans better tools to plan for old age with confidence, while also unlocking new sources of funding to boost the EU economy. I urge all stakeholders, including Member States, to join our efforts, as effective implementation at national level will be critical to achieve those shared objectives.

Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union

Commission simplifies transparency rules for sustainable financial products

The European Commission has today proposed a set of amendments to the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), the EU’s transparency framework for financial products integrating environmental or social aims. The changes are designed to address current shortcomings, making the rules simpler, more efficient, and better aligned with market realities. The revised rules will be more retail-friendly and usable for companies.

A comprehensive review of the SFDR by the Commission has shown that the current framework results in disclosures that are too long and complex, making it difficult for investors to understand and compare the environmental or social characteristics of financial products. Moreover, the SFDR has effectively been used as a de facto labelling system, causing confusion – particularly for retail investors – and increasing the risk of greenwashing and mis-selling. As a result, the regulation has not fully met its objectives to help the EU financial sector allocate capital for Europe’s sustainable priorities.

The amended rules proposed today will result in simpler and more usable information for investors, enabling them to make better informed choices. Providers of financial products will see a reduction in disclosure requirements, enabling them to cut costs. Together, today’s changes will bolster the EU’s leading role in sustainable finance and the competitiveness of its financial sector. Moreover, they will facilitate an increased participation of retail investors in EU capital markets, in line with the objectives of the Savings and Investments Union (SIU) and help boost the flow of funds towards sustainable objectives.

Key elements of the proposal

Simplified disclosures

The Commission proposes to delete entity-level disclosure requirements for Financial Market Participants (FMPs) regarding principal adverse impacts indicators. The aim is to streamline corporate disclosures in the sustainable finance framework, addressing current overlaps between the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the SFDR. This aligns with the Commission’s Omnibus I simplification package from February 2025, and significantly reduces the implementation costs associated with the SFDR. In the future, only the largest FMPs subject to the updated thresholds under the CSRD will need to disclose their impacts on the environment and society. Removing entity-level disclosures from the SFDR significantly cuts reporting requirements and costs associated with collecting data across a wide range of environmental, social and governance (ESG) topics and removes duplications.

The Commission is also proposing a significant reduction in product-level disclosures, limiting them to data that is available, comparable, and meaningful. Focused on the key criteria underpinning the proposed product categories (see point b. below), this will give providers more clarity and certainty on how to design and present the sustainability characteristics or objectives of their products, making them more relevant and comparable for investors. The revised disclosures will also be more retail friendly, helping retail investors to quickly and easily understand the sustainability features of financial products.

A clear categorisation system

Based on a wide consensus in stakeholder feedback, the Commission is proposing a simple categorisation system for financial products making ESG claims. It will comprise three categories with clear criteria, building on existing market practices that have been informed by the latest regulatory guidance. The categories will simplify the investment journey of retail investors and help them make informed investment decisions. Broadly, the categories will be:

‘Sustainable category’: products contributing to sustainability goals (e.g. climate, environment or social goals), such as investments in companies or projects that are already meeting high sustainability standards;

‘Transition category’: products channeling investments towards companies and/or projects that are not yet sustainable, but that are on a credible transition path, or investments that contribute toward improvements in e.g. climate, environment or social areas;

‘ESG basics category’: other products that integrate a variety of ESG investment approaches but do not meet the criteria of the above-mentioned sustainable or transition investment categories (e.g. focusing on best-in-class performers on a given ESG metric, pursuing financial returns while excluding the worst ESG performers).

Categorised products would need to ensure that a high portion of investments (70% of the portfolio) supports the chosen sustainability strategy and exclude from all their portfolio investments in harmful industries and activities, for example companies in violation of human rights standards as well as those involved in tobacco, prohibited weapons and fossil fuels above certain limits. ESG claims in names and in marketing documentation will be reserved for categorised products – this is a key step to fight greenwashing and boost trust in sustainable investments.

Background and next steps

The SFDR was adopted in November 2019 and has been in application since March 2021. The Regulation is complemented by a Commission delegated regulation adopted in April 2022 that added technical details and started applying in January 2023.

The current proposal revises the disclosure framework and defines the essential features of the proposed ESG product categories and supervisory framework. It also empowers the Commission to develop a limited set of implementing rules to supplement these key elements with more technical requirements.

The Commission proposal will now be submitted to Parliament and Council for their deliberation.