Category: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus has joined the pilot project for the development of a secure and interoperable solution for verifying the age of internet users, a key initiative of the European Commission aimed at protecting minors from harmful digital content, particularly on social media, according to a statement by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy.

As noted, the decision was announced by the Deputy Minister, Nicodemos Damianou, during the Informal Telecommunications Council of the European Union (EU), held on Friday in Denmark. Protecting children online is not only a regulatory necessity but also a moral obligation for states, said the Deputy Minister, adding that it is time to focus on the mechanisms to implement it.

“Today, our children remain essentially unprotected,” he stressed, adding that they are exposed daily to harmful, addictive, and often illegal content, with serious consequences for their mental health, well-being, and learning progress,” he said.

“The Cypriot government considers it necessary to set a ‘digital age limit’, a clear age below which access to social networks and other digital services is not permitted, and this is something we are seriously considering at the national level,” he added.

According to the Deputy Minister, Cyprus’ participation in this pilot European programme reflects the country’s political will to promote a coherent, common protection policy at the EU level. ‘The protection of minors on the internet is a particularly sensitive and topical issue, and will continue to be a top priority during Cyprus’ upcoming Presidency of the Council of the EU’, stressed Damianou.

Within the framework of the Council, a Ministerial Declaration was also signed supporting the evaluation of the introduction of a Digital Age of Majority, the implementation of age verification mechanisms, and the establishment of standards for safe digital environments, calling for coordinated efforts to create a safe and appropriate digital environment for minors, the statement concludes.

In a letter sent by the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB) Group, Nadia Calviño, to the President of the European Council, António Costa, which was obtained by CNA, the EIB confirms – ahead of the European Council meeting on October 23-24, 2025 – its intention to give “special attention to the Eastern flank of the Union, anti-drone technologies, as well as military mobility and the protection of critical infrastructure.”

Following the informal summit in Copenhagen, the EIB is “exploring i) targeted actions for military mobility corridors identified by the Commission together with the Member States, in close cooperation with NATO, ii) the construction and reinforcement of significant infrastructure to strengthen the Eastern flank, and iii) supporting with urgency initiatives to protect our citizens, cities, and critical infrastructure against hostile drones.”

The EIB Group is committed to “fully playing its role in supporting Europe’s security, autonomy, and resilience, with concrete actions that will soon begin to have a clear impact on the ground.” As the Commission advances with the Defense Roadmap, the Bank is “ready to contribute with experience and resources to ensure its successful implementation.”

The EIB has already allocated pound 2.5 billion to over 30 significant projects, with the process from initial project assessment to signing accelerated to six months. The EIB’s portfolio covers five key areas: reinforcing Europe’s critical infrastructures, such as military centers, ports, and transport corridors; strengthening the industrial capabilities of the European defense industry, including the production of equipment for drones and counter-drone technologies; supporting research and development in new technologies, such as radar, electronic defense, and biodefense; facilitating access to financing for small and medium-sized enterprises operating in the defense sector; and strengthening an ecosystem of specialized private investment funds to support the security and defense industry.

“We are working increasingly closely with the European Commission, the European Defence Agency, Member States, and NATO to ensure our work supports European priorities, as outlined in the White Paper for European Defence Readiness 2030. Additionally, we are cooperating to ensure complementarity between the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) and EIB funding, maximizing the impact of available public resources at the EU level,” Calviño adds in the letter.

The EIB welcomes the amendments proposed through the Defence Omnibus and the extension of the InvestEU advisory mandate for security and defense. It states that this should meet three key objectives: sufficiency and speed, predictability and flexibility, and simplicity and efficiency, while including quantum technology, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, robotics, and advanced manufacturing systems. “However, a further increase in available funding for technical assistance for infrastructure projects by the Commission will be much needed to support the early stages of project development and get new projects off the ground, particularly on the Eastern flank,” the President emphasizes.

In closing, Calviño calls on Costa for the continued support of the 27 Member States, anticipating “progress in system standardization and procurement centralization so that Europe can successfully face any security challenges.”

Cyprus produced a remarkable late comeback to earn a 2-2 draw and a valuable point against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their 2026 World Cup qualifying match.

In last night’s game at AEK Arena, Cyprus found themselves trailing 2-0 but fought back to level the match in stoppage time.

Bosnia and Herzegovina opened the scoring in the 10th minute whith Katic. Despite the early setback, the Cypriot team responded positively and pushed for an equaliser. However, in the 36th minute, Bosnia doubled their lead after an own goal by Michail.

Cyprus managed make the 2-1 just before the break, with Laifis scoring in first-half stoppage time (45+1).

The dramatic equaliser came deep into extra time, in the 90+6 minute, when Kakoullis was brought down in the box and Ioannis Pittas converted from the penalty spot to make it 2-2.

The draw was a fair reward for Cyprus’ determined performance and marked the team’s second consecutive comeback from two goals down, following a similar 2-2 result against Romania at GSP Stadium.

Cyprus (A. Mantzios): Michail, Siikkis, St. Andreou, Charalambous (72′ Kakoullis), Correia (65′ Pileas), Pittas, Loizou (80′ Koutsakos), Artymatas (80′ Charalambos Kyriakou), Laifis, Kastanos, Tzionis (80′ Evangelos Andreou).

Weather Temperature for Cyprus

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

Date 10/10/2025

Station

TEMPERATURE (C) (FROM 20:00 PC of the previous one until the time of the show)

Humidity at

1200 UTC

Highest

Lowest

Nicosia (Athalassa)

28 (27.7)

12 (11.9)

35

Larnaka Airport

27 (27.2)

15 (15.1)

48

Limassol (New Port)

26 (25.7)

14 (13.8)

47

Limassol (Municipal Garden)

27.6

16.6

Pafos Airport

26 (25.6)

17 (17.2)

56

Frenaros

28 (27.6)

17 (16.6)

49

Prodromos

24 (24.4)

7 (7)

82

Polis Pafos

26 (25.5)

17 (16.5)

52

The Public Debt Management Office (PDMO) of the Ministry of Finance will hold an auction of 13-week Treasury Bills worth pound 25 million on October 20, 2025, between 08:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.

According to a notice published in the Official Gazette of the Republic on October 10, the issue date for the Treasury Bills (10th Series 2025), which carry no interest, is set for October 24, 2025, with a maturity date of January 23, 2026.

The PDMO stated that offers submitted before or after the above auction timeframe will be considered invalid and rejected.

It added that the Treasury Bills to be issued through the auction will be listed on the Cyprus Stock Exchange for trading on October 24, 2025.

Transport Ministers of Cyprus and Qatar held recently a meeting during which they discussed issues related to the port system and airport connectivity, investments in infrastructure projects and digital transformation.

According to a press release issued on Friday by the Cyprus Ministry, on the sidelines of the Maritime Cyprus 2025 international conference, that took place recently in Limassol, Minister of Transport, Communications and Works Alexis Vafeades had a meeting with Minister of Transport of the State of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani on October 06, 2025.

During the meeting, it adds, they referred to the upcoming official visit of the President of the Republic to Qatar in the coming months, which will constitute an important step for the further deepening of relations between the two countries.

The Minister also met with European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, on the sidelines of the Maritime Cyprus 2025 international conference.

The two sides, the press release says, exchanged views on the priorities of the European Union and the issues that the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU will have to address.

After the meeting, they visited the Nicosia Peripheral Motorway, an emblematic infrastructure project financed by the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF), it concludes.

The European Court of Human Rights unanimously ruled that in the case of Georgios Papadopoulos v. Cyprus that there had been a violation of Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 (right to free elections) to the European Convention on Human Rights.

The case, a Courts press release says, concerned the fact that Cypriot law did not provide for the possibility to fill a parliamentary seat that had become vacant before the start of the parliamentary term. The applicant in the case was a runner-up candidate in the 2016 parliamentary elections, but was appointed when a member of the European Parliament decided not to take up her seat before the start of the parliamentary term. The applicant’s appointment was however annulled in 2017, 2018 and 2020 because the Electoral Court considered that there was no legal or permissible constitutional framework for such substitution.

The applicant, Georgios Papadopoulos, is a Cypriot national who was born in 1965 and lives in Limassol (Cyprus). He was a runner-up candidate in the 2016 parliamentary elections for the Solidarity Movement.

A Member of the European Parliament – and president of the Solidarity Movement – was elected but she decided not to take the seat prior to the start of the parliamentary term because she wished to remain an MEP.

The Cypriot legal system did not, however, expressly regulate this contingency, that is to say when an elected candidate renounced their seat prior to taking office.

Papadopoulos complained that despite being appointed three times, the Electoral Court had annulled his mandate each time, in breach of his right to stand for election and the electorate’s right to choose the legislature.

The application was lodged with the European Court of Human Rights on 21 April 2021. Judgment was given by a Chamber of seven judges.

“The authorities’ failure to effectively resolve this gap or to provide a lawful alternative, whether through legislative or judicial intervention, had ultimately frustrated the choice of the people as expressed in May 2016” the decision says.

The Court found that there had been an interference with the applicant’s rights that had not been ‘lawful’, in violation of Article 3 of Protocol No. 1 to the Convention.

The Court held that Cyprus was to pay the applicant 8,000 euros in respect of non-pecuniary damage.

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

MEETING DATE: 09/10/2025

INDICES BASE VALUES: FTSEMed=5000, OTH

President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, received on Thursday Cypriot EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, with whom he discussed issues related to his portfolio.

According to a statement by the Presidency, Kadis, who was accompanied by his team said that their visit to Cyprus is taking place within the framework of a process of strengthening their collective work and exchanging ideas regarding the progress of the Commission’s work.

He informed the President about the various activities that took place within the framework of their visit, in areas related to fisheries in the Republic of Cyprus. He added that a team of distinguished professionals has been formed, stating that ‘we examine issues that concern all EU Member States with great care, with the remaining members of the team being particularly sensitive and aware of issues that concern Cyprus.’

The next steps for the Greece-Cyprus-Israel electricity link, the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI), have been agreed during a meeting in Athens between Cyprus Energy Minister George Papanastasiou and his Greek counterpart, Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou.

Speaking to CNA following a statement from the Greek Energy Ministry, Papanastasiou said the meeting was ‘very constructive and held in an excellent atmosphere,’ adding that both sides agreed on the next phase of work ‘in the direction set by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides.’

According to the Cypriot Minister, the two sides decided that all outstanding regulatory issues must be resolved, some of which may stem from the project’s transition from the EuroAsia Interconnector to the Great Sea Interconnector.

‘As we are not fully aware of all the pending matters, it was deemed appropriate to arrange a meeting as soon as possible-possibly next week-between the two regulators and the project developer,’ he said, adding that an independent observer may also participate ‘to help ensure a productive outcome.’

Papanastasiou noted that EU Energy Commissioner Dan Jørgensen has asked to take part in a videoconference on the project, which was initially scheduled for Thursday but postponed to next week.

‘I believe the Commissioner will want to understand precisely what issues are causing the current delays, which the European Commission is certainly following closely,’ he said.

The Minister underlined that the Athens meeting ‘took place in a very positive climate and confirms the positions expressed by the Greek Prime Minister and the President of Cyprus. It follows the direction they have set, and we are simply moving ahead with its implementation.’

Asked whether the project’s financial aspects were discussed, Papanastasiou said these will be addressed once the regulatory issues are resolved. ‘The matter of the pound 25 million is part of that process,’ he added, stressing that ‘it’s time to start working rather than making statements.’

In its statement, the Greek Energy Ministry described the meeting as constructive and said it was attended by Deputy Energy Minister Nikos Tsafos and Cyprus Ambassador to Greece Stavros Avgoustidis. It confirmed that both sides agreed on the next steps for the GSI ‘in line with the direction set by Prime Minister Mitsotakis and President Christodoulides.’