Category: Cyprus News Agency

A Memorandum of Cooperation on health was signed on Tuesday in Copenhagen by the Minister of Health, Michalis Damianos, and the Minister of Social Affairs of Estonia, Karmen Joller.

According to a press release by the Ministry of Health, the Memorandum provides for cooperation in early detection and diagnosis of cancer, electronic solutions to support the efficiency and effectiveness of the health system, as well as issues related to pharmaceutical products.

‘This cooperation aims to improve the quality of care and access to health services, while strengthening joint efforts to combat cancer and safeguard public health,’ the Ministry of Health stated.

The Minister of Health is in Copenhagen for the 75th Session of the Regional Committee for Europe of the World Health Organization (WHO).

The Council of Ministers approved on Wednesday the government’s proposal for the tax reform, which includes six amending bills and will now be submitted to the House of Representatives for discussion and approval, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos announced, describing it as ‘an important and landmark initiative of the President of the Republic’ that is now moving toward implementation.

Speaking at the Presidential Palace after the Cabinet meeting, Keravnos said the reform comprises a package of six amending bills, emphasising that these changes are necessary as they form part of a broader restructuring of the tax system. He noted that the reform, the first in 22 years, aims to ensure a fairer distribution of the tax burden, to support low-income groups and the middle class, and to strengthen the growth prospects of businesses, the vast majority of which are small and medium-sized.

The Finance Minister added that the reform also seeks to reinforce and sustain the resilience and growth trajectory of the Cypriot economy, while at the same time further enhancing the country’s comparative advantages for foreign investment, especially in sectors related to new technologies and digital transition.

He placed special emphasis on the social dimension of the reform, reflected in the tax relief measures designed to support family income. He said that additional support will be provided to single-parent families and young couples purchasing their first home, as well as for energy upgrades of primary residences.

Keravnos further said that the reform introduces new measures to combat tax evasion.

He announced a horizontal increase of the tax-free income threshold from pound 19,500 to pound 20,500, adding that this amount ‘is among the highest in the European Union.’

According to Keravnos, households with annual combined income under pound 80,000 for couples or cohabitants, under pound 100,000 for large families, and under pound 40,000 for single individuals will benefit from the following tax deductions: pound 1,000 per child, and pound 2,000 per child for single-parent families.

He added that an additional pound 1,000 deduction will be granted per student, pound 1,500 for interest on a primary residence loan or rent, and pound 1,000 for energy upgrades of primary residences or the purchase of a new electric vehicle.

Measures for businesses

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Keravnos also referred to several measures concerning businesses, noting that the deemed distribution of dividends will be abolished for profits earned after January 1, 2026. At the same time, the rate of the special defence contribution on actual dividend distributions will be reduced from 17% to 5% for profits generated after that date, while the defence tax on rental income will be abolished.

The corporate tax rate, he said, will increase from 12.5% to 15%, while a special tax regime will be introduced for profits from the disposal of crypto-assets, with a flat rate of 8%. The period for carrying forward tax losses will also be extended from five to seven years.

Keravnos noted that ‘the overall fiscal impact of the tax reform, based on the government’s final decisions, is fiscally neutral, as this was one of the original goals of the reform.’

He also said that the expected benefits are distributed “more fairly between workers and businesses, households, men and women.’ He noted that the reform places particular focus on young people and addressing low birth rates, while maintaining and enhancing conditions for attracting foreign investment and companies.

‘I expect that the tax reform will be discussed by the House as a comprehensive package within a timely framework, so that this integrated reform, which benefits everyone, can take effect on January 1, 2026,’ the Minister concluded.

?he Cyprus Center for European and International Affairs cordially invites you to the Cypriot Pre-Presidency Conference, ‘Reshaping Europe in an Age of Uncertainty’. The Conference which is co-organized by the Center, the Department of Politics and Governance of the University of Nicosia and TEPSA is going to take place on October 30-31, 2025 at the UNESCO Amphitheatre, University of Nicosia. The Conference is supported by the EU, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the Cyprus Forum.

Commission advances the Savings and Investments Union with measures to mobilise insurers and banks’ capital for Europe’s future

The European Commission has adopted two measures to support the essential role those institutional investors, such as banks and insurers, play in the financing the EU economy.

These measures deliver on the roadmap set out in the Savings and Investments Union (SIU) strategy and contribute to the EU’s broader objectives of supporting private investment, improving capital market integration, and strengthening Europe’s long-term competitiveness, for the benefit of EU businesses and households.

They aim at boosting equity investments by banks and insurers, including where these investments are made alongside public entities – such as the European Investment Bank or national promotional banks.

Upgraded EU-Ukraine trade agreement enters into force

As of today, the EU and Ukraine will benefit from an enhanced, stable, fair and permanent trade framework, with the entry into force of the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). The upgraded DCFTA delivers additional, mutually beneficial trade liberalisation, while taking fully into account the sensitivity of certain EU agricultural sectors. It illustrates in a very tangible way the EU’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ukraine. At the same time, it limits EU imports of sensitive agricultural products compared to the levels under the autonomous trade measures, enshrines a robust new safeguard clause, and provides for the alignment of Ukrainian and EU production standards.

The DCFTA will support long-term economic certainty and stable trade relations for both parties, while contributing to the gradual integration of Ukraine into the EU Single Market.

New measures unlock access to data from largest online platforms to support research

As of today, new rules under the Digital Services Act (DSA) will allow researchers to gain unprecedented access to very large online platforms’ data to study the societal impact stemming from the platforms’ systems. Such access is now possible following the entry into force of the delegated act on data access.

The measures will allow qualified researchers to request access to previously unavailable data from very large online platforms and search engines. Platforms’ own data is a key element in understanding the possible systemic risks stemming from, for example, recommender systems. It will also help address risks such as the spread of illegal content and financial scams. Hence, ensuring a safer online experience for users, and, importantly, minors.

While creating opportunities for new studies, these measures also include safeguards to protect the companies’ interest. To get access to platforms’ data, researchers will have to undergo a strict assessment carried out by Digital Services Coordinators, the national authorities responsible for the implementation of the DSA. If researchers fulfil all the criteria prescribed by the law and if the research projects are relevant for studying systemic risks, including the spread of illegal content or negative effects on mental health, under the DSA, the platforms are legally required to comply with their data requests. Digital Services Coordinators are already working together to ensure that data access applications will be assessed uniformly across Member States and in due time.

Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice President for Technological Sovereignty, Security and Democracy, said: ‘Creating a safer online environment starts with studying the risks. With the Digital Services Act rules, independent researchers will now be able to study new data from online platforms. Understanding the potential risks that online platforms can have on their users is another step in ensuring platforms’ accountability.’

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

Commissioners Jørgensen and Roswall to discuss key international energy and environment issues at G7 Ministers’ Meeting

Tomorrow and Friday, Commissioner for Energy and Housing, Dan Jørgensen, and Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, will be in Toronto to participate in the annual G7 Energy and Environment Ministers’ meeting.

Hosted by the Canadian government, the two-day ministerial will build on the outcomes of the G7 Summit in Kananaskis, Alberta, held earlier this year, where leaders committed to support concrete actions towards building energy security and accelerating the digital transition, and advancing a circular economy and protecting our oceans and freshwater.

Commissioner Jørgensen will engage with the G7 energy ministers on critical raw materials and tackling supply chain vulnerabilities, the enabling role of artificial intelligence in the energy transition, the importance of innovation, emerging technologies and nuclear in driving a sustainable and resilient energy future, as well as energy security. There will also be a dedicated exchange on how to step up support for Ukraine’s energy security in light of the continuous attacks on its critical energy infrastructure. In the margins of the Ministerial Meeting, the Commissioner will also hold bilateral meetings with Svitlana Grynchuk, Minister for Energy of Ukraine; Chris Wright, US Secretary for Energy; and Minister Hodgson from Canada.

Commissioner Roswall will focus on tackling issues high on the global environment and climate agenda and advance G7 leadership on environmental priorities. This includes extreme weather prediction, preparedness and response; promoting a circular economy and resource efficiency; and catalyzing action to tackle the global water crisis. The Commissioner will also have bilateral meetings with Minister Dabrusin of Canada, Secretary of State Emma Reynolds of the United Kingdom, and State Minister Shigeharu Aoyama of Japan.

Commissioner Serafin to visit Greece for his ‘Tour d’Europe’

As part of the ‘Tour d’Europe’ to consult on the European long-term budget, Commissioner for the Budget, Anti-Fraud and Public Administration Piotr Serafin will be in Greece tomorrow and on Friday. Through these visits, the Commissioner meets with public authorities and beneficiaries of EU funding, to analyse the impact of the EU budget in the European regions and exchange views on the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposals.

Tomorrow, Commissioner Serafin will meet with Prime Minister of Greece, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which will be followed by visit to the Piraeus subway extension together with Nikos Papathanasis, Alternate Minister of Economy and Finance, as well as Konstantinos Kyranakis, Alternate Minister of Infrastructure and Transport and Nikolaos Tachiaos, Deputy Minister of Transport. Thanks to this first part of the mission, Commissioner Serafin will see firsthand how EU-supported initiatives are improving lives and contributing to regional development across Europe.

Later in the day, Commissioner Serafin will head to the Hellenic Parliament, where he will be meeting the Committee on EU Affairs, followed by a meeting with the Vice-President of Greece, Konstantinos Chatzidakis. His visit on Thursday will finish at the Museum of Acropolis, the construction of which was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

On Friday, the Commissioner will meet with the Minister of Finance, Kyriakos Pierrakakis, where they will have the chance to exchange views about the next MFF.

After overnight negotiations, the EU Council of Fisheries and Agriculture reached on Tuesday a political agreement on the fishing limits for key fish stocks in the Baltic Sea for 2026. The agreement, based on scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), aims to ensure the sustainability of fish stocks and support the fishing sector. However, Sweden did not endorse the final compromise, expressing reservations about its effectiveness.

Danish Minister for Food, Agriculture, and Fisheries, Jacob Jensen, stated that the agreement secures a balanced future by combining the need for sustainable fish stocks with the protection of marine ecosystems and the support of fishing communities. “Today’s agreement is about securing our shared future. We have struck a balance between ensuring sustainable fish stocks, protecting our marine ecosystems, and safeguarding the long-term viability of our fishing communities,” Jensen underlined. He also noted that, despite the challenges, the compromise reached is generally in line with scientific advice, and in some cases, the limits set are even stricter than those recommended by scientists.

On behalf of the European Commission, Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Kostas Kadis, acknowledged the importance of the compromise but stressed that the Commission’s original proposal would have better supported the recovery of Baltic fish stocks. During the press conference, Commissioner Kadis highlighted that the poor condition of the Baltic Sea is due to multiple factors, including climate change, eutrophication, overfishing, and pollution. “We need a holistic approach to address all these challenges and improve marine life, including fish stocks,” the Commissioner emphasized.

The Commissioner also mentioned that the Commission organized a high-level conference in Sweden, where ministers of fisheries, agriculture, and environment from the Baltic Sea member states discussed solutions from all angles. “Addressing the issue of cormorants and seals could be one of the measures, but it is not the only solution. We need a comprehensive strategy for the recovery of fish stocks,” he added. Kadis further emphasized that the Commission will continue working to address all pressures on fish stocks, including environmental and human-induced factors.

Regarding concerns from environmental organizations that the agreement could lead to over-exploitation of fish stocks, Jensen defended the compromise, stating that it is largely consistent with scientific advice. “We have listened carefully to the scientific advice, and in many cases, we have set lower limits than those recommended by ICES,” he said. The Minister also noted that the agreement allows for the continuation of recreational fishing for one clipped salmon per fisher per day, as a measure to balance stock protection with the needs of fishers.

However, Sweden did not support the final compromise. When asked about Sweden’s objections, Jensen stated: “We tried to accommodate all member states, but in negotiations, it is not always possible to achieve unanimity.” The agreement will be formally voted on at a future Council meeting once the text has been finalised in all EU languages.

President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides will have a first meeting with the new Head of UNFICYP and Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General, Khassim Diagne today at 11:30 a.m. local time.

Cyprus government awaits for the announcements from the United Nations regarding the upcoming visit to Cyprus of the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General, María Ángela Holguín.

The Senegalese diplomat Khassim Diagne replaced Colin Stewart, who retired recently.

Upon his arrival, Diagne said he felt honored and grateful to be on the island, adding that he looks forward to working with all parties. Diagne has over 25 years of experience in international affairs and has held senior leadership positions within the United Nations.

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 of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, had on Wednesday afternoon a telephone conversation with new Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhurman, “as a result of a relevant initiative by the President of the Republic, immediately after the results of the voting process in the occupied territories”.

According to a post on ‘X’ by Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, during the conversation, President Christodoulides congratulated Erhurman and expressed his readiness to hold a joint meeting as soon as possible.

The Spokesperson says that the President of the Republic also reiterated his firm will to continue to contribute constructively to the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General for the resumption of negotiations, on the basis of the agreed framework, as determined by the relevant Security Council resolutions and the principles and values of the European Union.

The Turkish Cypriot leader, Letymbiotis concludes, undertook to contact the President of the Republic in the immediate future to arrange a meeting.

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Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Wednesday that the first meeting between President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, and new Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cyprus and Head of UNFICYP, Khassim Diagne, was a very constructive one, adding that the President expressed his political will for a close cooperation.

It was, he said, the first meeting of the President of the Republic with the new Special Representative of the UNSG in Cyprus, it was “a very constructive meeting, during which the President of the Republic expressed once again his sincere political will and the Republic of Cyprus’ for a close, good cooperation both with Diagne and with the United Nations, especially in the efforts that the UN Secretary-General personally makes for the resumption of negotiations, always within the agreed framework.”

He added that the President raised issues that due to Turkish provocations, remain pending, with the ultimate goal being the resumption of negotiations from the point where they had been interrupted.

Letymbiotis said that the President raised during the meeting issues related to the enclaved Cypriots, the five Greek Cypriots who have been illegally detained for over two months in the Turkish occupied areas of Cyprus, the issue of Varosha, the Green Line, and the challenges we face daily.

In this context, he added, President Christodoulides reiterated that he and his associates are at Diagne’s disposal for daily, close contact and communication, “so that we can contribute to the greatest extent possible to his mission and terms of mandate, in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.”

Replying to another question, he said that “as the President of the Republic has stated, repeated efforts have been made to make this telephone call possible. We hope that this telephone call with Erhurman (the new Turkish Cypriot leader) will take place as soon as possible.”

Asked when the Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, is expected in Cyprus, he said that an official announcement on the matter is expected from the United Nations.

He added that it is certain that she will visit Cyprus in the near future, “after, I believe, the meeting with Erhurman is first arranged, so that she can hold the new round of contacts in Ankara, Athens, London and Brussels, with the aim of convening the informal multilateral conference, which the UN Secretary-General of himself has determined before the end of the year.”

The Government Spokesperson was also asked if there is any change in relation to the conference. “We do not yet have any such information. What we understand is that the arrangement for a meeting with Erhurman is also expected so that it can be finalised.”

He noted that “the Government, the President of the Republic has proven for two and a half years, in the most clear way,” that amidst adverse circumstances there is a constructive stance on our part and that “thanks to these initiatives that we have undertaken, this mobility that has occurred in the last two and a half years has been achieved.”

Concluding, he said that we now expect to see the real political will of the other side.

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.

Average gross monthly earnings of employees during the second quarter of 2025 recorded an increase of 4.2%, amounting to pound 2,476, compared to pound 2,375 during the same quarter of 2024, based on provisional data, published by the Statistical Service on Wednesday.

For the second quarter of 2025, there is an increase in seasonally adjusted average gross monthly earnings compared to the first quarter of 2025, of 0.9%.

The average gross monthly earnings of male employees during the second quarter of 2025 are estimated at pound 2,656 and of female employees at pound 2,251. Compared to the second quarter of 2024, the average gross monthly earnings of male and female employees recorded an increase of 3.8% and 4.7% respectively.

According to data published by the Statistical Service, 36.1% of employees receive gross monthly earnings below pound 1,500. 40% of employees earn between pound 1,501 and pound 2,999, while 12.8% earn between pound 3,000 and pound 4,499. 6% receive between pound 4,500 and pound 5,999, and 5.1% of employees earn more than pound 6,000.