Category: Cyprus News Agency

Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, Yiannis Panayiotou, discussed the priorities of the upcoming Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU regarding the future of employment, with a delegation of Members of the European Parliament from the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, at the Ministry of Labour, on Wednesday afternoon.

‘The meeting with the Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs of the European Parliament, Li Andersson, and MEPs Konstantinos Arvanitis and Angelika Winzig was useful and constructive for the joint management of the challenges and prospects of employment in the EU,’ the Minister said in his statement following the meeting.

As he noted, in view of the forthcoming Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU, ‘we attach particular importance to close cooperation with the European Parliament, and I am confident that, in particular, our collaboration with the Committee on Employment will be substantial and effective.’

Panayiotou said that he had an in-depth discussion with the MEP delegation on the priorities of the Cypriot Presidency concerning the future of work, which focus on quality jobs, professional skills, social security, and the mobility of workers within the EU.

At the same time, he noted that ‘our shared understanding was reaffirmed regarding the need to further enhance social dialogue and collective bargaining, in order to achieve better regulation of the labour market and employment conditions, as well as to link economic growth with social cohesion through employment.’

He added that the positive course of the Cypriot labour market is the result of good practices that have allowed the creation of conditions for full employment in the country. ‘I am optimistic that through the continued implementation and further strengthening of European policies, this positive path will continue, both for our country and for the other Member States. I believe that the success of the upcoming Cypriot Presidency will be very valuable in this direction, through the implementation of the goals we have set, the achievement of which will be mutually beneficial,’ he concluded.

Li Anderson, MEP and Chair of the Committee on Employment and Social Affairs, thanked the Minister for receiving the delegation of the European Parliament.

“It is very important for us to have the opportunity to come here in Cyprus, just a few months before Cyprus will commence the Presidency of the Council and hear about your priorities for the Work, but, of course, also, to have a discussion on the priorities for the European Parliament and how we can work together on the joint priorities that we have outlined today and to move forward on work that has importance for workers in Europe, for the European Labour Market, for social cohesion and for competitiveness and for growth,” she said.

Anderson added that the delegation had the opportunity to visit the Department of Labour Inspection, and the Centre for Support for families with children with autism, “to familiarise ourselves with the work that is being done in Cyprus, through the EU funding.”

“It has been very interesting and very good for us to see the concrete work that we can do together, through the cooperation between the EU and Cyprus. We are very much looking forward to continuing the cooperation during your Presidency,” she concluded.

Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, attended the Agriculture and Fisheries Council held on October 27 and 28, 2025, in Luxembourg, where discussions focused on the proposal for the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) post-2027 regarding the green architecture, the market situation, the Strategy for Renewing Generations in Agriculture, and the upcoming session of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which covers tuna and bonito species. In her statements, Panayiotou informed her counterparts about the dramatic situation facing agriculture in Cyprus due to drought, requesting support for affected farmers from EU funds. She also called for realism in implementing the EU’s generational renewal plan in agriculture, taking into account the needs of each member state.

An announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture notes that the Ministers of the 27 member states held an orientation discussion on the proposal for the CAP post-2027 regarding the green architecture. The discussion focused on assessing the attractiveness of the new architecture to encourage farmers to participate and contribute to achieving climate and environmental goals.

During her intervention, the Minister defended the need to promote a competitive agricultural sector that operates with environmental protection as a priority, underlining that this goal is one of the greatest challenges for the new CAP. She stressed the importance of ensuring adequate incentives for farmers to contribute to the ambitious goals of the green architecture, as well as the need for sufficient funding to address the climate crisis. At the same time, she highlighted the need to provide farmers with opportunities to increase their income through bioeconomy and circular economy actions.

At the discussion on the market situation, Panayiotou informed about the dramatic situation facing Cypriot agriculture due to drought. “She emphasized that the ongoing drought has affected all food production sectors, with forecasts for 2026 being bleak. She specifically referred to Cyprus’ request for support from EU funds, stressing the importance of supporting affected farmers” it is added.

The Ministers were briefed by Taras Kachka, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine, on the food production situation in the country. In her intervention, the Minister expressed Cyprus’ support for Ukraine’s efforts to align its products with the EU’s high production standards, emphasizing the importance of technical support for the country to achieve this goal. She also highlighted Cyprus’ position on shaping free and unhindered trade that ensures food security and fair competition among food producers.

It is further noted that the Ministers exchanged views on the EU’s position ahead of this year’s session of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), which will be held in November in Seville. In her intervention, Panayiotou fully supported the Commission’s commitment to safeguarding the EU’s interests within the ICCAT, particularly regarding the possible increase in Total Allowable Catches (TAC) for bluefin tuna. She noted that the recovery of this stock is a success, and our priority is to avoid any loss in the existing EU quota distribution for bluefin tuna. In this context, she emphasized the need to ensure fair treatment and predictability regarding the fishing opportunities of member states, as well as equal competition with third countries. She also reminded of the illegal actions and harassment of the Cypriot fishing fleet by Turkey.

Subsequently, it is added, the European Commission presented the recently announced Strategy for Generational Renewal in Agriculture, which sets out a clear roadmap for supporting young farmers and attracting more people to the agricultural sector. The Minister welcomed the announcement and the goal of reducing the demographic gap in the agricultural sector. She also stressed the need to focus on the practical implementation of the initiative, taking into account the specificities of each member state. Finally, she highlighted the importance of setting realistic timelines for implementing the proposed actions for generational renewal to achieve tangible results.

On the sidelines of the Council’s work, Panayiotou held bilateral meetings with the Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Stefan Krajewski, the Slovak Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Richard Takác, and the Austrian Federal Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Climate Protection, Environment, Regions, and Water Management, Norbert Totschnig. During these meetings, they discussed issues of mutual interest in view of the Cypriot Presidency.

President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides expressed on Wednesday hope that the House of Representatives will approve the Government’s proposal for tax reform, as the Cabinet was set to approve the relevant bills during its meeting at the Presidential Palace.

Addressing the Cabinet, President Christodoulides expressed satisfaction that, 22 years after the last comprehensive tax reform, six bills on tax reform were being approved, in line with the Government’s broader policy of continuous reform.

‘This is a reform that reflects the clear ideological and political identity of our Government, which is Social Liberalism, and it runs through all our policies,’ he said.

The President said he was pleased that the proposals achieve the first key objective of a fairer distribution of the tax burden, strengthening the middle class, which he described as ‘the backbone of the economy and society.’ He added that families would also benefit through additional tax relief measures based on family composition, in recognition of the need to address the demographic challenge.

‘We are reinforcing access to home ownership, which is a major challenge, especially for the younger generation. We are substantially supporting large families and single-parent families,’ he noted.

He further said that the reform promotes female employment, taking into account that unemployment is below 5%, and that Cypriot businesses are being supported ‘to an unprecedented degree.’ The plan, he added, also advances the Digital and Green Transitions.

‘It is particularly significant that, under our proposals, in some cases the taxable income threshold exceeds pound 24,500, a pre-election commitment I had made,’ he said.

President Christodoulides expressed hope that Parliament would act swiftly so that the tax reform package can take effect in its entirety on January 1, 2026.

‘I would like to remind everyone that we first presented our framework in February 2025, followed by extensive consultations with all stakeholders. Now is the time for decisions. Now is the time for Parliament to act,’ he stressed.

He also noted that the Government’s responsible fiscal policy allows for the implementation of this bold tax reform after 22 years, a reform from which Cypriot citizens, businesses, and society as a whole will benefit.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 29/10/2025 UNTIL 1200 30/10/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

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

Weak low pressure is temporarily affecting the area, and weak high pressure is expected tomorrow. The weather will be mainly fine.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 24°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Afternoon West to Northwest 4, locally 4 to 5 Slight

Night Northwest to North 3 to 4, gradually Northeast to East 3 Slight, gradually Smooth to Slight

Morning Northeast to East 3 to 4, gradually East to Southeast 4 Smooth to Slight, gradually Slight

South Coast

Afternoon Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4, later Southwest to West Smooth to Slight

Night Variable 3, gradually Northwest to Northeast 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Morning North to Northeast 3 to 4, gradually Northeast to East 4 Smooth to Slight, gradually Slight

East Coast

Afternoon Northeast to Southeast 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3, later North to Northeast 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight, later Slight

Morning North to Northeast 3 to 4, gradually Northeast 4 Slight

North Coast

Afternoon Northwest to North 3 to 4, locally West to Northwest Smooth to Slight

Night Northeast to Southeast 3, at times locally 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

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

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 29/10/2025 UNTIL 1800 30/10/2025

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

Weak low pressure is temporarily affecting the area, and weak high pressure is expected tomorrow. The weather will be mainly fine.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 24°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA

PERIOD

WIND

STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Night

Northwest to North 3 to 4, gradually Northeast to East 3

Slight, gradually Smooth to Slight

Morning

Northeast to East 3 to 4, gradually East to Southeast 4

Smooth to Slight, gradually Slight

Afternoon

Southeast to Southwest 4, later West to Northwest 3 to 4

Slight, later Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Night

Variable 3, gradually Northwest to Northeast 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Morning

North to Northeast 3 to 4, gradually Northeast to East 4

Smooth to Slight, gradually Slight

Afternoon

Northeast to Southeast 4, later North to Northeast 3 to 4

Slight

East Coast

Night

Southwest to Northwest 3, later North to Northeast 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight, later Slight

Morning

North to Northeast 3 to 4, gradually Northeast 4

Slight

Afternoon

Northeast 4, later North to Northeast 3 to 4

Slight

North Coast

Night

Northeast to Southeast 3, at times locally 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Morning

East to Southeast 3, later North to Northeast 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight, later Slight

Afternoon

North to Northeast 3 to 4, locally 4

Slight

New Special Representative of the UN Secretary General in Cyprus and Head of UNFICYP, Khassim Diagne, is well informed about all aspects of the Cyprus problem and current developments, competent sources have said.

According to the sources Diagne, who was received on Wednesday for the first time by President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace, is in direct communication with UNSG’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, and maintains a very close relationship with UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres.

The same sources said that he has not yet received a response from the new Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman on arranging a meeting with him, and that it seems that Erhurman will first visit Ankara before any contact with the UN top official.

The sources note that Diagne “is particularly well informed about the issues of the Cyprus problem”, and has already visited the buffer zone and areas where tensions and provocations had been recorded from time to time. He is also expected to make efforts on the issue of the illegal detention of five Greek Cypriots in the Turkish occupied territories, as well as on strengthening the work of the technical committees.

Regarding the visit of the UNSG’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, to the island, the same information said that the period between 3 and 11 November is being considered, however, confirmation from the United Nations is required.

The Erhurman-Diagne meeting is considered to be the key, as Holguin should know in advance that she will have a meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader.

The UN Secretary General’s goal for a new multilateral meeting on the Cyprus problem remains to hold it this year, but since there is a new Turkish Cypriot leader, this time frame may change.

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.

Five Greek Cypriots were ‘arrested’ on July 19 in the Turkish-occupied village of Trikomo, in the northern part of Cyprus, while visiting their properties and were charged with ‘illegal entry’ and other charges. Although released from detention, they continue to be subjected to multiple ‘court sessions’, even as some were reported to suffer from health issues. Some charges have been dropped but they are not allowed to leave the island’s Turkish-occupied areas pending ‘trial’. The Cyprus government and the European Parliament condemned the arrests, calling for the immediate release of the five, while a European Commission spokesperson said the EU ‘does not recognise the self-proclaimed state in the northern part of Cyprus and its so-called judicial system.’

Khassim Diagne, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General in Cyprus and Head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus, expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to meet the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, for the first time on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters after his meeting with President Christodoulides at the Presidential Palace, Diagne said he looks forward to meeting with Tufan Erhrman, the new Turkish Cypriot leader, when his schedule allows.

In a post on X the UN in Cyprus said that the senior official met with President Christodoulides in the morning and will meet with Tufan Erhrman later this week.

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’ Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, begins an official visit to India on Wednesday at the invitation of Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

According to a press release by the Cypriot Foreign Ministry, the visit aims to further strengthen bilateral ties between Cyprus and India, with a focus on enhancing cooperation at the political, economic, and regional levels.

The Foreign Ministry notes that discussions will focus on deepening bilateral relations as well as on EU-India affairs, in light of Cyprus’ upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

On Thursday, October 30, Kombos will hold a private meeting with his Indian counterpart, followed by expanded consultations between delegations from both foreign ministries.

The Cypriot minister will conclude his official program with a keynote address at the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA), where he will outline prospects for a strategic partnership between Cyprus and India and highlight Cyprus’ role as a pillar of stability and cooperation in the Eastern Mediterranean and the European Union.

Minister of Finance, Makis Keravnos, announced on Wednesday the extension of the zero VAT rate on basic goods, such as baby milk, baby and adult diapers, hygiene products for women and fruits and vegetables until December 2026.

In statements after the meeting of the Council of Ministers, which approved a relevant proposal from the Ministry of Finance, Keravnos said that this proposal is about the extension of the zero value added tax rate, which expires in December 2025, and the aim is to keep it in force until December 2026 on certain basic products.

These products are, he explained, baby milk, baby and adult diapers, hygiene products for women, as well as fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables.

Maintaining a zero VAT rate on these products, he said, directly reduces the expenses of vulnerable households, increases their disposable income and improves their standard of living.

Keravnos added that although inflation is zero for 2025, the government believes that the measure “serves vulnerable groups, the vulnerable citizens of our country, and we want to maintain it.”

The House of Representatives will continue to support the work of the Committee on Missing Persons (CMP) in every way possible, President of the House, Annita Demetriou, said adding that she has also personally proposed to President of Hellenic Parliament Nikitas Kaklamanis that October 29 is established as a Day of Remembrance for the Missing Persons of the Cyprus tragedy by the Greek Parliament.

Demetriou was addressing a memorial service for those who fell during the Turkish invasion of 1974 and the prayer for finding out the fate of missing persons in Cyprus at the Cathedral of Apostle Barnabas, in Nicosia.

According to the House President, the missing persons of 1974, soldiers and civilians, women and children, are the most tragic aspect of the Cyprus problem.

She added that despite repeated calls from the Greek Cypriot side for information that would shed light on their fate, the Turkish side continues to refuse to cooperate and blatantly ignores the resolutions of the UN, the Council of Europe, and international organisations calling for transparency and justice, defying fundamental principles and international declarations on human rights.

She further noted that during the recent first official visit of the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, to Cyprus, she personally raised the issue of establishing October 29 as a Day of Remembrance for the Missing Persons of the Cyprus tragedy by the Greek Parliament as well, adding that the House of Representatives is in constant communication with the Hellenic Parliament so that this initiative can be successful.

“Ascertaining the fate of the missing persons is not only a matter for their relatives, but a duty of the entire state. It is a duty of justice, dignity, and humanity, which requires that the whole truth be told,” she pointed out.

Demetriou pledged that “as the House of Representatives, we will continue to support in every way the work of the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus, with the aim of intensifying efforts, accelerating the pace, and enhancing the effectiveness of the investigations, as time is running out and hundreds of families are eagerly awaiting to find out the fate of their loved ones.”

“Today, we honour the memory of those who fell in 1974, pray for the missing, and renew our commitment to continue the struggle for a free, united, and peaceful Cyprus, without occupying troops, barbed wire or a Buffer Zone, a homeland that belongs to all its legitimate citizens, with respect for human rights, international principles and European values,” she added.

“It is our duty to teach younger generations about sacrifice, patriotism, and humanity, so that the traces of history are not lost to oblivion. Peace and justice are not given freely; they are founded on truth, consistency, and unity,” she concluded.

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 August 31, 2025 out of 2002 missing persons 1,707 were exhumed and 1,057 were identified. Out of 1,510 Greek Cypriot missing persons 761 were identified and 749 are still missing. Out of 492 Turkish Cypriot missing persons 296 were identified and 196 are still missing.