Category: Cyprus News Agency

MEPs backed a review of EU driving licence rules introducing provisions on novice drivers, a digital licence, and driving disqualification.

On Tuesday, the European Parliament confirmed an update of EU driving licence rules that aim to contribute to road safety and reduce collisions with almost 20,000 lives lost on EU roads annually.

New training requirements

To qualify for a licence a driver’s test will now have to include knowledge on blind spot risks, driver-assistance systems, the safe opening of doors, and phone usage distraction risks. As a result of demands by MEPs, new training and testing requirements will place a greater emphasis on risk awareness of pedestrians, children, cyclists and other vulnerable road users.

Validity and health checks

Driving licences should be valid for 15 years for motorcycles and cars, with the possibility for member states to reduce the validity period to 10 years if a driving licence is used as a national ID. Driving licences for trucks and buses will be valid for five years. EU countries may reduce the validity period for drivers aged 65 or older in order to submit holders to an increased frequency of medical checks or refresher courses.

Before qualifying for their first licence or when applying for a renewal, a driver should pass a medical check, including tests of their eyesight and cardiovascular condition. EU countries may opt to substitute the medical check for car drivers or motorcycle riders by self-assessment forms or other assessment systems designed at the national level.

Novice and accompanied drivers

For the first time, EU rules will set a probationary period for inexperienced drivers of at least two years. These drivers will face stricter rules and sanctions for driving under the influence of alcohol and not using safety belts or child-restraint systems.

In addition, 17-year-olds will be able to get a licence to drive a car (category B), but they will have to drive accompanied by an experienced driver until they are 18.

To mitigate the shortage of professional drivers, the new rules will allow 18-year-olds to obtain a licence to drive a truck (category C) and 21-year-olds to drive a bus (category D), provided they hold a certificate of professional competence. Otherwise, a person will have to be 21 and 24 respectively to drive these vehicles.

Mobile driving licence

Under the new rules, a digital driving licence, accessible on a mobile phone, is intended to gradually become the main licence format in the EU. However, MEPs secured the right for drivers to request a physical licence, which should be issued without undue delay and in general within three weeks.

Driving disqualification

To reduce reckless driving while abroad a driving licence’s withdrawal, suspension or restriction will be passed on to the EU country which issued it, to ensure the cross-border enforcement of penalties. National authorities will have to inform each other, without undue delay, about decisions on driving disqualifications related to the most severe traffic offences – including drink or drug driving, involvement in a fatal traffic incident, or excessive speeding (e.g. driving 50 km/h faster than the speed limit).

Quotes

EP rapporteur on driving licence Jutta Paulus (Greens, DE) said: ‘By 2030 the new European Driving Licence Directive will introduce a digital driving licence, while giving citizens full freedom of choice between an app and a physical card. Driving education will contain more elements for the safety of pedestrians and cyclists. Volunteers such as firefighters and rescue workers will be able to drive emergency vehicles more easily, while new rules on training and recognition will make transport professions more attractive and accessible. Citizens across Europe will directly benefit from these tangible improvements.”

EP rapporteur on driving disqualification Matteo Ricci (S and D, IT) stressed: ‘Today is an important step forward in improving road safety. By introducing clearer and more timely criteria for suspending driving privileges in cases of serious violations, it helps protect not only responsible drivers but the entire community. A stronger, more effective system of monitoring and enforcement will help prevent accidents and save lives.’

Next steps

The new rules will enter into force on the 20th day following their publication in the

Official Journal of the European Union. EU countries will have three years to transpose these new provisions into national law and an additional year to prepare for their implementation.

Background

The revised EU driving licence rules are part of a road safety package presented by the Commission in March 2023, which aims to improve safety for all road users and to move as close as possible to zero fatalities in EU road transport by 2050 (“Vision Zero”).

Further information

Webstreaming of the press conference with rapporteurs

Draft EU driving licence rules

Procedure file on EU driving licence

EP Research Service briefing on the revision of the Driving Licence Directive (October 2025)

Draft EU rules on driving disqualification

Procedure file (driving disqualification)

EP Research Service briefing on driving disqualification (October 2025)

A key priority of the Cyprus EU Presidency will be advancing the European Union’s enlargement agenda including for the Western Balkans, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said on Tuesday, speaking at a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic, after their meeting in Zagreb.

Noting that his visit is the first bilateral visit by a President of the Republic of Cyprus to Croatia in nearly two decades, he said that it takes also place in the framework to outreach EU member states in view of the assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union in just 70 days.

“Therefore, my visit provided a very valuable opportunity for coordination and discussion in key issues, key issues expected to feature prominently on the European agenda during the first half of 2026. I assure the Prime Minister that during our Presidency, Cyprus will act as an honest broker, working to advance European integration, strategic autonomy, and of course, unity” he noted, according to a press release issued by the Presidency.

A key priority of the Cyprus EU Presidency, he went on to say, will also be advancing the European Union’s enlargement agenda including for the Western Balkans.

“Cyprus remains a firm supporter of the European Union’s open-door policy based of course on merit and the fulfilment of the established criteria. We believe that enlargement is a strategic investment in peace, stability, and prosperity for the entire continent, and in this context we will work to maintain momentum in the accession process of candidate countries and ensure that enlargement remains high on the European Union’s agenda,” he pointed out.

Regarding Ukraine and the Middle East, President Christodoulides said that they reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as to promoting peace efforts in the Middle East.

Reinforcing the European Union’s relationship with the wider Middle East will also be “one of the priorities of our presidency, the President of Cyprus said, adding that the new pact for the Mediterranean marks a historic positive step forward, a change to reinvigorate our relations with southern neighbourhood partners with tangible projects that promote connectivity, sustainability, and regional stability”.

“And as Presidency, Cyprus will place the implementation of the pact high on the European Union’s agenda, and to this end we also aim to host a meeting next April with the participation of leaders from both the European Union and the broader Middle East,” he stressed.

He also had, as he said, the opportunity to brief the Prime Minister on the latest developments regarding the Cyprus problem and to express Nicosia’s “sincere appreciation for Croatia’s long-standing stance and its continued support for a comprehensive and lasting solution of the Cyprus problem, always in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and, of course, the values, the principles and the laws of the European Union”.

Referring to the two countries’ bilateral ties, the President of Cyprus said that one particularly promising area for further collaboration is defence, especially in light of their shared vision to enhance the European Union’s strategic autonomy.

“And the upcoming Memorandum of Cooperation in Security and Defence, which we expect to sign soon, will provide the framework for a more structured and enhanced collaboration in this field,” he added.

Replying to a question on what could the EU leaders do, in view of the Budapest meeting between the Presidents of the USA and Russia, to maintain unity with the US in seeking a solution for Ukraine and at the same time avoid a bad deal for Ukraine, the President of the Republic said that “we welcome any initiative that will end the foreign invasion and occupation of Ukraine”.

“We welcome any initiative of the United States, as we did with President Trump’s 20 points plan for the Middle East and actually Cyprus is working for the implementation of the plan. In order to have a successful outcome in Budapest between President Trump and President Putin, I think if they are going to discuss Ukraine, the President of Ukraine should be present because no agreement can be reached without the presence of the country that is directly influenced, the country that is under occupation,” he concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 21/10/2025 UNTIL 1800 22/10/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1013hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 25°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA

PERIOD

WIND

STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Night

Northwest to Northeast 3, locally at first West to Northwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight, locally at first Slight

Morning

Northeast to Southeast 3, soon East to Southeast

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

Southeast to Southwest 3

Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Night

West to Northwest 3 to 4, gradually locally Variable 3

Smooth to Slight

Morning

Northwest to Northeast 3, soon Northeast to East

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Night

West to Northwest 3

Smooth to Slight

Morning

Northwest to Northeast 3, soon Northeast to East

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

Northeast to Southeast 3

Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Night

Southeast to Southwest 3, locally at first Southwest to West 3 to 4

Smooth to Slight

Morning

North to Northeast 3

Smooth to Slight

Afternoon

North 3

Smooth to Slight

Weather Temperature for Cyprus

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

Date 21/10/2025

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)

29 (28.9)

19 (18.8)

44

Larnaka Airport

30 (29.6)

18 (17.5)

53

Limassol (New Port)

27 (27.3)

18 (18)

57

Limassol (Municipal Garden)

29.8

19.0

Pafos Airport

26 (26)

18 (18.4)

72

Frenaros

30 (29.8)

19 (19)

51

Prodromos

22 (22)

13 (12.6)

52

Polis Pafos

28 (27.6)

19 (18.8)

52

The European Commission appointed on Tuesday Despina Spanou as Deputy Director-General in charge of the Directorate for Cybersecurity and Trust at the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology (DG CNECT). This Commission department develops and implements policies to make Europe fit for the digital age.

According to a Commission press release, with over 25 years of experience in the EU executive, Spanou offers extensive expertise in cybersecurity policy, consumer protection, and digital transformation. She has a deep understanding of the EU’s institutional architecture and decision-making processes, combined with strong management experience leading diverse teams and major policy initiatives in cybersecurity and digital transformation.

Spanou has consistently demonstrated excellence in stakeholder engagement, policy design, and coordination, as well as in steering complex legislative negotiations. She led the negotiations for the Cybersecurity Act and the EU Cybersecurity Blueprint, and played a central role in creating the EU Cybersecurity Skills Academy and the Women4Cyber initiative. Her broad experience and proven leadership make her well placed to contribute decisively to DG CNECT’s work, the press release said.

Despina Spanou, a Cypriot and Greek national, is currently Principal Adviser for cybersecurity and cross-cutting issues at DG CNECT and has previously served as Head of Cabinet to former Vice-President Margaritis Schinas, Director for Digital Society, Trust and Cybersecurity at DG CNECT, and Director for Consumers at the Directorate-General for Justice and Consumers (DG JUST). Earlier, she was Deputy Head of Cabinet to Commissioners Markos Kyprianou and Androulla Vassiliou. Before joining the European Commission in 2003, she worked for a law firm.

The date of effect of the European Commission’s decision will be determined at a later stage.

Croatia and Cyprus agree on all strategic points and foreign policy issues and want to accelerate the European Union enlargement process, said the Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenkovic, in his statements following his meeting with the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, on Tuesday in Zagreb.

He added that Croatia aims at a higher volume of trade and other projects and would like to engage Croatian companies, that should contribute to enlarging the trade and commercial exchange between the two countries, while it is also looking forward to its cooperation with Cyprus within the framework of the Mediterranean policy.

The Croatian Prime Minister thanked President Christodoulides as this is the first visit of a Cypriot President to Croatia after 19 years.

‘We are very happy that he has selected Zagreb for this visit and are aware of the fact that Cyprus is taking over the presidency of the European Union on the 1st of January next year,’ he continued.

He added that they discussed, among other issues, security and energy, the EU enlargement, the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and the peace plan of President Trump for Gaza.

Referring to bilateral relations, Plenkovic said they are friendly and very good.

‘Personally, I was in Cyprus twice. I visited his predecessor, and last year, when Cyprus presided over MED9, and we also met yesterday in Portorož, Slovenia, while next year the host is Croatia,’ he noted.

He added that Croatia aims at a higher volume of trade and other projects and would like to engage Croatian companies such as KONCAR and Tesla, that should contribute to enlarging the trade and commercial exchange between the two countries.

We have a lot of things in common within the European Union, continued the Croatian Prime Minister, adding that Croatia and Cyprus agree on all strategic points and foreign policy issues, they want to accelerate the European Union enlargement process, and in that context, to accelerate that of their neighbours, but also that of other countries.

As concerns the Russian aggression against Ukraine, he said that the Croatian position was always clear. ‘We condemn that aggression, we respect territorial integrity, and we think there is absolutely a need for a ceasefire in order to go towards the reintegration of the occupied territories’, he stressed.

Plenkovic also welcomed President Trump’s initiative of 20 points for Gaza. ‘It is very important that it be realised and that at the level of the Security Council of the UN, a decision be taken on the establishment of international stabilisation forces, and this new situation be used for the purpose of an all-encompassing peaceful solution for both Israel and Palestine, a state for Palestine in the long run’, he further noted.

He also said that Croatia, as a country that is still withdrawing European funds, needs more time to get closer to the average level of development per capita. ‘We are now at 70% of the (EU) average, but we would like to see more development of social standard of our citizens’, he added.

Croatia is also looking forward to its cooperation with Cyprus, also within the framework of the Mediterranean policy, continued the Croatian Prime Minister, adding that representatives, such as European Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, and her team, ‘will contribute to the cooperation between the two shores of the Mediterranean, and will certainly work on collaboration in various forms, such as in science, culture, and so on’.

‘Cyprus, is a country that is the closest to the Middle East and also to other parts. We see ourselves also as a country that would like to give its contribution to the strengthening of European security, the same as Cyprus, I believe. I am looking forward to the Cypriot presidency of the European Union,’ he concluded.

Over 100 representatives from media organizations, government agencies, diplomatic missions, universities, think tanks, and enterprises from China, Cyprus, and other European countries will participate in the China-Cyprus-Europe Media Forum, which is being held in Nicosia from 21 to 23 October.

The Forum is jointly organized by the Chinese Embassy in Cyprus, the Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation, Cyprus Mail, Xinhua News Agency Europe Bureau, China Media Group European Bureau, and Kuaishou Technology.

According to a press release by the Chinese Embassy in Cyprus, under the theme ‘Era of Great Transformation: A Shared Future for Humanity-Deepening Media Exchanges and Cooperation, and Jointly Shaping a Bright Future for China-Cyprus and China-Europe Relations’, participants will engage in in-depth discussions on three topics, ‘Media Interactions and Cooperation Boost the Development of China-Cyprus and China-Europe Relations’, ‘Media’s Shared Social and International Responsibilities in the Era of Great Transformation’, and ‘Media Development with AI Empowerment: Cooperation and Regulation’, while special TV program will be filmed.

It is added that the Forum will also feature a range of activities, including media partnership pitch event, joint media exhibition, joint interview, and field visits, will issue the Declaration of China-Cyprus-Europe Media Forum, and see the signing of cooperation agreements among participating media organizations.

As stated, the year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union, the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War, and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, while in 2026, China and Cyprus will celebrate the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 5th anniversary of their strategic partnership, and Cyprus will hold the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of the year.

It is further noted that against this backdrop, the Forum aims to build an open and inclusive platform for dialogue, fostering multi-dimensional and in-depth exchanges among Chinese, Cypriot, and European media, seeking to jointly tell the stories of China-Cyprus friendship, China-Europe cooperation, and global peace and development and usher in a new chapter of China-Cyprus and China-Europe media cooperation, and is expected to contribute media strength to the healthy development of China-Cyprus and China-Europe relations, the creation of a fairer and more equitable global governance system, and the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

In a video message at the opening ceremony of the Forum, the President of the House of Representaives, Annita Demetriou, said that in today’s world where crises and geopolitical tensions dominate headlines, the media can play a vital role in strengthening bilateral relations, bringing people closer together, highlighting opportunities for cooperation, and building trust and understanding.

She added that the people of Cyprus deeply value China’s principled stance, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, regarding the Cyprus problem, as well as its consistent support for the ongoing efforts to resume substantive negotiations aimed at reaching a just and viable settlement, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, ‘a settlement that will reunify our country under conditions of lasting peace, stability, and prosperity, to the benefit of all Cypriots, especially our youth’.

She also acknowledged, on this occasion, the significant contribution of the Embassy of China in Nicosia and, in particular, of Ambassador Liu Yantao, to the further strengthening of the relations and cooperation between the two countries, including at the parliamentary level.

‘The House of Representatives strongly supports such meaningful initiatives that promote dialogue and cooperation. Only by joining efforts can we effectively address current challenges, combat disinformation, support responsible journalism and shape a brighter future for Cyprus, China, and Europe’, she concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops invaded and occupied 37% of its territory.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (B)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1200 21/10/2025 UNTIL 1200 22/10/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1014hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. Today increased medium and high cloud will be present at times with risk of isolated showers in the afternoon. From tonight onwards the weather will be mainly fine.

Visibility: Good, but moderate in showers

Sea surface temperature: 25°C

Warnings: NIL

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

MEETING DATE: 21/10/2025

INDICES BASE VALUES: FTSEMed=5000, OTHERS = 1000

EURO (pound )

TRADED VALUE 639,933.05

INDEX

VALUE

%DIFF.

VALUE

FTSE/CySE 20

167.370

0.080

638,353.750

MAIN MARKET INDEX

225.880

0.300

627,761.580

INVESTMENT COMPANIES MARKET INDEX

3,198.830

-0.070

82,223.070

CSE GENERAL INDEX

276.070

0.080

638,353.750

HOTELS INDEX

1,600.360

0.000

1,579.300

ALTERNATIVE MARKET INDEX

1,818.370

-0.350

12,171.470

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 21/10/2025 UNTIL 0600 22/10/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1013hPa (hectopascal)

Weak low pressure is affecting the area. Today increased medium and high cloud will be present at times, but there is risk of isolated showers or isolated thunderstorm in the morning over the northeastern coast and in the afternoon over the southern and eastern coast.

Visibility: Good, but moderate in showers

Sea surface temperature: 25°C

Warnings: NIL