Category: Cyprus News Agency

Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, is in Berlin participating in the 2nd EU Algae Awareness Summit, which began on Thursday.

The 2nd EU Algae Awareness Summit is taking place in Berlin as part of the EU4Algae flagship initiative of the European Commission, in close collaboration with the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (MARE), the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA), and with the support of the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.

The Commission is convening the EU algae sector to support its full potential and expand production across Europe.

On the second day of the event, Friday, October 17, Commissioner Kadis, along with Alois Rainer, German Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture, and Regional Identity, will officially open the proceedings.

According to the Commission, algae, as a strategic resource, offer innovative solutions to some of the planet’s most pressing challenges: climate change, food security, marine ecosystem regeneration, and job creation in coastal and rural areas. By harnessing the power of algae, we can create new value chains and jobs, stimulate innovation, restore ecosystems, and promote sustainable practices across various industries.

The European Commission, through the European Ocean Pact, aims to scale up European algae production, launch the Blue Bioeconomy Innovation initiative by 2027, and set voluntary targets for algae production growth in the EU.

The volume of non-performing loans (NPLs) in the Cypriot banking sector continued to decline at the end of July, according to data released on Thursday by the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC).

Based on the updated figures for NPLs as of 31 July 2025, the ratio of non-performing loans to total loans fell to 5.5%, down from 5.6% at the end of June and 6.2% at the end of 2024.

The total stock of NPLs decreased slightly to pound 1.44 billion, compared with pound 1.46 billion a month earlier. At the same time, total loans rose marginally to pound 26.0 billion, from pound 25.8 billion in June, contributing to the improvement in the overall NPL ratio.

Loans in arrears of more than 90 days remained broadly stable at pound 1.15 billion, representing 4.4% of total loans.

Banks’ accumulated provisions amounted to pound 982 million, of which pound 895 million relate to non-performing loans. The coverage ratio of NPLs by provisions edged up to 62.2%, compared with 62.0% in June and 59.9% at the end of 2024.

The largest share of NPLs continues to be concentrated among households and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Specifically, households recorded an NPL ratio of 7.4%, corresponding to pound 794 million out of total loans of pound 10.76 billion. Non-financial corporations showed pound 613 million in NPLs, representing 4.7% of their total loans, while among SMEs the ratio stood higher, at 7.1%.

As regards restructured loans, the total fell to pound 1.21 billion in July from pound 1.23 billion in June. Around pound 640 million of these continue to be classified as non-performing.

Deputy Minister of Immigration and International Protection, Dr Nicholas A. Ioannides, has noted the significant reduction in irregular migration flows to the Republic of Cyprus over the last two and a half years, adding that Cyprus recorded 10,092 returns in 2024 and has already exceeded 10,000 since January 2025.

According to an official press release, in the context of the preparation for the assumption of the Presidency of the Council of the EU by the Republic of Cyprus, the Deputy Minister participated on Wednesday, in the event for the 40th Anniversary – Signature of the Schengen Agreement, co-organized by the European Parliament and the European Commission.

In his intervention, the Deputy Minister stressed the commitment of the Republic of Cyprus to the full accession into the Schengen Area noting that to achieve this goal, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus is working hard and has made enormous progress. The Deputy Minister also stated that Cyprus’ accession into Schengen will contribute to safeguarding the interests of the European Union in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Ioannides stressed the significant reduction in irregular migration flows to the Republic of Cyprus over the last two and a half years, as a result of targeted actions at national and international level. He noted that irregular arrivals have decreased by 87% compared to 2022. Referring to returns, he said that in 2024 they reached 10,092 while this year until now their number exceeds 10,000.

The Deputy Minister also held a series of meetings at the European Parliament with representatives of political groups and institutions during which he exchanged views ahead of the Cyprus EU Presidency, focusing on institutional cooperation and the promotion of issues in the field of immigration.

Discussions focused on the priorities of the upcoming Cyprus Presidency, including the effective promotion of critical files, such as safe countries of origin and safe third countries, as well as the promotion of the Return Regulation, with the aim of ensuring a coherent and effective implementation of the EU acquis communautaire.

The Deputy Minister underlined the will of the Republic of Cyprus for close cooperation with the European Parliament and all political groups, in order to ensure smooth institutional continuity and substantial progress during the Cyprus Presidency, the press release says. He also met with Cypriot MEPs.

Cyprus’ Deputy Ministry of Shipping and Egypt’s Ministry of Transport have held the first meeting of the Joint Maritime Committee (JMC) in Limassol, “marking a significant step in strengthening maritime cooperation between the two countries, putting into effect the Merchant Shipping Agreement signed between the two countries in 2006,” a press release by the Deputy Ministry says here on Thursday.

“This newly established Committee serves as a permanent platform for dialogue, coordination, and cooperation on all maritime matters of mutual interest, enabling Cyprus and Egypt to work together in a more concrete and continuous manner, examining joint areas of cooperation across the maritime sector and promoting the long-term development of their bilateral relationship,” it notes.

The inaugural session of the Committee was co-chaired by Dr. Stelios D. Himonas, Permanent Secretary of the Shipping Deputy Ministry of Cyprus and Rear Admiral Nihad Shaheen, Deputy Minister for Maritime and Logistics Affairs of Egypt. High-level representatives from both sides participated, including officials from the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works and the Cyprus Ports Authority, ensuring the active involvement of all key maritime stakeholders.

The discussions focused on enhancing cooperation under the 2006 Merchant Shipping Agreement, including specific agenda items such as collaboration within the framework of the Mediterranean Memorandum of Understanding (MED MoU), mutual cooperation and support within the framework of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), cooperation in seafarer training and maritime education, including partnerships between educational institutions in both countries and mechanisms for implementing joint training programs.

In addition, they addressed issues related to cooperation and development between Cypriot and Egyptian ports.

Both co-chairs, the press release says, reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to work together through this Committee to transform dialogue into practical cooperation and to build a long-term partnership, turning their shared vision into tangible achievements for the benefit of both our maritime sectors.

The next session of the Committee was scheduled to take place within the next year in Egypt, with the objective of monitoring the areas of cooperation that have been identified during the 1st session.

On Thursday, the Egyptian delegation visited the Port of Limassol, hosted by the Cyprus Ports Authority. The field visit included presentations on port operations, infrastructure projects, digitalization initiatives, and green transition strategies. The delegation toured the port facilities and discussed opportunities for future collaboration in this field, the press release concludes.

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 16/10/2025 UNTIL 1800 17/10/2025

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1015hPa (hectopascal)

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

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 26°C

Warnings: NIL

Urban Health in Mediterranean Cities:

Understanding the Evidence, Discussing Action

The University of Cyprus hosts a seminar on the U-CARE project and the challenges of creating healthier cities

The Department of Architecture of the University of Cyprus is organizing the seminar titled ‘Urban health in Mediterranean cities: understanding the evidence, discussing action’, to be held on Friday, 31st October 2025, between 9:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., at the Events Hall of the Department of Architecture, University of Cyprus, at 75 Kallipoleos Avenue, Nicosia. The event is organized within the framework of the U-CARE project, funded by the European Commission under the Erasmus+ programme.

The seminar will bring together academics, policymakers, local authorities, and practitioners to explore how cities can promote health and wellbeing through better planning, governance, and design. The event will present research evidence on the impact of the urban environment on human health and showcase findings from the U-CARE project’s four case studies in Gothenburg, Berlin, Florence, and Nicosia. The local case study examines the area surrounding the Makarios Hospital.

Among the distinguished speakers is Prof. Mark Nieuwenhuijsen, Director of Urban Planning, Environment and Health at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) and a world-leading expert in epidemiology and urban health, who will speak on the topic ‘Climate change, cities and health in the Mediterranean.’

The second part of the event will focus on local strategies and practices. Ms. Chrystalla Kaiafa from the Ministry of Health will present the WHO Healthy Cities Network strategies and their implementation in Cyprus, while Dr. Fotoula Hadjipapa, Mayor of Lakatamia, will share insights from the perspective of local government on making cities healthier through local initiatives.

The seminar aims to foster dialogue among stakeholders, students, and the public on how to translate scientific evidence into practical actions that improve the urban environment, health, and quality of life.

The event is open to the public and will be conducted in both English and Greek. A light lunch will follow the discussion.

Seminar programme:

09:30 Registration

10:00 – 10:15 Welcome and introduction to the U-CARE project (English)

10:15 – 11:00 Climate change, cities and health in the Mediterranean (English – Online). Prof. Mark Nieuwenhuijsen – Barcelona Institute for Global Health

11:00 – 11:30 Research findings from the U-CARE case studies: Gothenburg, Berlin, Florence, Nicosia (English)

11:30 – 11:45 Break (15′)

11:45 – 11:50 Welcome and introduction to the second session (Greek).

11:50 – 12:10 The WHO Healthy Cities Network: strategies and implementation in Cyprus (Greek). Chrystalla Kaiafa – Ministry of Health

12:10 – 12:20 Lessons learned from WeeDRIVE in Limassol (Greek). Christos Gartzonikas – MaaSLab

12:20 – 12:40 From strategies to practice: making our cities healthier (Greek). Dr. Fotoula Hadjipapa – Mayor of Lakatamia

12:40 – 13:00 Questions and Open Discussion (Greek)

Cypriot judoka Petros Christodoulides has achieved a major international victory, claiming the gold medal in the -66 kg category at the Panamerican Open 2025 held in Peru. The Cyprus Judo Federation expressed its immense satisfaction with the champion’s latest success, highlighting his impressive run of four consecutive victories on his way to the top of the podium.

According to a relevant announcement, Christodoulides’ path to gold was “impressive” as he defeated competitors from Canada, Brazil, and Argentina before facing two-time Australian Olympian Joshua Katz in the final. In a decisive performance, Christodoulides defeated the highly decorated athlete by ippon (a knockout score) to secure the title. The Federation noted that this achievement is a vindication of his dedication and talent, building on a strong record that includes a Grand Prix bronze medal and 5th-place finishes at the World University Games and the Commonwealth Games.

The victory provides Christodoulides with 100 valuable points for the World Rankings, significantly boosting his standing in his new category and raising the profile of Cypriot Judo internationally. The success in Peru was further compounded by a strong 5th-place finish for fellow Cypriot champion Giannis Antoniou at the Grand Prix. Antoniou secured notable wins, including one against a former European Champion from Finland, and narrowly missed a medal after hard-fought contests, proving once again the high level of Cypriot athletes on the world stage.

Members of the Foreign Affairs and Development Committees voted on Thursday morning for the three finalists of the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought.

The three finalists for the 2025 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought are (in alphabetical order):

Imprisoned journalists fighting for your freedom and ours, Andrzej Poczobut from Belarus and Mzia Amaglobeli from Georgia ;

Journalists and Humanitarian Aid Workers in Palestine and all conflict zones, represented by the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, the Red Crescent, and UNRWA ;

Serbian students

Find the biographies of the candidates and finalists by following this link.

Next steps

The Conference of Presidents, comprising European Parliament President Roberta Metsola and the leaders of the political groups, will choose the 2025 laureate from this shortlist.Their decision will be announced in the Strasbourg Hemicycle during the plenary session on 23 October 2025.

The award ceremony for the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, which includes an allocation of 50,000 euros, will take place on Tuesday 16 December 2025 in Strasbourg.

Background

The latest Eurobarometer survey shows that EU citizens expect Parliament to prioritise fundamental democratic values. Peace (45%), democracy (32%) and human rights (22%) remain the main values that citizens want the European Parliament to uphold.

Named after Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought is the EU’s highest distinction in the field of human rights. It is awarded by Parliament to individuals, groups or organisations each year in recognition of their work in support of human rights, freedom of expression and democratic values.

Numerous laureates have been awarded since 1988, including Nelson Mandela and Anatoly Marchenko in the first edition, but also dissidents, political leaders, journalists, lawyers, civil society activists, the United Nations and Reporters Without Borders.

Several Sakharov Prize laureates have also won the Nobel Peace Prize, such as 2024 Sakharov Prize laureate Maria Corina Machado in Venezuela, who was just awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2025, Nelson Mandela, Malala Yousafzai, Denis Mukwege or Nadia Mourad.

To see the list of previous laureates, click here.

Cyprus remains committed to supporting Armenia’s path of closer alignment with the European Union, particularly during the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, Minister of Education, Sports and Youth Dr Athena Michaelidou has said.

In her remarks, on Wednesday evening, the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia, at the Embassy of Armenia, the Minister said that “we deeply appreciate Armenia’s consistent support for Cyprus, especially regarding the Cyprus Issue and our efforts for a just and lasting settlement in line with international law and UN Security Council resolutions”.

She noted that the recent establishment of resident Diplomatic Missions both in Nicosia and Yerevan stands as a tangible testament to the shared commitment to further deepening their bilateral relations.

Cyprus and Armenia, she noted, share not only friendship but also a common understanding of the challenges faced by small states in our region, and a firm commitment to international law, sovereignty, and peaceful coexistence.

In this spirit, she added, Cyprus reaffirms its steadfast support for the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia within its internationally recognized borders.

“We commend the constructive approach of the Armenian leadership toward achieving a comprehensive peace agreement and genuinely hope that these ongoing efforts will lead to a lasting, sustainable, and just peace in the South Caucasus. Within its means and the EU framework, Cyprus stands ready to support initiatives that promote reconciliation and stability” she stressed.

The Minster expressed her heartfelt appreciation to the Armenian community of Cyprus. “You have been, and continue to be, a vital bridge of friendship and cooperation between our nations. Your contributions to Cyprus’s social fabric, cultural and economic life are invaluable, as is your role in preserving Armenian heritage on our island” she said.

A press release by the Armenian Embassy notes that in her address, Ambassador Torgomyan “reflected on Armenia’s journey since regaining independence in 1991.” Highlighting the recent initialling of the Peace Agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, she expressed optimism for a new era of peace, stability, and regional cooperation, stressing the importance of the ‘Crossroads of Peace’ project, it is added.

“Ambassador Torgomyan reaffirmed the strong and enduring friendship between Armenia and Cyprus, built on mutual respect, trust, and shared values. She expressed gratitude to Cyprus for its unwavering political and humanitarian support and noted the milestone of resident Embassies in Yerevan and Nicosia” it is added.

The press release notes finally that the Ambassador congratulated Cyprus on its upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union, conveying confidence in its leadership during challenging times.

The critical aspect of the housing crisis in Europe, which constitutes a key social and economic issue and threatens the cohesion of governments and societies, was highlighted in a discussion Tuesday, during EU Regions Week, which wraps up today in Brussels. The panelists noted that affordable and sustainable housing is the key and projects should be funded that meet the needs of all groups of the society.

The EU Regions Week is held every year and hosts representatives of local communities and regions together with key officials from the all the EU institutions and elsewhere. It includes discussions, workshops and meetings. This year the themes include sustainable development, housing, cohesion programs, EU statistics etc.

The opening event was welcomed by the President of the Commission, the President of the EP and the President of the Committee of the Regions.

The housing panel under the name “Europe’s housing crisis: the role of the EU and cohesion policy” was attended by members of local governments from Estonia and Luxembourg and a representative of the EIB. Ways of addressing it at the local level were discussed, with public-private sector cooperation and financing through special projects from the EIB.

The local councilors stressed that solutions should be provided in cooperation and coordination with local communities, keeping in mind what best serves the citizens and their needs. It was mentioned that plans should be drawn up for affordable housing, for students, single-parent families and vulnerable groups and that it is necessary, along with construction, to have a plan for renovations and the use of empty spaces that could contribute to alleviating the issue.

It was stated that it is unthinkable that in 2025 in the EU there are students living in tents, families with children crammed into 30 sq. meter apartments and people who end up homeless. It was said that based on research, 35% to 140% of family income is spent on rent and that a one-bedroom flat can cost up to 116% of the net salary of an average family.

The panelists referred to the special injustice and a local challenge that, however, requires coordinated action. They noted that there is European funding, but affordable and sustainable housing must be found and the needs of societies must be adequately addressed.

It was also noted that the right to housing is a basic human right and good practices that provide immediate solutions must be found. Reference was also made to the practices of countries adopting the vacancy tax for spaces that remain empty and unused, as well as to the need for a balance between demand and supply.

In response to a question from the Cyprus News Agency about the example of Cyprus where in certain cities there is demand from third-country citizens who can spend much more on buying or renting, resulting in prices skyrocketing, an EIB representative stated that this is considered a ‘market failure’ and that the authorities must regulate it.

It was said that other countries such as Spain, Romania and Luxembourg are also facing similar issues, and that is why the European Commission is preparing plans and wants to draw up policies on the issue of affordable housing. It was also mentioned that Cyprus, in view of its EU Presidency January 1st, wants to highlight the issue as a priority.

Also, an EIB representative stressed that this year 1.4 million building permits were granted at the European level and the needs amount to 2.3 million, meaning we need an additional 1 million new homes in the EU in 2025. It was also said that the EIB increased its financing by 40% for housing projects.

In the context of the EU Regions Week, the Nicosia Board of Tourism organized a “Taste Nicosia” kiosk where Cypriot products, sweets, delicacies, wine and beers were offered to the participants and guests.