Category: Cyprus News Agency

The government is modernising institutions, simplifying procedures and building accountability into everyday decision-making, to make Cyprus a country where governance works, business thrives and citizens feel that change is real, said Deputy Minister to the President, Irene Piki, in her opening speech at the Digital Agenda Summit, held on Thursday in Nicosia.

According to Piki, the Digital Agenda Summit has become one of Cyprus’ most vibrant platforms for ideas, for challenging assumptions and for inspiring us to think bigger.

‘When people hear the phrase digital transformation, they often think of technology, apps, algorithms and AI. When I hear it, I mostly think of people. I think of a citizen trying to fill, to renew a licence, of a small business owner filing for a permit and for a young researcher applying for funding. A parent enrolling their child in the school this year for the first time doing it fully online. That’s for me digital transformation. It is a state that is efficient, transparent, fair and delivery driven’, she continued.

‘This kind of change, of course, doesn’t happen by chance. It happens because we have decided as government to reimagine governance for the 21st century, to place people, trust and innovation at the heart of every reform’, she further stressed.

She added that through the newly formulated Secretariat for the Coordination and Support of Government Programme in the Presidency, ‘every reform, every project, every initiative is digitally tracked, measured and connected and it’s also available to all citizens’.

‘Through our digital platform, diakivernisi.gov.cy, anyone can explore what the government programme includes, what has been implemented and what is still in progress and through its special feature, citizens can go one step further, sharing ideas, proposals and feedback directly with the government. This is a simple but powerful tool that turns participation into policy and dialogue into better decisions’, she noted.

2025 is the year of digital transformation, a year dedicated to cutting bureaucracy, boosting competitiveness, and promoting transparency, continued the Deputy Minister, adding that in this effort, under the leadership of the Deputy Ministry for Digital Policy turns President Christodoulides’ vision into action every single day, ‘from cybersecurity, data governance, digital skills, modern infrastructure and seamless public services’.

‘Our collaboration proves that reform and technology are two sides of the same coin. Technology gives reform speed and reforms give technology its purpose’, she added.

Digital transformation is only part of a bigger story, the story of a state that is learning to reform itself, continued Piki, adding that the government is modernising institutions, simplifying procedures and building accountability into everyday decision-making.

‘From the new Business Support Centre, a single point of contact for investors and enterprises, to the tax reform that strengthens transparency and competitiveness. From the fast-track licencing system that delivers building permits in weeks instead of months, to the creation of a dedicated sanctions unit that protects the integrity of our economy. To make Cyprus a country where governance works, business thrives and citizens feel that change is real. Because reform is not a simple action, it’s in the mindset of this government. Of course, digital transformation is not only about systems, it’s also about people’, she pointed out in that regard.

She also referred to the new ‘Minds in Cyprus’ initiative, the government is turning brain drain into brain circulation, inviting Cypriots abroad and international experts to bring their knowledge and creativity home and to build more trust.

She added that Cyprus is increasingly on the radar of global technology leaders, adding that last April, President Christodoulides visited the United States and opened new channels of cooperation with some of the world’s most advanced innovation ecosystems.

‘From New York to Houston and to Silicon Valley, the focus was clear, bringing cutting-edge technology, investment and know-how to Cyprus, while connecting our local talent and research centres with international networks. Because the future isn’t built in isolation. It’s built through collaboration, credibility and trust’, she further stressed.

As Cyprus assumes the rotating presidency of the Council of the EU the 1st of January of 2026, we will help advance Europe’s digital agenda, promoting innovation that serves its citizens, strengthens trust and safeguards human rights, continued the Deputy Minister.

‘Our focus will be on ensuring that Europe’s digital policies move from vision to implementation, that technology works for the people and not the other way around, and that the Union remains open, competitive and secure in the digital age. This is the bridge-building role Cyprus is ready to play. A small island but a stable partner in the region’, she noted.

‘Transformation is about technology, but at its heart, it’s mostly about trust. It’s about proving that the government can change, that public service can be agile and that citizens can once again believe in the world together. Our vision is simple: to prove that when reform is coordinated, transparent and human-centred, even a small state can make a big example. Because at the end, good governance is the best innovation of all’, she concluded.

In his welcome address, former Deputy Minister for Digital Policy and member of the summit’s organizing committee, Kyriakos Kokkinos, said that the summit brings together a lineup of speakers from Cyprus and from around the world, 38 in total, with a record-breaking 1,500 participants registered for the event.

‘The aim of this conference, as every year, is to open up a window to knowledge, put Cyprus on the map of knowledge and curiosity, and share information, but also convert information into knowledge and wisdom. Our approach, as every year, is positivism’, he continued.

‘Cyprus is a place of huge intellectual capital, human capacities and capabilities, and untapped potential. We are classified on the European rankings as a strong innovator, with the technology sector contributing almost 15% of our GDP’, he stressed.

According to Kokkinos, this year’s theme is Beyond AI, a human-centric conversation, not a technology conversation, ‘because the technology is not versus humanity, it’s technology for humanity.”

‘We want to focus on how innovation and technology serves people, not replaces them. We want to talk about smarter innovation, the ethical aspects of AI, how technology creates competitiveness for nations, for Europe. But above all, we want to talk about progress with a clear sense of purpose. We need to redefine or recalibrate our sense of purpose as humans, as Cyprus, as Europe, and this is what exactly this conference is all about’, he further explained.

He added that another important aspect on the agenda of the conference is why and how sciences like arts, humanities, social sciences matter more than ever.

‘This is a time that social sciences are more important than ever because without balancing out the fast pace of technological evolution with the considerations of social sciences and humanities, it would be impossible to cope’, he noted on the matter.

‘We as Cyprus, we need to be proud of our country. We are strong innovators. We have intellectual capital and human capital of immersed value. We are a small country and we can make happen. We just need to think positively. And this is what you will see today, this is the Cyprus that we are proud about’, he concluded.

The continuous upgrading of the National Guard and the strengthening of Cyprus’ deterrent power is a top priority for the government, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday. He was speaking during the swearing-in ceremony, at the Presidential Palace, of the new National Guard Chief, Lieutenant General Emmanuel Theodorou, who succeeds Georgios Tsitsikostas.

Addressing the new Chief, President Christodoulides said that the state entrusts him with steering the National Guard, and expressed his certainty that he will be able to execute his high duties in a worthy manner.

Theodorou’s experience and service to date, as well as his distinctions provide evidence for his training and ability, he went on. ‘Due to the fact that you served again in Cyprus as Commander of the honored Hellenic Force in Cyprus, you are well aware of what you have before you and of the challenges you are called to manage’ he added.

Addressing the outgoing Commander, Lieutenant General Georgios Tsitsikostas, President Christodoulides thanked him for the ‘impeccable and excellent cooperation’ they had, as well as for his professionalism amid efforts to upgrade the operational capability of the National Guard.

Welcoming the new head of the National Guard, President Christodoulides said that he is embarking on his very demanding tasks, which are inextricably linked to safeguarding security and to defending the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus.

On his part, the new Chief of the National Guard assured the President of the Republic that he will make ‘every effort to further strengthen the operational capability of the National Guard.’

‘Having a human-centered administration as my guide, I will work tirelessly to meet the demands stemming from my duties”, Theodorou added.

He said he knows that ‘in today’s turbulent geopolitical environment, no complacency is allowed, nor is there time any transitional period.’

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkish troops 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 President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday that the agreement on the first phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza constitutes “a day of promise and hope for our region.”

In a post on X, the President welcomed the agreement on the 1st phase of US President Donald Trump’s plan for a Gaza ceasefire and hostage release.

”Full implementation by all is essential to end suffering and pave the way for lasting peace and a two-state solution. A day of promise and hope for our region”, he posted on his X account.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 09/10/2025 UNTIL 1800 10/10/2025

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 with increased cloud coverage at times.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 26°C

Warnings: NIL

Parliaments can play a key role in the legislative framework that should govern or guide technological progress in the public interest, said the President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, in her opening address at the Digital Agenda Cyprus Summit 2025, which is taking place on Thursday in Nicosia.

According to Demetriou, we are in a period of intense international instability and major challenges.

“In this environment, artificial intelligence and digital transformation are radically redefining our lives and work. This progress is valuable, but it also requires responsibility to understand it and shape it with a focus on people and their rights,” she noted.

She added that technology should not distance people from the core of society. “Imagination, intelligence, and ethical judgment cannot and should not be replaced. Artificial intelligence enhances talent, but the human dimension and guidance remain irreplaceable,” he noted.

In this context, investment in technology is a strategic lever for growth, with innovation boosting productivity, opening up new markets, and offering opportunities for the future, she noted, adding that at the state level, digital governance must be a tool for a modern, faster, and more efficient state.

Regarding the role of parliaments in particular, she said that they can play a key role in the legislative framework that should govern or guide technological progress in the public interest.

She added that the House of Representatives has set up a working group on artificial intelligence, the organisation of interparliamentary conferences and participation in European developments.

“Last year, the European Union adopted the first legislative package on AI, and others will certainly follow. However, it is important that we have the first legislative framework in place and, of course, it has set priorities for digital skills, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence,” she continued.

The House President added that, in view of Cyprus’s Presidency of the Council of the EU starting in January, the House of Representatives has already included artificial intelligence, its challenges and prospects among its priorities.

“Technological progress is our future, it is the next chapter in history. But we cannot write this chapter without values, without vision, without putting people at the center. Artificial intelligence can calculate, analyze, and predict. But it cannot dream, and dreaming is our privilege. With this privilege, we must build a future worthy of our people and our values. Initiatives such as the Digital Agenda Cyprus Summit are essential platforms for dialogue and fruitful exchange of knowledge and experience and must be supported and strengthened,” she concluded.

Department of Meteorology

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

Date 09/10/2025

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MEETING DATE: 09/10/2025

INDICES BASE VALUES: FTSEMed=5000, OTH

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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