Category: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus has called for EU support through cooperation and appropriate funding to address the impact of the energy crisis, Energy, Commerce and Industry Minister, Michalis Damianos, said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the informal meeting of EU Energy Ministers in Dublin, Damianos outlined the particularities of Cyprus’ energy system and measures being promoted to reduce the country’s exposure to energy price volatility, a press release issued by the Ministry said.

Energy affordability was at the centre of the meeting, along with ways to empower consumers through greater choice, better information and more control over their energy consumption and costs. Ministers also discussed innovation and changes in the energy market, energy security and cooperation with strategic partners.

Damianos said Cyprus remains an isolated energy system, with a limited domestic market and high dependence on imported fuels, leaving it particularly exposed to external price increases.

He presented measures including promoting self-generation and energy efficiency in households and small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the installation of energy storage systems and smart meters.

On electrification, Damianos said affordability, together with the necessary infrastructure, would determine the success of the energy transition in a small and isolated system such as Cyprus. He called for targeted financing tools adapted to the circumstances of member states.

He also noted that, as Cyprus does not have pumped-storage facilities, it considers chemical energy storage and demand response as equivalent flexibility solutions.

On energy security, Damianos noted that Cyprus remains the only EU member state not connected to the European electricity grid. He stressed the importance of resilient critical infrastructure and collective security of supply, saying that interconnection was a key form of system resilience.

He also called for the protection of critical infrastructure to cover the construction stage of projects and said energy security should be addressed on a permanent basis rather than only during price crises.

On the sidelines of the meeting, Damianos held talks with his Hungarian and Lithuanian counterparts on further cooperation in hydrocarbons and natural gas projects. With the Lithuanian Minister, he also discussed coordination ahead of Lithuania’s upcoming EU Council Presidency.

Learning from nature for sustainable engineering solutions: Second round of biomimicry training at CUT

The Centre for Lifelong Learning and the Department of Civil Engineering and Geomatics of the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) successfully delivered the second round of the course ‘Bio-inspired Innovation and Design for Sustainable Engineering Solutions’, offering professionals the opportunity to explore how principles found in nature can inspire more sustainable approaches to engineering, design and the built environment.

The course was offered as part of the BuildSkills Academy project and was designed to introduce participants to the principles and methodology of biomimicry, an approach that looks to nature’s systems, processes and strategies as a source of inspiration for addressing human design and engineering challenges.

Following the experience of the first round, the course was offered again in a more flexible and accessible hybrid format, combining face-to-face learning at CUT in Limassol with online sessions. This format aimed to make participation easier for professionals while maintaining the interactive and practical nature of the training.

Throughout the course, participants explored how biological systems and natural processes can inform the development of more sustainable and innovative solutions for the built environment.

Participants were introduced to the why, what and how of biomimicry through practical tools, real-world examples and applied exercises. The course explored nature-inspired approaches to engineering challenges, sustainability and climate resilience, while also introducing tools such as Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) and systems mapping to support more informed design decisions.

Across the first and second rounds, the course has reached around 20 participants, bringing together professionals and learners interested in applying biomimicry principles to more sustainable engineering and design solutions.

By the end of the training, participants had the opportunity to strengthen their understanding of:

the principles and methodology of biomimicry;

the relationship between natural systems and sustainable design;

ways of translating biological strategies into engineering and design solutions;

the use of bio-inspired thinking as a tool for innovation and problem-solving;

the potential of biomimicry to contribute to more resilient and sustainable built environments.

Both rounds provided an opportunity to gather feedback on the relevance and practical value of biomimicry training for professionals working in the built environment.

The course forms part of the broader work of BuildSkills Academy – Academy for Transitional Skills in the Built Environment, which aims to support the development of the skills needed for the green and digital transformation of the construction sector.

Through the development and piloting of innovative training programmes, BuildSkills Academy seeks to strengthen vocational and professional education, address emerging skills gaps and support professionals in responding to the changing needs of the built environment.

The Academy for Transitional Skills in the Built Environment – BuildSkills Academy is co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme, under Grant Agreement No. 101104419.

In September 2026, economic sentiment in Cyprus improved for the sixth consecutive month, with the Economic Sentiment Indicator of the Economic Research Centre (ESI-CypERC) of the University of Cyprus, increasing by 0.6 points compared with August.

“This increase was driven by small improvements in business sentiment in all sectors except retail trade,” CypERC notes.

The Services Confidence Indicator rose for the third consecutive month, with the September increase reflecting upward revisions in turnover expectations.

At the same time, the Retail Trade Confidence Indicator decreased as firms assessed their recent sales more negatively and revised their sales expectations downwards.

The Construction Confidence Indicator increased slightly, supported by an uptick in both current order book assessments and employment expectations.

Moreover, the Industry Confidence Indicator edged up, reflecting improved views on both current overall order books and stocks of finished products, despite a significant deterioration in production expectations.

However, the Consumer Confidence Indicator declined as consumers’ expectations regarding their future financial situation deteriorated and their intentions to make major purchases weakened.

At the same time, consumers’ savings intentions strengthened in September.

As far as the Economic Uncertainty Indicator for Cyprus is concerned, the CypERC notes that it rose markedly in September, driven by an increase in business uncertainty, particularly among firms in the services sector.

By contrast, consumer uncertainty declined further, reaching very low levels across all income categories.

Total sales of petroleum products recorded a drop of 1.4% in August 2026, compared to August 2025, amounting to 121,646 tonnes, according to data published by the Statistical Service on Monday.

A decrease was observed in the provisions of aviation kerosene (-6.1%), as well as in the sales of asphalt (-23.9%), heating gasoil (-9.2%) and road diesel (-1.6%).

On the contrary, an increase was observed in the provisions of marine gasoil (3.1%) and in the sales of liquified petroleum gases (8.6%), light fuel oil (4.9%) and motor gasoline (1.5%).

As far as the sales from filling stations are specifically concerned, these have marginally increased by 0.2% to 54,704 tonnes.

The total sales of petroleum products in August 2026, compared to July 2026 recorded a drop of 15.3%.

Indicatively, a decrease was recorded in the sales of road diesel (-25.5%) and motor gasoline (-12.7%). The provisions of marine gasoil increased by 3.3% while those of aviation kerosene remained almost unchanged (-0.4%).

The total stocks of petroleum products at the end of August 2026 increased by 21.2% compared to the end of the previous month.

During the period January – August 2026, the total sales of petroleum products increased by 0.6%, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

The importance of nature-based solutions (NbS) in climate adaptation and coastal resilience was highlighted during the two-day DesirMed festival that took place in the coastal town of Larnaka.

During the event, workshops and debates took place which highlighted the role of local and regional initiatives and contributed to strengthening regional cooperation within the framework of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).

The event was jointly organised by the Department of Environment of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment of Cyprus and PAP/RAC, with the support of the DesirMED partners, in particular its lead partner – CMCC (Euro-Mediterranean Center on Climate Change).

One of the main festival interactive activities was the Giant Interactive Map in Europe Square at the Phinikoudes promenade.

Larnaka vice mayor Iasonas Iasonides told the participants that Cyprus is a small country but tries hard to preserve the environment.

”I hope you exchange so many ideas with everybody here. So when everybody goes back home, will try and do something better, do something to improve this planet that we call our home. As Europeans, we share a common responsibility to make our communities and our planet a better place to live”, he said.

Susanne Pedersen, Director of the Centre for Science and Knowledge, at IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), the Union responsible for putting together the interactive map, said that the climate and the biodiversity challenges we face, connect all of us, noting that building resilience requires knowledge, cooperation, and participation of people across the region.

”What happens in one region of the Mediterranean does not necessarily stay there. Our ecosystems, our sea, and many of the challenges affect everyone across the various borders here. And nature is part of how we respond to climate change because we see it already here in the Mediterranean that people are experiencing heat, drought, wildfires, floods, coastal erosion, and other climate-related measures”, she pointed out.

She explained how different Mediterranean regions are testing, adapting, and learning from each other, noting that there is no simple solution, but we can learn from one another about what works and what needs to be adapted and how nature is part of the response.

160 square meter map, an interaction and engagement for children and adults

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The giant, interactive map, a 17-metre-long map, transformed Europe Square in Larnaka into a miniature Mediterranean basin. Children and adults could walk from Portugal to Cyprus, cross islands and coastlines, discover species and ecosystems, and explore some of the climate challenges already reshaping the region.

It is the largest interactive map of the Mediterranean produced to date. The map was designed as a communication tool: visitors were invited to walk on it, play, answer questions, interact with augmented-reality content and discover how forests, wetlands, dunes, rivers, seagrass meadows and other ecosystems can help communities respond to drought, heat, wildfires, floods and coastal erosion.

The map also made visible something that can disappear when climate impacts are discussed separately: Mediterranean territories are connected. Climate impacts may occur hundreds of kilometres apart, but the ecosystems affected and many of the solutions available to communities form part of the same regional story.

The two-day festival brought together policy makers and specialists for discussions and exchange of views on Nature-based Solutions and resilient coastal planning across the region.

The Giant Interactive Map of the Mediterranean was produced by the IUCN in collaboration with Giant Interactive Maps within the DesirMED project, funded by the European Union under Horizon Europe and by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI). The Festival was organised with local partners, the Cyprus Marine and Maritime Institute, the Cyprus Energy Agency and the Municipality of Larnaka.

The EU should approach enlargement as a strategic investment in peace, stability and security in Europe, Chair of Cyprus’ House Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, Giorgos Karoullas, in remarks during the Interparliamentary Conference on the Strategic Agenda for EU Enlargement and Albania’s accession, held in Tirana, according to a statement by the House of Representatives.

In his remarks on EU enlargement and Albania’s progress towards EU accession, Karoullas ‘underlined that the European perspective of the Western Balkans, particularly in today’s unstable international environment, constitutes a strategic and geopolitical investment in strengthening European stability and resilience’, the statement said.

He underlined, it adds, “that the enlargement process must be protected from external interference and from any attempt to promote principles and values that are not compatible with the EU acquis, while stressing that the progress of each candidate country in the accession process must be directly linked to its full alignment with the Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and Common Security and Defence Policy, thereby serving the EU’s broader objective of strategic autonomy.’

It also said that Karoullas noted that EU enlargement was one of the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU during the first half of 2026 and that, in this context, Cyprus acted as an honest broker, ensuring that the enlargement process remained credible, fair and merit-based, grounded in the EU’s common principles and values.

Regarding Albania’s EU accession process, Karoullas stressed that the progress made to date demonstrates the country’s determination to undertake the necessary reforms in order to align itself with all the obligations arising from its accession path and from EU law and that the EU must continue to support the country’s European path, while maintaining a credible and merit-based accession process based on concrete achievements and reforms.

Karoullas stressed that the success of the accession process should not be assessed solely on the basis of the chapters that have been opened or provisionally closed, but also according to the extent to which European standards are incorporated into Albania’s institutions and the lives of its citizens, since the reforms being carried out today will determine the strength and resilience of the country as a future EU Member State, it adds.

Furthermore, in his remarks during the discussion on enlargement as a strategic driving force for reform, stability and security, Karoullas noted that enlargement constitutes a powerful means of promoting peace, stability and prosperity throughout Europe.

Karoullas also ‘stressed’ that the EU should not approach enlargement as a bureaucratic process, but as a strategic investment in peace, stability and security in Europe in the face of the threats it faces along its external borders. Europe of tomorrow, he noted, will be judged by the Union’s ability to remain strong, democratic and faithful to its values, while the role of national parliaments is decisive, particularly in strengthening democratic legitimacy, solidarity and a common European vision, it said.

The Shipping Deputy Minister to the President, Marina Hadjimanolis, departs Monday for Brussels, following an official invitation from the European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, Apostolos Tzitzikostas, to participate in the Connecting Europe Days 2026, a flagship event on transport, connectivity and strategic infrastructure.

According to a press release by the Shipping Deputy Ministry, Hadjimanolis participation forms part of the Republic of Cyprus’ active contribution to shaping European transport and maritime policies, as well as the Shipping Deputy Ministry’s continuous efforts to promote a competitive, resilient and sustainable European maritime sector.

Hadjimanolis will participate as a speaker in the high-level plenary session entitled ‘Gateways to Europe and the World: Ports and the Maritime Sector in Transition’ on September 29, where she will discuss the challenges and prospects facing the European maritime sector in light of geopolitical developments, the energy transition, competitiveness, resilience and decarbonisation.

Bilateral relations, migration, in light of developments in Ceuta, the Cyprus issue and the regional situation were on the agenda of a meeting House of Representatives President Annita Demetriou held on Monday with Spanish Ambassador Mercedes Alonso Frayle.

During the meeting Demetriou and the Ambassador highlighted the close ties of friendship between Cyprus and Spain, which are based on common principles and values, the mutual respect of the two countries in the international legal order and their common status as EU member states, a House of Representatives press release said.

As regards the parliamentary cooperation, they both noted the importance of maintaining the new dynamics developed in bilateral exchanges, after the official visit of the President of the Spanish Congress to Cyprus in 2025, and the will to intensify cooperation in areas of common interest, such as migration challenges and dealing with the effects of the increase in the cost of living.

The President of the House underlined the solidarity of Cyprus with Spain for the migration crisis that broke out in Ceuta, and stressed the need for collective action at the EU level to deal with the situation.

Alonso Frayle expressed her readiness to contribute to the further strengthening of Spain’s relations with Cyprus, noting as a very positive development the increase in connectivity between the two countries, which will further boost exchanges.

Referring to the Cyprus issue the House Speaker expressed disappointment for the fact that no progress was achieved on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, due to Turkey’s continued intransigent stance.

She stressed that the Turkish side’s claim to a “two-state” solution, will never be accepted, as it would legitimise the illegal Turkish invasion and occupation.

The President of the House also underlined our side’s readiness to constructively contribute to the efforts to resume meaningful negotiations for a bilateral, bicommunal federal solution, in accordance with international law, the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council and European values and principles.

Demetriou furthermore pointed out that in a period of significant challenges in the Middle East and beyond, the importance of security and stability is even more significant.

Referring to the case of Ukraine Demetriou underlined the need for consistent application of the principles of international law in the case of Cyprus and elsewhere, without exceptions and without the approach of double standards.

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.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.

EUC Participates in the 3rd Transnational Project Meeting of Teacher’s HAVEN in Cyprus

Advancing Teacher Well-being and Preparing for the Project’s Next Milestones

The Teacher’s HAVEN project partners recently gathered in Nicosia, Cyprus in September, for the project’s 3rd Transnational Project Meeting (TPM), hosted and organised by Eurosuccess, with the participation of partners from across Europe.

Representing the European University Cyprus (EUC), Assistant Professor Constantina Demetriou, Associate Professor Monica Shiakou and Assistant Professor Eleni Epiphaniou from the Department of Psychology and Social Sciences of the School of Humanities, Social and Education Sciences participated in the meeting and contributed to the discussions and planning of the project’s upcoming activities.

The meeting provided an important opportunity for the consortium to review the progress achieved so far, strengthen cooperation among partners, and coordinate the activities planned for the next phase of the project.

Preparing for the Upcoming Teacher’s HAVEN Events

A key focus of the meeting was the preparation of two important upcoming project events:

International Teacher’s Sanctuary Bootcamp: The International Teacher’s Sanctuary Bootcamp will bring together educators from different countries to exchange knowledge, develop skills and explore approaches that can contribute to teachers’ professional and personal well-being. The Bootcamp will take place in Rome, Italy from 30 November to 4 December 2026 and will provide participants with opportunities for learning, reflection, collaboration and professional development in an international setting.

2nd Annual Teacher’s HAVEN Congress: Partners also continued preparations for the 2nd Annual Teacher’s HAVEN Congress, under the theme: ‘Growing Together: Teacher Well-being, Empowerment and Professional Growth’. The Congress will provide an opportunity to share project developments and results, exchange experiences and good practices, and engage with teachers, education professionals and other stakeholders working in the field of teacher well-being. The event is planned to take place in Portugal at the end of February 2027.

Strengthening European Colaboration

In addition to these key activities, partners worked collaboratively on the upcoming project milestones, discussing implementation, communication and dissemination activities and ensuring effective coordination across the partnership. The meeting in Nicosia also provided an opportunity for partners to exchange national perspectives and good practices and to strengthen the collaboration that underpins the project’s European dimension.

About the Teacher’s HAVEN Project: Supporting Teachers and Promoting Well-being

Teacher’s HAVEN is a European-funded project that aims to develop an Academy for teachers in service and teachers in training, providing opportunities to develop knowledge, skills and competencies that can support their well-being and strengthen their capacity to respond to the challenges of the modern educational environment.

The project brings together organisations from different European countries with complementary expertise and experience in education, training and teacher support.

Through the Teacher’s HAVEN Academy and its related activities, the project aims to contribute to healthier, more supportive and sustainable educational environments, recognising that teachers’ well-being is an important element of their professional development and of the quality of education provided to learners.

As the project enters its next phase, the Teacher’s HAVEN consortium remains committed to working together to deliver its planned activities and outcomes and to further promote teacher well-being, empowerment and professional growth across Europe.

Greek Cypriot negotiator, Menelaos Menelaou, highlighted in statements to CNA following contacts of the Cypriot delegation in New York, under President Nikos Christodoulides, the UN Secretary General’s commitment and determination to exhaust every effort on the Cyprus issue until the last day of his term in office.

He noted that the goal remains to convene an expanded meeting that will decide for the resumption of the Cyprus talks.

Menelao also spoke of “a pattern (by the Turkish side) of obstructing the effort to give a more accelerated pace to the steps that need to be taken”, referring to the failure to hold a trilateral meeting in New York between the UNSG, President of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides and the Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman.

Meanwhile, according to government sources that spoke to CNA, President Christodoulides, intends to convene a meeting of the National Council, his top advisory body for the handling of the Cyprus issue, on Wednesday, during he will brief the members of the Council and discuss the latest developments.

Menelaou said that the preparatory work continues and that ‘significant steps have been made’, noting that there is still room for further progress. However, he pointed out that one of the obstacles is ‘the delaying tactics’ of the Turkish Cypriot side.

The Greek Cypriot negotiator said that the goal is for the process to proceed ‘as soon as possible,’ noting that ‘it should have already proceeded a long time ago.’

‘We believe that the conditions are there. The determination of the UN Secretary-General is also there. The preparatory work that needs to be carried out has progressed to a very significant extent,’ he underlined.

Menelaou told CNA that it is crucial that the next step can be taken, in order to put a revitalized negotiation process on track, fully maintaining what was achieved at the talks up to the last day of the previous effort, which was completed in the summer of 2017 in Crans Montana.

Referring to the UN Secretary-General’s approach as regards the Cyprus issue, Menelaou said that it is a comprehensive approach, encompassing all aspects, as reflected in the six points he had shared in the summer of 2017 in Crans Montana.

The six points, Menelaou said, are integral parts, so as a comprehensive solution to the Cyprus issue can be reached, which must encompass all aspects, all chapters of the Cyprus problem.

Invited to comment on the fact that a trilateral meeting did not take place in New York, Menelaou noted that the Greek Cypriot side and the United Nations made efforts until the last minute to make this possible.

The Greek Cypriot side, he stressed, had declared its readiness to extend its stay in New York, however, ‘this effort fell into ” this general pattern that we are facing from the Turkish side.’

This is a pattern, he said, “of obstructing the effort to give a more accelerated pace to the steps that need to be taken.’

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.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whose term nears its end, announced he would convene another meeting in broader format, after adequate preparation, but gave no timeline. He secured to that end the consensus of both sides and of the guarantor powers. María Angela Holguín, Guterres’ Personal Envoy on Cyprus, is tasked to engage with the parties. Executive Vice-President Raffaele Fitto acts as the European Commission’s Special Representative for Cyprus, succeeding EU special envoy Johannes Hahn.