Category: Cyprus News Agency

The UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy on Cyprus, María Angela Holguín, said on Friday she is optimistic about the possibility of a 5+1 meeting on the Cyprus issue before the end of the year, provided there is progress on the confidence building measures, in methodology and in substance.

In statements to journalists after her meeting with the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, at the Presidential Palace, Holguín said they had a good meeting and that she will have another meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader, Tufan Erhrman, on Monday.

‘You know we are pushing and we continue pushing. What the Secretary General asked me is that until the last minute of his mandate he wants to see if we can move forward on the Cyprus issue,’ she noted.

She added that she wanted to listen from President Christodoulides about his meeting with the Turkish Cypriot leader. ‘I think it has been very good that they have this kind of meetings together and I am still with hope to see if we can see something. We are going to have the trilateral meeting on the 9th of November. I am here, I am optimistic and I hope we can get something next week,’ she stressed.

Asked if she is also optimistic about a 5+1 meeting before the end of the year, she replied in the affirmative. ‘I am optimistic, if there are some advances in the CBMs, in methodology and in some substance, and if we can get this we are going to have the 5+1,’ she further noted.

Asked if she is interested in the position of the UN Secretary General, Holguin said she was not.

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.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the 6th annual “Stella Soulioti” Human Rights Award and the opening of the nomination process on Friday, 30 October 2026, for the submission of nominations or proposals for 2026.

Anyone interested may either nominate themselves or put forward other individuals, groups, or organisations for the Award, by completing the appropriate form.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry, the award, established by a decision of the Council of Ministers following a proposal by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will be presented in December 2026 (exact date will be announced at a later stage), on the International Human Rights Day (which is annually celebrated on 10th December). It will be awarded to individuals/groups/organisations, which have consistently demonstrated outstanding work and activity, in a field or fields directly related to the promotion and protection of human rights.

Nominations or proposals may be submitted by or on behalf of individuals or groups of individuals legally residing in Cyprus, as well as by or on behalf of Non-Governmental Organizations that are registered and active in the Republic of Cyprus. Government authorities are not eligible for nomination and may not take part in the process. In addition, serving government officials and/or high-level public officials are excluded from nominating individuals, groups, or organisations for the Award.

In accordance with the relevant decision of the Council of Ministers, the evaluation of nominations/ proposals and the selection of the award recipient will be made by a five-member Evaluation Committee comprising of the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Chairman), the Minister of Justice and Public Order, the Commissioner for Administration and Protection of Human Rights (Ombudsman), as well by two distinguished individuals with recognized experience in the promotion and protection of human rights.

The award is accompanied by a prize of pound 10,000, which is intended to support the activities of the winning person/group/Organization in the field of protection and promotion of human rights in Cyprus.

Application or nomination forms may be completed electronically and sent to humanrights@mfa.gov.cy or via post to “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Presidential Palace Avenue, 1447 Nicosia”, with the envelope clearly marked on the outside with the indication “Human Rights Award”.

For more information or clarification, interested parties may call on (+357) 22651235 or send an e-mail to humanrights@mfa.gov.cy.

The deadline for receipt of nominations/proposals expires on Friday, 27 November 2026, at 16:00 (Cyprus time zone).

President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, has highlighted the right of every person to grow older with dignity, autonomy and security, in a post on X following his visit to an elderly care home in Nicosia on Friday afternoon, noting that the first National Strategy for Active Ageing 2025-2030, together with the 2025-2027 Action Plan, reflects this philosophy.

‘Active ageing is not an abstract concept,’ President Christodoulides said, adding that it means creating, in practice, the conditions that allow people, as they grow older, to continue living the lives they choose for themselves, to remain active within their families and communities and to maintain their autonomy for as long as possible.

He added that for the government the issue is not limited to the provision of benefits or services, but ‘first and foremost’ concerns every person’s right to grow older with dignity, autonomy and security. ‘And when support is needed, to be able to access it in a timely manner, in a way that genuinely meets their individual needs,’ he added.

At the same time, President Christodoulides said that ageing with dignity also presupposes financial security.

‘That is why we are moving ahead with one of the most significant social reforms of recent decades, the Pension Reform, with the aim of ensuring more adequate and fairer pensions, with particular emphasis on low-income pensioners, as well as a strong and sustainable Social Insurance Fund for future generations,’ he said.

The first National Strategy for Active Ageing 2025-2030, together with the 2025-2027 Action Plan, is guided by precisely this philosophy, he noted.

‘For the first time, we have established a comprehensive framework linking healthy and active ageing with social participation, prevention, education, digital skills, tackling discrimination and access to services,’ he stressed, adding that ‘Cyprus is changing’.

Members of the Western Balkans subgroup of the Eurojust network for combating migrant smuggling paid a working visit ?? Friday to the ‘Pournara’ First Reception Center in Nicosia district.

According to a press release issued by the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, the visit took place in the framework of the 4th Meeting of the subgroup, hosted in Larnaca on 29 and 30 October.

Eurojust, the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, supports the coordination of judicial and prosecutorial authorities in cross-border cases of serious and organised crime.

The delegation was welcomed by officials from the Asylum Service and the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection. The members of the delegation were given a tour of the upgraded facilities and were informed about the daily operation of the Center, the infrastructure and the cooperation of the services operating there, it is noted.

Particular emphasis, it is added, was placed on the implementation by the Republic of Cyprus of the new procedures of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and on the decisive role of Pournara. They presented the use of the upgraded infrastructure for the control, registration and identification of new arrivals as well as the coordination of the competent authorities for the faster management of cases in the context of the new European requirements.

The briefing also included presentations by representatives of the Cyprus Police, Frontex, Europol and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) on their activities at the Centre.

It is noted that the Eurojust network on migrant smuggling brings together specialist prosecutors and judicial officers from member states and third countries, with the aim of exchanging expertise and facilitating cooperation in specific cases.

“The visit was an opportunity to present the Cypriot experience in managing arrivals and implementing the new European framework, highlighting the importance of cooperation between field services and judicial and prosecutorial authorities for the most effective response to migrant smuggling networks,” the press release concluded.

The Index of Industrial Output Prices recorded a significant 6.2% increase in September 2026, compared with the same month in 2025, mainly due to the rise in electricity prices, according to figures published on Friday by the Statistical Service.

As noted, for the period January-September 2026, the index showed an increase of 2,1% compared to the corresponding period of 2025.

According to the Service, the Industrial Producer Price Index for September 2026 stood at 130.5 points (base 2021=100), marking a 2.3% increase compared with August 2026.

In September 2026, compared with August 2026, the index remained stable in the mining and quarrying sector, while rising in all other sectors, specifically in electricity supply by 10.5%, in water supply and material recovery by 1.7%, and in manufacturing by 0.2 per cent.

As regards changes compared with the corresponding month of 2025, increases have been observed across all sectors, as follows: electricity supply 21.1%, water supply and materials recovery 10.3%, manufacturing 2.4%, and mining and quarrying 0.8%.

In particular, by manufacturing sector, in September 2026 compared with the corresponding month of 2025, according to the Statistical Service, increases were recorded in the manufacture of electronic and optical products and electrical equipment (13.0%), in the the manufacture of basic metals and fabricated metal products (5.6%), the manufacture of furniture, other manufacturing and repair and installation of machinery and equipment (5.2%), the manufacture of wood and products of wood and cork, except furniture (4.5%), and the manufacture of machinery and equipment, motor vehicles and other transport equipment (2.9%).

Cyprus reiterated its position that the 2019 Turkey-Libya Memorandum of Understanding on maritime delimitation is “null and void” during a United Nations Security Council open debate on “Emerging Technologies and Maritime Security,” thanking the Greek Presidency for convening the meeting.

Referring to the Turkey-Libya Memorandum, particularly following its recent ratification by Libya’s House of Representatives, the representative of Cyprus Ambassador Maria Michael stated that “this purported agreement is null and void, does not comply with international law, and in particular, the rules pertaining to the conclusion of treaties as well as UNCLOS.”

“Geography cannot be changed, nor can the sovereign rights of states be disregarded through arbitrary maritime delimitations,” the representative stressed, adding that “Article 121 of UNCLOS clearly establishes the regime of islands and their entitlement to maritime zones.”

Ambassador Michael emphasized that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is fundamental to maritime security, legal certainty, and the peaceful settlement of disputes, noting that its provisions reflecting customary international law are binding upon all states. “The Mediterranean is our common sea. Its security and stability depend on good neighborly relations grounded on respect for international law and the sovereign rights of all coastal states,” the representative said.

Addressing the main theme of the debate, the representative noted that artificial intelligence can enhance maritime domain awareness, early warning, crisis response, and the protection of critical maritime infrastructure, while also supporting peacekeeping and humanitarian operations, as well as ceasefire and sanctions monitoring. At the same time, the representative warned that emerging technologies can amplify existing threats, including cyberattacks and hybrid operations targeting ports, shipping, submarine cables, and energy infrastructure.

In this context, the Ambassador stressed that the development and deployment of artificial intelligence must be conducted responsibly and ethically, guided by “meaningful human oversight, transparency, and accountability.” Cyprus reaffirmed its position that “technological progress must remain anchored in international law,” particularly the UN Charter and UNCLOS.

Concluding, Ambassador Michael highlighted the importance of information sharing, capacity building, and cooperation among states, international organizations, and the maritime industry. The representative also emphasized the Security Council’s role in addressing the implications of emerging technologies for international peace and security, while ensuring coherence across the United Nations system.

“Our collective objective must be to ensure that emerging technologies strengthen maritime security while remaining firmly grounded in international law, human oversight, and international cooperation,” she concluded.

The Economics Research Centre (CypERC) of the University of Cyprus has updated its economic outlook for the growth of the economy for 2026 in October, forecasting it 0.5 percentage point higher, compared to its July forecast.

According to CypERC, real GDP growth in Cyprus is expected to moderate from 4.8% in 2025 to 3.2% in 2026 and 3.1% in 2027, reflecting the dampening effects of ongoing inflationary pressures and tighter monetary conditions.

Nevertheless, it is noted that upward revisions to the historical GDP growth data published on 20 October 2026 support a favourable outlook for 2026-2027, with economic activity expected to continue to expand at a robust pace despite these headwinds.

Compared with the July issue, the growth forecast for 2026 is 0.5 percentage point higher, whereas the forecast for 2027 remains unchanged. It is noted that the stronger growth outlook for 2026 relative to the July issue is primarily attributed to higher-than-expected economic growth during the second quarter, together with favourable developments in the third quarter, including stronger economic confidence, low unemployment, and continued growth in new housing loans.

Inflation forecast also higher

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Inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), is forecast to accelerate markedly, rising from 0.1% in 2025 to 3.1% in 2026, before easing to 2.3% in 2027. According to CypERC, the inflation forecasts for 2026 and 2027 are 0.1 and 0.2 percentage points higher, respectively, than in the July outlook.

“The upward revisions mainly reflect recent developments in prices and the real economy, including continued rapid increases in international oil prices, as well as robust economic growth and low unemployment in Cyprus,” CypERC noted.

It is added that, since July’s forecast, risks to the growth outlook have remained tilted to the downside, while upside risks to the inflation outlook have continued to dominate. “The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has intensified inflationary and, consequently, cost-of-living pressures and has remained a key source of uncertainty, posing a significant risk of lower growth and higher inflation than projected in this issue,” CypERC mentioned.

In addition, it is noted that tighter-than-anticipated financing conditions in response to persistently high inflation could create new challenges for businesses, households and public finances, resulting in lower GDP growth than currently projected.

Cyprus Stock Exchange

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

MEETING DATE: 29/10/2026

INDICES BASE VALUES: FTSEMed=5000, OTH

EURO (pound )

TRADED VALUE:

661,487.46

INDEX

VALUE

% DIFF.

VALUE (pound )

FTSE/CySE 20

181.300

1.350

659,785.450

MAIN MARKET INDEX

240.100

1.540

571,222.660

INVESTMENT COMPANIES MARKET INDEX

2,588.430

-0.730

30,041.690

CSE GENERAL INDEX

308.570

1.340

661,186.610

HOTELS INDEX

1,936.660

-2.150

2,850.000

ALTERNATIVE MARKET INDEX

2,112.230

0.470

89,963.950

* The second column presents the percentage variation of the indices as compared to the last meeting.

A new de minimis aid scheme for Cypriot businesses to participate in five international trade fairs in the services sector, including technology, with a national pavilion organised by the Ministry of Commerce and Energy’ has been approved by the Cabinet.

According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Commerce, the maximum amount of de minimis aid per beneficiary and per exhibition may be up to pound 13,450 and covers the costs of renting the exhibition space, the costs of constructing and equipping the stand, the participation fee, and the costs of installing and consuming electricity and water, as well as the cost of interpreting services for the stand.

The exhibitions cover the sectors of technology and innovation, investment fund management, aircraft maintenance and shipping. Specifically, the exhibitions are the GITEX AI Serbia 2027, to be held on 25-27 May in Belgrade and focusing on artificial intelligence and innovation; FundForum International 2027, on 22-24 June in Monte Carlo, in the field of investment fund management, and GITEX Global 2027, scheduled for the fourth quarter of the year in Dubai and focusing on technology and innovation. Also MRO Europe 2027 exhibition is included, taking place on 19-21 October in Amsterdam, in the field of aircraft maintenance and repair, and Marintec China 2027, from 30 November to 3 December in Shanghai, in the field of shipping and maritime services.

As stated in the press release, “by organising the national pavilion at these exhibitions, on the one hand, Cyprus is promoted as a business hub in the sectors of technology, innovation, aircraft maintenance, investment fund management and shipping; and, on the other hand, it provides an opportunity for Cypriot service providers to showcase their services and capitalise on networking and business collaboration opportunities with both exhibitors and trade visitors.”

Legal entities (companies) operating in sectors relevant to the theme of the respective exhibition are eligible to apply for the Scheme. It should be noted that the maximum amount of de minimis aid per beneficiary and per exhibition (up to pound 13,450) covers, amongst other things, the costs of renting the exhibition space, the costs of constructing and equipping the stand, the participation fee, and the costs of installing and consuming electricity and water, as well as the cost of interpreting services for the stand.

As stated by the Ministry of Trade, those interested may refer to the information guide (www.gov.cy/media/2026/10/29102026_ypenergiasAitisisOdigos.pdf) for further details.

Applications may be submitted in person, by post via registered letter or by private courier by 27 November 2026.

Only 17.9% of secondary school students in Cyprus are enrolled in vocational education programmes, compared with an EU average of 52.4%, according to the latest European Commission figures, President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides said in an address at the opening ceremony of the 9th National Skills Competition, SkillsCyprus 2026, on Thursday at the State Fair in Nicosia. The address was delivered on his behalf by Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Marinos Moushouttas.

President Christodoulides noted that Cyprus continues to record low participation rates in vocational education and training compared with other EU member states. He said that while the European Commission’s country-specific recommendations acknowledge Cyprus’ strong economic performance, they also highlight challenges in productivity, innovation and skills.

The Commission, he added, has called for measures to address labour shortages and improve job quality by increasing the participation of vulnerable groups in the labour market and making vocational education and training more accessible and attractive.

“Skills competitions are designed to contribute precisely to this effort,” the President said, stressing the importance of highlighting the career development opportunities offered by technical and vocational professions.

In this context, he referred to the establishment and subsequent expansion of the Technical Gymnasium, describing it as a milestone in Cyprus’ education system that responds to students’ interests and addresses a longstanding gap.

President Christodoulides also stressed the importance of developing digital, green and entrepreneurial skills to equip young people for the demands of the modern labour market.

On artificial intelligence, he noted that technical professions requiring practical work, judgement, adaptability and problem-solving are difficult to fully automate.

“Technology will transform many of these jobs, but it will also increase the need for people with modern technical skills who can make use of new tools,” he said, encouraging young people to consider vocational education and training as a career path with strong prospects.

Competition expands to 18 skill categories

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Deputy Director of the Cyprus Productivity Centre Nicos Philippou said this year’s competition features 18 skill categories, up from 12 in 2024.

He said visitors can take part in practical activities at around 20 “Try a Skill” stations, while presentations by professionals, scholarships and prizes are also part of the programme.

Philippou added that around 25 volunteers are supporting the event for the first time. He also recalled Cyprus’ bronze medal in the team entrepreneurship competition at EuroSkills 2025.

Three-day competition in Nicosia

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SkillsCyprus 2026 is taking place from October 29 to 31 at the State Fair in Nicosia. Organised by the Cyprus Productivity Centre, a department of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance, the competition aims to promote vocational education and encourage young people to pursue technical careers.

Successful participants will have the opportunity to join a preparation programme with a view to representing Cyprus at EuroSkills 2027, scheduled to take place in Dusseldorf, Germany, from September 22 to 26, 2027.

The competition is open to the public.

The Cyprus News Agency is among the event’s media sponsors.