Category: Cyprus News Agency

President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides highlighted on Friday evening the strong growth trajectory of the Cypriot economy and the continued strengthening of the country’s shipping sector, noting that Cyprus is now rated in the A category by all major international rating agencies and that public debt has fallen below 48% of GDP.

At the same time, the total carrying capacity of the Cyprus-flagged fleet has reached its highest level in the past 25 years, further underscoring the importance and resilience of Cyprus’ shipping industry.

President of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners, Polyis Hadjioannou, expressed the Union’s gratitude to President Christodoulides for his support of the Cypriot shipping sector, as well as its appreciation for the work of the Deputy Minister of Shipping and the Ministry’s officials, who, he said, continue to provide consistent and effective support to the industry.

Speaking in Athens at a dinner hosted in his honour by the Cyprus Union of Shipowners, in the presence of President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas, President Christodoulides said these achievements reflected the resilience, stability and international credibility that the Cypriot economy has built up.

‘Through our responsible economic policies, we have achieved one of the highest growth rates in the European Union, with growth of 3.3% during the first half of 2026, while unemployment has fallen to 3.6%, its lowest level since 2008,’ the President said.

He also highlighted the contribution of the shipping sector to Cyprus’ positive economic performance, stressing that, alongside fiscal responsibility, shipping remains a key pillar of the economy.

‘For our Government, the Cyprus Union of Shipowners is, in practice, one of our most important partners and fellow travellers,’ President Christodoulides said.

He further noted that the Cyprus Ship Registry has recorded an increase of more than 27%, stressing that the Government is consistently working to further strengthen the resilience, competitiveness and international presence of Cyprus’ shipping industry.

He also referred to Cyprus’ re-election to the Council of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), describing it as confirmation of the international recognition of Cyprus’ role and credibility in the maritime sector.

The President stressed that Cyprus, in coordination with Greece and other EU member states, is working to strengthen maritime safety and address the sector’s emerging challenges, including decarbonisation, digitalisation and technological upgrading.

He also highlighted the importance of multilateral cooperation with maritime nations, as well as efforts to further strengthen cooperation in the shipping sector with the countries of the Gulf region.

Particular reference was made to the Nicosia Declaration, adopted during Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the European Union, under which member states committed to placing greater emphasis on the human capital that supports the shipping industry.

The President also underlined the excellent cooperation between Cyprus and Greece, with the common objective of addressing shared challenges and further enhancing the benefits generated by shipping for both countries.

Concluding his remarks, President Christodoulides paid tribute to the Cyprus Union of Shipowners for its longstanding contribution to the development and strengthening of Cypriot shipping, and congratulated its President and members of the Executive Committee for the important work they are carrying out in support of the sector.

For his part, President of the Hellenic Republic Konstantinos Tasoulas said Cyprus had every reason to take pride in the position it has established on the global shipping map, describing it not only as an economic achievement but also as a source of international influence.

Referring to the strong presence of Cyprus and Greece in international shipping, he said the two countries ‘have a common interest and a shared responsibility to contribute actively to protecting freedom of navigation, the safety of seafarers and the uninterrupted operation of global supply chains.’

He stressed that Greece and Cyprus can and should have a strong and coordinated voice on issues affecting international shipping.

With regard to the Cyprus issue, President Tasoulas said that Greece, in full coordination with the Republic of Cyprus, is making a constructive contribution to the ongoing consultations aimed at ensuring the success of the next informal enlarged meeting.

He also stressed that efforts to create faits accomplis on the ground, as well as discussions surrounding a ‘two-state solution’, are not acceptable.

Concluding his remarks, President Tasoulas said that Cyprus and Greece share a common maritime tradition, common challenges and significant common interests. As a result, he noted, the voice of the two major maritime nations of the Eastern Mediterranean can be meaningful and useful.

Welcoming the guests, President of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners said Cyprus is Europe’s largest ship-management centre and one of the three largest globally, while also referring to the challenges currently facing the shipping industry.

He highlighted practices adopted by major maritime nations outside Europe and stressed that Europe cannot afford to allow its maritime strength to weaken.

He further argued that Europe’s strategic autonomy is closely linked to the fleets of Cyprus and Greece, noting that ‘without a strong European shipping industry, strategic autonomy cannot exist.’

Hadjioannou also made particular reference to the longstanding and close ties between Cyprus and Greece, noting that Greek shipowners were the first to place their trust in the Cyprus flag and continue to support it today.

‘The history of shipping teaches us that states which recognise the strategic importance of shipping move forward,’ the President of the Cyprus Union of Shipowners concluded.

Among those attending the event were Minister of Foreign Affairs Constantinos Kombos, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis, Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hadjimanolis, Deputy Prime Minister of Greece Kostis Hatzidakis, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, Ambassador of the Republic of Cyprus to Greece Stavros Avgoustides, as well as other government officials.

From Athens, President Christodoulides will travel to New York, where he will participate in the proceedings of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 19/09/2026 UNTIL 0600 20/09/2026

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, but locally increased cloud coverage will be present at times.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 28°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally at first Northwest to North 3 Slight

Afternoon West to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Slight

Night West to Northwest 3 to 4, gradually Northwest to North Slight, gradually Smooth to Slight

South Coast

Morning Variable 3, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 4, gradually locally Southwest to West 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight, gradually locally Slight

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, gradually Northwest to North 3 Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning West to Northwest 3 to 4, gradually Southeast to Southwest Smooth to Slight

Afternoon South to Southwest 4, gradually locally Southwest 4 to 5 Smooth to Slight

Night Southwest 4, soon West to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, locally 4 Smooth to Slight, locally Slight

Night Southwest to West 3 to 4, gradually Southeast to Southwest 3 Slight, gradually Smooth to Slight

Minister of Foreign Affairs Constantinos Kombos is traveling to New York, where he will accompany President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides in his contacts within the framework of the High-Level Week of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

According to a Ministry of Foreign Affairs press release, during his stay in New York, the Minister will hold a series of bilateral and trilateral contacts on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. These contacts have been arranged on the basis of targeted planning, the press release says.

The Minister will attend the High-Level Meeting of Small States of Europe, which is co-organised by the Republic of Cyprus and the Republic of Andorra, in the context of reviving the effort to strengthen coordination and cooperation between small European states.

Furthermore, the Minister will participate in an Informal Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union, in the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Alliance for the Implementation of the Two-State Solution for the Palestinian Issue, as well as in the High-Level Meeting on Sea Level Rise.

The High-Level Week is one of the most important meeting points of international diplomacy every year. Their simultaneous presence offers an important opportunity for intensive contacts, exchange of views and discussion of international, regional and bilateral issues, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs concludes.

President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, is traveling to New York from Athens on Saturday, where he will address the 81st United Nations General Assembly. During his stay in New York, he will hold a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, his Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, as well as heads of state or government and heads of organizations and multinational companies.

As has been announced by the Presidency says that the President will also hold contacts with representatives of the Cypriot diaspora.

President Christodoulides will begin his contacts on Sunday evening, September 20, with a meeting with the heads of the Greek diaspora organizations, during which he will inform them about the developments as regards the Cyprus issue.

On the next day, September 21, he will have a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan, while in the afternoon he will participate in a Summit co-organized by the President of the European Council Antonio Costa and the Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney, on multilateralism, international law, peace and prosperity.

On September 22, President Christodoulides will attend the opening of the Plenary Session of the Summit, during which the UN Secretary-General will present his Progress Report. On the same day, the President of the Republic will have a meeting with President of Chevron’s Base Assets and Emerging Countries Department, Javier la Rosa.

He will then hold a meeting with UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus Maria Angela Holguin.

On September 23, the President of the Republic will address the Plenary Session of the UN General Assembly.

Later, he will participate in the proceedings of the High-Level Meeting convened by the UN Secretary-General on Climate Change, during which he will make an intervention.

In the afternoon, he will have a meeting with Vice President of ExxonMobil, John Ardill.

On September 24, the President of the Republic will attend a working breakfast organized by the Antenna Group and the Atlantic Council, entitled ‘Consolidating EU-Gulf Cooperation for Regional Security and Prosperity’.

Later on, President Christodoulides will have a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at the Secretary-General’s Office, in the UN building.

He will then host a luncheon for the Permanent Representatives of the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council.

On the morning of September 25, the President of the Republic will meet with Vice President of the People’s Republic of China, Han Zheng, and then with representatives of the AJC.

Before departing from New York, President Christodoulides will attend a dinner organized in his honor by organisations of the Cypriot diaspora.

President Christodoulides, who will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, Government Spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, and Greek Cypriot Negotiator, Menelaos Menelaou, will return to Cyprus on the evening of September 26.

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.

Dozens of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot volunteers cleaned the bastions of the Venetian walls of Nicosia on Saturday morning as part of the bicommunal environmental initiative “Let’s Do It! Nicosia 2026.” The event was organised by “Let’s Do It! Cyprus” in collaboration with the Turkish Cypriot organisation “Green Peace Movement” (Yesil Baris Hareketi – YBH) as part of World Cleanup Day. The initiative was supported by the High Commission of India and the Embassy of Ireland.

World Cleanup Day is one of the largest global citizen mobilisations to tackle waste and environmental pollution. It has been officially recognised by the United Nations as an international day observed annually on September 20.

“Let’s Do It! Nicosia 2026” kicked off simultaneously at 09:30 from two locations in Nicosia’s historic centre: Faneromeni Church and the Byk Han.

The two volunteer groups carried out cleanup operations along the bastions of the Venetian walls of Nicosia and subsequently headed toward the Home for Cooperation, where they met at approximately 11:00.

In a statement to the media, the Mayor of Nicosia, Charalambos Prountzos, described the event as “a very important initiative within the framework of ‘Let’s Do It! Cyprus’ and the efforts to clean up Nicosia and improve the environment.”

“This is a civil society initiative which, this year, was supported by the High Commission of India and the Embassy of Ireland, with significant public participation,” he emphasised.

“Along the section of the Venetian walls stretching from Stasinou Avenue to the Home for Cooperation, approximately 100 people took part in this effort, including a great many children and young people. This sends a very positive message regarding society’s need to bring about the change it desires,” he noted.

At the same time, Prountzos conveyed the message that “society can bring about necessary changes through participation, by mobilising the community, and by contributing to causes that are universal and shared by all, such as cleanliness and environmental protection.”

“The bi-communal nature of the event is obviously very important. I am pleased that Mehmet (Harmanci) and I had the opportunity to take part in this initiative,” he added. “This is not the first time-this initiative has been undertaken countless times-but it grows every year, and we are very happy about that,” he emphasised.

Responding to a question, the Mayor of Nicosia stated that a significant number of bags of waste were collected, adding that 15 to 20 bags of non-biodegradable waste -accumulated due to recent rains- were gathered from a tributary of the Pedieos River.

On his part, the ‘mayor’ of the Turkish-occupied part of Nicosia, Mehmet Harmanci, said that he was ”very pleased to join Charalambos (Prountzos) and encourage civil society to come together for the sake of our city, to give a message that we have common problems on environment.”

”If one side is polluted, the other side is also affected. We need to take care about the city together in terms of environment and cleaning-wise. We need to cooperate, understand each other, and work together for the sake of our city,” Harmanci pointed out.

”I’m glad that Charalambos (Prountzos) is very keen on the city, and working with him is giving us energy to do the same things over there as well,” he added.

Finally, he said that around 60 volunteers from the Turkish-occupied part of Nicosia took part in the event this year, adding that ”every year they are becoming more.”

The Cyprus News Agency (CNA) was the media sponsor of the event.

President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, is traveling to New York from Athens on Saturday, where he will address the 81st United Nations General Assembly. During his stay in New York, he will hold a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, his Personal Envoy for Cyprus, Maria Angela Holguin, as well as heads of state or government and heads of organizations and multinational companies.

As has been announced by the Presidency says that the President will also hold contacts with representatives of the Cypriot diaspora.

President Christodoulides will begin his contacts on Sunday evening, September 20, with a meeting with the heads of the Greek diaspora organizations, during which he will inform them about the developments as regards the Cyprus issue.

On the next day, September 21, he will have a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan, while in the afternoon he will participate in a Summit co-organized by the President of the European Council Antonio Costa and the Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney, on multilateralism, international law, peace and prosperity.

On September 22, President Christodoulides will attend the opening of the Plenary Session of the Summit, during which the UN Secretary-General will present his Progress Report. On the same day, the President of the Republic will have a meeting with President of Chevron’s Base Assets and Emerging Countries Department, Javier la Rosa.

He will then hold a meeting with UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Cyprus Maria Angela Holguin.

On September 23, the President of the Republic will address the Plenary Session of the UN General Assembly.

Later, he will participate in the proceedings of the High-Level Meeting convened by the UN Secretary-General on Climate Change, during which he will make an intervention.

In the afternoon, he will have a meeting with Vice President of ExxonMobil, John Ardill.

On September 24, the President of the Republic will attend a working breakfast organized by the Antenna Group and the Atlantic Council, entitled ‘Consolidating EU-Gulf Cooperation for Regional Security and Prosperity’.

Later on, President Christodoulides will have a meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, at the Secretary-General’s Office, in the UN building.

He will then host a luncheon for the Permanent Representatives of the five Permanent Members of the UN Security Council.

On the morning of September 25, the President of the Republic will meet with Vice President of the People’s Republic of China, Han Zheng, and then with representatives of the AJC.

Before departing from New York, President Christodoulides will attend a dinner organized in his honor by organisations of the Cypriot diaspora.

President Christodoulides, who will be accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Constantinos Kombos, Government Spokesperson, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, and Greek Cypriot Negotiator, Menelaos Menelaou, will return to Cyprus on the evening of September 26.

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.

President, Nikos Christodoulides, spoke on Saturday of a strong vote of confidence in the Cypriot economy’s resilience and prospects, in a recorded message marking the upgrade of the Republic of Cyprus’s credit rating from ‘A-‘ to ‘A’ by Standard and Poor’s, whilst maintaining a positive outlook.

Cyprus has reached yet another significant economic milestone, as it returns to the ‘A’ rating for the first time since 2011, the President said in a statement.

‘This is undoubtedly a strong vote of confidence in our economy, its resilience and its prospects. A strong vote of confidence in our fiscal responsibility, our high growth rates, historically low levels of unemployment and the significant reduction in public debt,’ he continued.

‘And all these are not merely indicators. They have real significance and tangible impact. In practice, a stronger economy means more and better-paid jobs. It means more investment and new opportunities. It means greater scope for targeted social policies. For investment in health, education, the welfare state and housing. It means greater job security and improved wages,” President Christodoulides noted.

“In practice, it means boosting disposable income and improving people’s day-to-day lives. Above all, it means that we are building a more secure foundation for future generations,” he further stressed.

‘Through responsible management, steady progress and bold reforms, we are strengthening our country’s credibility and competitiveness. Consistently. Responsibly. With determination, we are transforming Cyprus by offering hope and prospects to citizens, families, households, businesses and the Cypriot people as a whole,’ President Christodoulides concluded.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (A)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 0600 18/09/2026 UNTIL 0600 19/09/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1007hPa (hectopascal)

Low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be at time mainly cloudy and local showers and isolated thunderstorms are expect, initially at the west and north coasts, gradually affecting the south and east coasts. In thunderstorms hail is expected while the winds will be variable strengthening 5 to 6 Beaufort, accompanied by stronger gusts of 8 Beaufort.

Visibility: Good, but moderate to poor in showers

Sea surface temperature: 28°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3, gradually West to Northwest 4 Slight

Afternoon Northwest 4 to 5, locally 5 Slight, locally Slight to Moderate

Night Northwest 4, later Northwest to North 3 to 4 Slight

South Coast

Morning South to Southwest 3, gradually 4 Slight

Afternoon Southwest 4 to 5, locally 5 Slight, locally Slight to Moderate

Night Southwest to West 4, later Northwest 3 to 4 Slight, later Smooth to Slight

East Coast

Morning South to Southwest 3 to 4, gradually 4 Slight

Afternoon Southwest 4, at times offshore 4 to 5 Slight

Night Southwest to West 3 to 4, gradually West to Northwest 3 to 4 Slight, gradually Smooth to Slight

North Coast

Morning Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, gradually Northwest 4 Slight

Afternoon Northwest 4, locally 4 to 5 Slight, locally Slight to Moderate

Night West to Northwest 3 to 4, gradually Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4 Slight

The European Commission will today disburse pound 3.3 billion to Ukraine for defence procurement under the pound 90 billion Ukraine Support Loan. The payment covers drones and missiles and will help Ukraine defend its territory and skies against Russia’s ongoing aggression.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the Commission: ‘Today, we will disburse pound 3.3 billion to help procure drones and missiles under the Ukraine Support Loan. Europe will continue to deliver the support Ukraine needs to defend its people and its territory.”

This is the fourth payment made to Ukraine under the Ukraine Support Loan’s defence window. With this disbursement, the Commission will have paid nearly pound 15 billion to Ukraine this year, covering both defence and broader support. The Ukraine Support Loan includes pound 30 billion for budgetary aid and pound 60 billion for defence across 2026-2027.

Ukraine’s military edge depends on the rapid availability of critical products in the required quantities and within very short timeframes. Accelerating EU deliveries through destocking, reprioritising orders and ramping up the production remains crucial.

As announced by President von der Leyen in the State of the Union speech and yesterday’s call with President Zelenskyy, the Commission is ready to use remaining funds from the Security Action for Europe instrument to launch a new joint EU-Ukraine programme. The initiative would develop a European air and missile defence system, building on the existing Freya anti-ballistic system. It would combine Ukraine’s battlefield experience with Europe’s industrial and technological strength.

More information is available in our press release.

(For more information: Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Nika Blazevic – Tel.: +32 2 299 27 17)

Commission collects feedback on its proposed list of non-OECD countries authorised to receive EU waste after May 2027

The Commission has today launched a public consultation on a draft list of non-OECD countries that could be authorised to import non-hazardous waste from the European Union after May 2027, under the Waste Shipment Regulation. This draft list is based on the Commission’s assessment of the countries’ ability to manage such waste in an environmentally sound manner.

To make sure that EU waste does not harm the environment or human health elsewhere, the new Waste Shipment Regulation, adopted in 2024, introduces stricter rules on waste exports, in particular to non-OECD countries. The EU will export waste to non-OECD countries from 21 May 2027 only if the countries explicitly request to continue receiving waste from the EU and demonstrate that they can manage it in a sustainable manner.

The Commission must assess the 32 requests received by non-OECD countries wanting to continue importing non-hazardous waste from the EU. The result of an initial assessment is summarised in a report published together with the draft list of countries on which the Commission is now seeking feedback from all interested parties – including citizens, businesses, NGOs, public authorities, and researchers. The public consultation is open until 16 October 2026.

The first list of countries authorised to receive waste from the EU will be established after the consultation is closed. This list will be updated regularly and at least every two years, with the possibility open to countries which are not on the list to (re)apply.

Today, the Commission also published its assessment report on the sustainable management of plastic waste exported from the EU to Trkiye, under the Waste Shipment Regulation. The report focuses on Trkiye, as it is the first country destination and represents 70% of plastic waste exported from the EU to OECD countries. It highlights both progress made and gaps that still need to be addressed to support environmentally sound waste management in Trkiye. The Commission will engage with Trkiye’s competent authorities on the report’s findings and request to address its shortcomings. We will continue monitoring EU plastic waste exports to Trkiye and assess the need for additional measures. We remain committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation with Trkiye on waste management.

You can find more information on the launch of the public consultation and the publication of the assessment report online.

(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73)

Commission launches European Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform and European Water Academy

On Monday, the European Commission is organising separate events to launch two key initiatives advancing the Water Resilience Agenda, in partnership with the Committee of the Regions and the European Economic and Social Committee.

Europe’s water resources are under growing pressure from pollution, ecosystem degradation, ageing infrastructure, over-consumption and climate change. As President Ursula von der Leyen underlined in her State of the Union address, the Commission recognises the serious risks that water scarcity poses to farmers, energy production and supply chains.

Against this backdrop, Europe must act fast and be ready to face this challenge.

Achieving the EU’s water resilience objectives by 2050 requires transformational change across all levels, driven by expertise and collaboration across the public and private sectors. The Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform and the Water Academy will support the effective implementation of the Water Resilience Strategy, as well as EU water legislation.

Bringing together diverse stakeholders, including civil society, the private sector, regional and local authorities, and Member States, the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform will guide this process. It will identify implementation barriers, propose practical solutions, and ensure the Strategy’s actions reflect a wide range of public and sectoral interests.

Complementing these efforts, the Water Academy will help develop and connect the skills, knowledge, innovation and partnerships needed to respond to the many water challenges Europe is facing.

Together, these two new fora will also contribute to the new European Water Initiative announced in the State of the Union address.

Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, said: ‘After a summer of extreme heat and drought, we cannot take our water supplies for granted. To ensure there is ample supply for our communities, for our biodiversity, and for our competitive circular economy, we must fully implement the Water Resilience Strategy and all EU water legislation. With experts from the Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform and the European Water Academy on board, I am confident we can achieve this.’

Commissioner Roswall will open both events. The Platform launch will be live streamed as of 09:30 CEST, and the Academy live stream will be available as of 14:00 CEST.

More information on the launch of the European Water Resilience Platform and European Water Academy will be available online as of Monday 14:00 CEST.

(For more information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel: +32 229-66483; Anna Wartberger – Tel.: +32 2 298 20 54)

Commission clears acquisition of All for One Group by Vinci Energies

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of sole control of All for One Group SE of Germany by Vinci Energies S.A. of France.

The transaction relates primarily to the provision of IT services.

The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given the companies’ limited market positions resulting from the proposed transaction. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

More information is available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.12571.

(For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)

Commission clears merger between Publigas and Publi-T

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the merger between Publigas SC/CV, the entity controlling Fluxys SA, and Publi-T SC/CV, the entity controlling Elia Group SA/NV, all of Belgium. Fluxys and Elia Group are the Belgian transmission system operators for gas and electricity, respectively.

The transaction relates primarily to electricity and natural gas transmission in Belgium.

The Commission concluded that the notified transaction would not raise competition concerns, given that the companies are not active in the same or vertically related markets. The notified transaction was examined under the simplified merger review procedure.

More information is available on the Commission’s competition website, in the public case register under the case number M.12506.

(For more information: Ricardo Cardoso – Tel.: +32 2 298 01 00; Sara Simonini – Tel.: +32 2 298 33 67)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

EU reaffirms support for effective and strengthened multilateralism at 81st UN General Assembly

From 20 to 25 September, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen will travel to New York to participate in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

This year’s UNGA marks a period of transition for the UN leadership. As the largest contributor to the UN system, the EU will reaffirm its unwavering support for renewed and strengthened multilateralism, with the UN at its core.

The programme includes notably: on Monday, at 18:30 EDT (+1 00:30h CEST), President von der Leyen will participate in the Summit in support of Multilateralism, hosted by the Presidents of Kenya, Canada and the European Council. On Tuesday morning at 09:00 EDT (15:00 CEST), the President will join the opening of the 81st UN General Assembly. At 15:00 EDT (21:00 CEST), she will then participate in the High-level dialogue ‘Protecting Children’s rights facing Artificial Intelligence’, co-hosted by the Presidents of France, Spain, and Kenya as well as the Prime Minister of Australia. On Wednesday, at 10:00 EDT (16:00 CEST), President von der Leyen will co-host the OceanEye International Alliance Pledging event, together with the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney, to gather pledges to better monitor and protect our ocean. In the afternoon, at 15:00 EDT (21:00 CEST), she will participate in the High-level meeting on Climate Action and Just Transition, organised by the UN Secretary-General.

President von der Leyen, the President of the European Council António Costa, and High Representative/Vice-President Kaja Kallas will host or participate in events and meetings with leaders from around the world. They will be joined by Executive Vice-Presidents Teresa Ribera and Roxana Mînzatu, and Commissioners Dubravka Šuica, Wopke Hoekstra, Jozef Síkela, Costas Kadis, Hadja Lahbib, Magnus Brunner, Michael McGrath, and Apostolos Tzitzikostas.

Commissioner Kadis and Commissioner Lahbib will respectively represent the EU at the UN-mandated high-level meetings on the existential threats posed by sea-level rise, as well as on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response.

EU representatives have a full agenda of high-level debates and side events, as well as numerous bilateral meetings.

Find out more about the EU’s support to the UN in the factsheet: EU-UN: A partnership that delivers, factsheet: EU funding to the UN, as well as in the EU’s priorities at UN General Assembly over the next year.

The Price Index of Construction Materials for August 2026 reached 123.09 units (base year 2021=100), recording an increase of 3.39%, compared to the same month of the previous year, according to data published by the Statistical Service on Friday.

By main commodity category, increases were observed in metallic products by 4.60%, products of wood, insulation materials, chemicals and plastics also by 4.60%, electromechanical products by 3.58%, minerals by 2.67% and mineral products by 1.35%.

The only decrease recorded, compared to last August was in heating and cooling equipment, by 1.67%.

A further marginal increase of 0.07% was recorded in August 2026 compared to the previous month.

For the period January-August 2026, the index increased by 2.06% compared to the corresponding period of 2025.