Category: Cyprus News Agency

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.

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos is set to have a full programme of meetings next week during his stay in New York on the occasion of the United Nations General Assembly.

According to information obtained by CNA from diplomatic sources, 35 bilateral meetings with his counterparts from UN member states have been confirmed so far, whilst he will also take part in at least five meetings with the President of the Republic, with the programme still being finalised.

As stated, meetings have been scheduled with countries on the African continent, such as Algeria, Morocco, Kenya, Botswana, Senegal, Rwanda, Mauritania and Tanzania, in the Middle East, such as Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Lebanon, in Central Asia, such as Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, and in Asia, including India, the Philippines and the Maldives.

According to the same sources, these meetings are the result not only of geographical planning but also of taking into account the membership of several of the above countries in the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, as well as the Turkic-speaking countries of Central Asia.

They added that, following a Cypriot initiative, a high-level meeting of small European states will be co-organized with Andorra at the Permanent Mission of Cyprus to the UN, including Cyprus, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Monaco and San Marino, with cooperation amongst the small European states also encompassing the Council of Europe dimension and issues relating to property and missing persons.

They also mentioned that two trilateral meetings will be held with Egypt and Jordan, whilst the Foreign Minister will take part in a series of multilateral meetings, such as the informal EU Foreign Affairs Council with guests from Asian countries, a ministerial discussion on the Middle East chaired by the Qatari Foreign Minister and the EU High Representative, Kaja Kallas, ministerial meetings on the Middle East and the two-state solution and on rising sea levels, as well as an informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers with their counterparts from CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States).

The same sources also said that contacts have already been made with two of the candidates to succeed António Guterres as UN Secretary-General, with the contact with the first candidate having taken place during last year’s UN General Assembly, whilst a few days ago a government minister met with the second candidate as part of another meeting.

They added that there may be further contacts either with the aforementioned candidates or with other candidates, as part of a social gathering to be held in New York.

The return of the Cyprus Composite Leading Economic Index (CCLEI) to marginally positive area in August suggests a gradual improvement in the short-term economic outlook, the Economics Research Centre (CypERC) of the University of Cyprus said.

According to CypERC, the CCLEI recorded a year-on-year increase of 0.02% in August 2026, following year-on-year declines in previous months.

Overall, the Centre said the marginally positive growth rate points to a gradual improvement in the short-term economic outlook, although pressures from the international economic and geopolitical environment persist.

It added that the positive performance of key domestic components continues to offset external pressures and support economic activity.

More specifically, property sales contracts, credit card transactions by Cypriots, the retail sales volume index and the temperature-adjusted volume of electricity production contributed positively to the CCLEI’s year-on-year growth rate.

By contrast, Brent crude oil prices remained significantly higher than in August last year, while tourist arrivals remained lower on a year-on-year basis.

At the same time, the weighted Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) deteriorated year-on-year, CypERC said.

These developments limited a further increase in the CCLEI’s growth rate, it added.

Mobile phone users across Cyprus received a notification from CY-Alert, the national public warning system, at 6:52 p.m. Thursday, informing them of a yellow weather warning issued earlier by the Department of Meteorology. The warning will be in effect from 9 p.m. Thursday until 5 p.m. Friday (local time).

According to the Department of Meteorology, a weather system located west of Cyprus and accompanied by an organized band of rain and thunderstorms is expected to gradually affect the island from tonight.

Occasionally, isolated severe thunderstorms are expected, initially over the western half of the island and gradually in other areas as well.

Rainfall intensity may range between 35 and 55 millimeters per hour, while hail and strong wind gusts of up to 8 Beaufort may occur locally.

A bill setting 15 as the minimum age for access to social media is expected to go before the House of Representatives in December, Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Deputy Minister Nicodemos Damianou told CNA, adding that Cyprus intends to incorporate an age-verification mechanism into its Digital Citizen app.

Damianou said setting an age limit was one aspect of the issue, while ensuring that social media platforms could enforce it effectively was another.

‘Platforms will have to implement appropriate mechanisms capable of verifying a person’s age and confirming that they are above the prescribed age limit, without storing other personal data,’ he said, adding that the legislation would specify the platforms’ responsibilities.

At the same time, Cyprus is awaiting the final form of the EU Kids Act announced by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, he said.

The European Commission has also proposed the EU Age Verification Blueprint, in whose development Cyprus is participating and which the government intends to incorporate into Digital Citizen.

‘We believe this will be the best possible solution for implementing the regulation from a technical point of view. This, however, will take time,’ Damianou said.

Until then, responsibility would rest with the platforms to operate their own age-verification mechanisms. He said the legislation was expected to give them several months to adapt.

During that period, existing users would also have to undergo age checks so platforms could ensure that users who joined before such mechanisms were introduced also meet the age requirement.

‘This cannot happen overnight,’ Damianou said, noting that an individual country had considerably less leverage over major platforms than the EU acting collectively.

He said collective EU action would put greater pressure on platforms to introduce age-gating mechanisms, warning that failure to do so could trigger provisions of the Digital Services Act (DSA).

‘If Europe says this collectively – and this is the direction in which yesterday’s announcement by the Commission President is moving – the pressure on the platforms to implement it becomes much stronger,’ he said.

Following the Commission’s announcement of its intention to introduce an EU Kids Act, Cyprus is now waiting to see how much scope member states will have to set their own age limits or whether the EU will follow a different approach, Damianou said.

A large number of member states have either begun preparing legislation, as Cyprus has, or are discussing such measures in their national legislatures, he added.

He said the Commission President’s announcement reflected a broader European trend towards restricting access to social media below a certain age.

According to Damianou, the framework outlined by the Commission President would bar children under 13 from social media altogether. Those aged 13 to 15 would have access to a limited account, with restrictions on functions and access time, while special provisions would apply to users aged 15 to 18 to ensure that platforms provide age-appropriate content.

Turning to Cyprus’ bill, Damianou said work was at an advanced stage.

‘Our objective is for it to go before the House of Representatives in December this year,’ he said.

Before then, a public consultation will be held through the Voice of the Citizen platform, while targeted consultations will also take place with relevant organisations.

An impact assessment will also be carried out by the Commissioner for Children’s Rights to examine the scientific aspects of the issue.

These processes will run in parallel with the drafting of the legislation and their findings will be taken into account, along with any further details emerging from the European Commission, Damianou said.

He added that the government was following through on its commitment, made at the beginning of the year, to introduce limits and bring what he described as a serious issue to the forefront.

Damianou said that only a few voices within the European Council had supported restrictions on social media use a year ago.

However, he said there had been a major shift among member states over the past six months, amid the rapid development of algorithms and concerns over the addictive behaviour associated with social media use.

‘Almost all of Europe is now expressing its intention to proceed with relevant legislation,’ he said.

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides is traveling to Athens on Friday afternoon to attend an event organized by the Cyprus Shipowners’ Association. President of the Hellenic Republic has also been invited, an announcement by the Cyprus Presidency says.

The President will also attend a dinner hosted by the Association and will deliver a speech.

Greetings will also be delivered by the President of the Cyprus Shipowners’ Association Polys Hadjiioannou and the President of the Hellenic Republic Constantinos Tasoulas.

The President will then depart from Athens the next day for New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 17/09/2026 UNTIL 1800 18/09/2026

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1010hPa (hectopascal)

Low pressure is expected to affect the area. Tonight local showers and isolated thunderstorms are expect from the west and north and gradually over the remaining areas. In thunderstorms hail is expected while the winds will be variable strengthening 5 to 6 Beaufort, accompanied by stronger gusts 8 Beaufort.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 28°C

Warnings: NIL

AREA PERIOD WIND STATE OF SEA

West Coast

Night West to Northwest 3 to 4, in and near storms Variable 5 to 6 Slight, in and near storms Slight to Moderate

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

Afternoon Northwest 4 to 5 Slight to Moderate

South Coast

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, in and near storms Variable 5 to 6 Slight, in and near storms Slight to Moderate

Morning Southeast to Southwest 3, in and near storms Variable 5 to 6 Smooth to Slight, in and near storms Slight to Moderate

Afternoon Southwest to West 4, at times locally 4 to 5 Slight to Moderate

East Coast

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, in and near storms Variable 5 to 6 Slight, in and near storms Slight to Moderate

Morning Southwest 3 to 4, in and near storms Variable 5 to 6 Slight, in and near storms Slight to Moderate

Afternoon Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, at times locally 4 to 5 Slight

North Coast

Night Southwest to Northwest 3 to 4, in and near storms Variable 5 to 6 Slight, in and near storms Slight to Moderate

Morning Southwest to West 3 to 4, in and near storms Variable 5 to 6 Slight, in and near storms Slight to Moderate

Afternoon Northwest 3 to 4, at times 4 to 5 Slight

Cyprus authorities assisted in an international investigation led by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) into a large-scale fraud and VAT evasion case involving 15.7 million euros in mobile phone sales. The investigation led to the arrest of three people in Bulgaria and one in Germany, as well as the freezing of assets belonging to two suspects and two companies in Germany, worth 20.5 million euros, police said.

According to a police statement, Cyprus participated Wednesday in a Joint Action Day, during which coordinated operations were carried out in Austria, Bulgaria, Germany and Cyprus.

According to the statement, a total of five companies and one residence were searched in Cyprus, in Nicosia and Larnaca. Various documents and electronic data were seized as evidence during the searches. Statements are also being taken from various people as part of the investigation.

According to the evidence under investigation, the perpetrators developed a cross-border trading network involving companies in Bulgaria, Germany and Cyprus to illegally avoid paying VAT on online sales of mobile phones in Germany.

The statement said that, based on the evidence under investigation, the total amount involved in the fraud and VAT evasion is estimated at 15.7 million euros.

Police said searches of the homes and premises of the suspects, as well as the facilities of the companies involved, led to the arrest of three people in Bulgaria and one in Germany.

The searches also led to the freezing of assets belonging to two suspects and two companies in Germany, worth 20.5 million euros, the statement said. German authorities are taking steps to recover assets belonging to the companies involved.

The searches in Cyprus were carried out under the supervision of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office’s European Delegated Prosecutor in Cyprus, with the participation of the Cyprus Police and the Tax Department, as well as investigators from Germany who travelled to Cyprus to assist in Wednesday’s Joint Action Day, the police statement said.

The Cyprus Telecommunications Authority, Cyta, in cooperation with Connect Europe, have organised a workshop on the proposal for the new European Digital Networks Act (DNA) and the revision of the Cybersecurity Act.

A press release by Cyta says that the workshop brought together representatives of the competent public authorities, telecommunications providers, the business community, European institutions and Connect Europe.

Discussions focused on the creation of a modern and harmonised European framework that will encourage investment in fibre-optic networks, 5G and future 6G netwroks, while accelerating the development of innovative digital services with a focus on the spectrum provisions of the Digital Networks Act.

Participants were welcomed by Cyta CEO George Metzákis, and Director General of Connect Europe, Alessandro Gropelli. Opening remarks were also delivered by the Commissioner of Communications, Marios Pieris and Director of Digital Policy and Communications, Kyriaki Pantziarou.

The need to strengthen the security and resilience of networks was also discussed, through effective measures proportionate to the risks, supporting the uninterrupted operation of critical services.

Particular emphasis was placed on the benefits for consumers, ensuring that investment, technological advancement and enhanced security translate into better service quality, greater reliability, higher speeds and access to a wider range of advanced digital capabilities.

For Cyprus, the press release says, these discussions are particularly important, as the country has already developed advanced telecommunications infrastructure, with very high capacity network and FTTP coverage reaching 95.5% and 5G coverage at 100%.

At this level of development, a modern and stable European framework is essential to support continued investment in next-generation networks and to strengthen the security and resilience of critical infrastructure, it concludes.

Cyprus and Greece have agreed to further strengthen cooperation in tackling organised and cross-border crime, following a meeting in Athens between Cyprus Justice and Public Order Minister Costas Fytiris and Greek Citizen Protection Minister Michalis Chrysochoidis.

According to a statement by the Cyprus Ministry of Justice, the meeting included a review of cooperation between the competent authorities of the two countries, which was described as excellent, as well as an exchange of views on the current challenges posed by organised criminal networks operating across borders and internationally.

Fytiris thanked Chrysochoidis and the Greek authorities for their longstanding and substantive support to the Republic of Cyprus, stressing the importance of the rapid exchange of information, operational cooperation, and the transfer of know-how and expertise.

The two Ministers reaffirmed their shared intention to deepen cooperation further, with the aim of improving the prevention of and response to organised crime and strengthening citizens’ security.

The Justice Minister subsequently visited the Hellenic Police Officers’ School, where he was briefed on its operation and on the structure and content of training and education programmes for police officers.

During the visit, possibilities for further cooperation and the exchange of expertise in police training were also discussed, with emphasis on drawing on the experience and good practices of the two countries.

Fytiris stressed the importance the Republic of Cyprus attaches to the continuous upgrading of the training of police officers, noting that investment in education, knowledge and professional training is a key prerequisite for a modern and effective Police Force.