Asianet Pakistan Private Limited

Economic sentiment in Cyprus improved for the fifth consecutive month in August 2026, with the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI-CypERC) increasing by 1.4 points compared with July, according to the Economic Research Centre of the University of Cyprus.

The increase was driven by stronger consumer confidence and higher business confidence across all sectors except construction.

Confidence in the services sector rose further, as firms assessed their recent performance, including their business situation and turnover, more favourably, despite lowering their turnover expectations.

The Retail Trade Confidence Indicator increased marginally, reflecting upward revisions in firms’ sales expectations, while the increase in the Industry Confidence Indicator was attributed to more optimistic production expectations.

In contrast, the small decline in the Construction Confidence Indicator resulted from less favourable assessments by firms of their current overall order books.

Consumer confidence also improved in August, as consumers assessed both their current and future financial situation more favourably compared with July. In addition, their intentions to make major purchases strengthened significantly.

Meanwhile, the Economic Uncertainty Indicator for Cyprus decreased further in August, driven by lower consumer uncertainty and reduced business uncertainty among firms in the services and industry sectors.

Cyprus intends to contribute to the European OceanEye initiative, which aims to improve the coordination of European and national actions for ocean observation and the use of marine data, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Christos Senekis said during a meeting with European Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Costas Kadis at the Ministry on Friday.

According to a Ministry announcement, the meeting, which took place on the occasion of Senekis’ recent assumption of duties, focused on the priorities of European policy on fisheries and aquaculture, as well as issues of particular interest to Cyprus.

Senekis reiterated the Republic of Cyprus’ positive stance towards the OceanEye initiative and expressed Cyprus’ intention to contribute to it, making use of the country’s existing national and international cooperation in the field.

The meeting also addressed, among other issues, the future of the Common Fisheries Policy, the implementation of the European Ocean Pact and the development of the European Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture towards 2040.

Particular emphasis was placed on the challenges facing the sector, including generational renewal, competitiveness and the long-term sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture.

The Minister noted that, as an island state in the Eastern Mediterranean, Cyprus attaches particular importance to a European policy that takes into account the specificities of the Mediterranean, island states and small-scale coastal fisheries, while ensuring a balance between environmental, economic and social sustainability.

For his part, Kadis referred to the significant challenges currently facing the European fisheries and aquaculture sector, highlighting the importance of cooperation with Member States and dialogue with people working in the sector.

According to the Ministry’s announcement, the European Commissioner also made particular reference to Cyprus’ high absorption of European funds for actions in the fisheries sector, noting that this demonstrates the effective use of available European funding instruments.

He also praised the work carried out during the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, highlighting the significant progress achieved in negotiations on the future funding framework for fisheries and aquaculture. As he said, the work of the Cyprus Presidency was recognised by all Member States and provided a basis for continuing negotiations on the file under the Irish Presidency.

Kadis also referred to Cyprus’ strong performance in aquaculture, noting that the country ranks among the leading EU countries in the sector and that there are significant prospects for further development.

Senekis and Kadis finally agreed on the importance of maintaining close cooperation and regular communication between the Ministry and the European Commission, particularly at a time when important decisions are being shaped regarding the future of European fisheries and aquaculture.

European Council President António Costa will travel to Nicosia on 4 September for talks with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, as part of his ongoing tour of EU capitals.

The Nicosia stop falls within the second week of Costa’s ‘Tour des Capitales,’ through which he is meeting the heads of state or government of the 27 member states to discuss the EU’s agenda, with particular focus on the bloc’s next long-term budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework, and lay the groundwork for upcoming European Council meetings and international summits. In the first week he visited Bratislava, Tallinn, Vilnius, Riga and Prague.

The second week opens on 2 September, when Costa meets Luxembourg’s Prime Minister, Luc Frieden, before travelling the same day to Zagreb for talks with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and to Budapest for a meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar.

On 3 September he is due in Bucharest to meet Romanian President Nicu?or Dan, in Sofia for talks with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev, and in Athens with the Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

On 4 September, alongside the Nicosia meeting – in the morning according to CNA’s information – Costa will also travel to Ljubljana to meet Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Janša.

On Saturday, 5 September, he is scheduled to deliver a keynote address on ‘Europe in the World’ at the 52nd Ambrosetti Forum, the annual gathering of political, academic and business leaders held since 1975.

Details of the following week of the tour are expected to be announced on Friday, 4 September.

The European Coordination of Air Traffic Controllers’ Unions (ATCEUC) and the Cyprus Air Traffic Controllers Union (CYATCU) have called for urgent high-level international and European action to address long-standing flight safety risks in the Nicosia Flight Information Region (FIR), following a near-miss between a Turkish military aircraft and a civilian passenger plane.

In separate letters sent on Thursday, the two organisations warned that, 14 years after the European Commission described the situation in the Nicosia FIR as ‘unsustainable and unacceptable from a flight safety point of view’, no effective technical solution had been implemented.

The renewed calls follow an incident on the evening of August 19 involving a Turkish Air Force Airbus A400M transport aircraft and a TUI Airways Boeing 737-800 in the Nicosia FIR.

As ATCEUC describes, the Turkish military aircraft, operating under the callsign TUAF770, entered the Nicosia FIR without establishing communication and followed a trajectory different from its declared flight plan. It was climbing towards flight level FL360 in the northern part of the FIR, near the boundary with the Ankara FIR, while the civilian aircraft, flight TOM56T, was descending through FL350 on a converging trajectory.

A serious incident was avoided after air traffic controllers at the Nicosia Area Control Centre (ACC) identified the conflict and instructed the civilian aircraft to halt its descent, ATCEUC said.

The European federation said the incident showed that the long-standing problem in the Nicosia FIR remained unresolved, warning that Turkish military aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles continued to operate without effective coordination near critical air routes and Cyprus’s two main airports, Larnaca and Paphos.

CYATCU said the safety risks could no longer be left to the vigilance of individual controllers. It described the August 19 incident as ‘one visible moment in a pattern’ experienced by its members for years, saying controllers deal daily with unauthorised Turkish military aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles operating in the FIR without flight plans filed with Nicosia and without two-way communication.

‘The reason the Nicosia FIR has not yet recorded a fatal accident despite this conduct is not because the risk is being managed by any institution represented in this correspondence. It is because our members have, for decades, personally absorbed a risk that properly belongs to international enforcement,’ the union said.

The interventions come 14 years after the European Commission expressed concern over reported dangerous incidents in the Nicosia FIR. In a March 2012 letter to ATCEUC, the Commission said it was ‘deeply concerned’ about the reported increase in such incidents and the serious threat to aviation safety, adding that it was working to develop a satisfactory technical solution.

However, ATCEUC said no technical solution had since been announced, published or effectively implemented, while direct communication and coordination between the Ankara and Nicosia air traffic control centres had not been restored.

The federation has called for direct engagement by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a renewed high-level EU diplomatic initiative involving the European Commission, Cyprus and Trkiye, and a joint European Commission-EUROCONTROL safety assessment of the situation, including risks from military and unmanned aerial vehicle operations.

It also requested a clear, time-bound roadmap for restoring effective operational coordination.

CYATCU supported the demands and called for Nicosia ACC controllers to be directly involved in any safety assessment. It stressed that any solution should not come at Cyprus’s expense by restricting civil air traffic or reducing the island’s connectivity.

ATCEUC President Jean-Denis Larrère said the objective was to ensure that the skies over the Eastern Mediterranean were safe, predictable and governed by effective international cooperation and regulations.

‘The time has come to turn the commitments of 2012 into a sustainable technical solution,’ he said.

Today, Bulgaria and Latvia received their first payments under the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) defence instrument. Bulgaria received pound 489.3 million and Latvia pound 524.7 million. These payments represent 15% of the countries’ total allocations of pound 3.3 billion and pound 3.5 billion respectively.

SAFE is a pound 150 billion financial instrument providing loans to Member States. It primarily funds joint procurement of ammunition, missiles, air defence, and ground combat systems produced within the EU. It is part of the European Commission’s ReArm Europe/Readiness 2030 plan, which aims to unlock over pound 800 billion in defence investment across the European Union.

The pre-financing will help Bulgaria accelerate priority defence investments, strengthen resilience, and modernise its military capabilities in line with shared European goals. SAFE is designed to enable swift, co-ordinated action, improve the ability of European forces to work together, and strengthen Europe’s defence industry, including through joint procurement and closer cross-border co-operation.

Andrius Kubilius, Commissioner for Defence and Space said: “With these first SAFE payments, we are helping Bulgaria and Latvia accelerate key defence investments while strengthening their readiness and resilience. We are acting swiftly and decisively to support Member States on the EU’s Eastern Flank. SAFE enables Member States to invest more quickly, procure more effectively through joint action, and strengthen Europe’s defence industrial base.”

This payment follows the completion of all required procedural steps and reflects the EU’s commitment to providing timely, practical support through SAFE. Further payments will follow, as agreed milestones and implementation are met.

The SAFE instrument is financed by EU borrowing on the financial markets. This enables competitively priced and attractively structured long-duration loans to requesting Member States. The terms of the SAFE loans benefit from the EU’s strong credit rating.

The EU allocates pound 2 million in humanitarian aid to support victims of flash flood in Nepal

In response to the massive flash flood that has caused over 300 deaths in Nepal, the European Union has allocated pound 2 million in humanitarian aid to support affected communities. This emergency funding will help address immediate needs including as food, healthcare, clean water and sanitation. EU-funded partners are already providing help on the ground.

This assistance comes in addition to the almost pound 3 million in humanitarian aid allocated at the start of the year for Nepal for disaster preparedness. EU-funded partners in the country started to provide help immediately after the disaster, with prepositioned shelter and distribution of relief items. The EU is also deploying its Rapid Response Coordinator for Asia to help coordinate the EU’s response.

To support the local response, the EU activated the Copernicus satellite service to provide maps of the affected area.

Commissioner for Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said: ‘Roads washed away. Villages cut off. Families searching for missing loved ones. The flash floods in Nepal have shattered communities already rebuilding from past disasters. The EU stands with them, allocating pound 2 million to bring urgent healthcare, food, water and shelter.’

EU further extends support to Serbia as wildfires intensify

EU firefighting support to Serbia has been extended until 5 September, with four helicopters from the rescEU strategic reserve in Czechia, Romania and Slovakia and a ground firefighting team from Romania remaining deployed, as wildfires continue and strong winds are forecast in affected areas.

The severe wildfires affecting the Deliblato Sands Special Nature Reserve and other areas have burned around 13,920 hectares, according to Copernicus data as of 26 August. The scale and persistence of the emergency continue to put pressure on local response capacities and threaten one of Serbia’s most important natural areas.

When Serbia requested assistance under the Civil Protection Mechanism on Friday 21 august, the EU mobilised immediately. It took less than 24 hours to get from Serbia’s request to European helicopters in the air. For emergency assessment and operational planning, the EU’s Copernicus Emergency Management Service was activated on 8 August, providing satellite mapping and analysis of the affected area.

The EU is maintaining close coordination with the Serbian authorities through its Emergency Response Coordination Centre, with a liaison officer on the ground supporting operational coordination between the national authorities and European teams.

Commissioner for Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said: ‘These wildfires are putting enormous pressure on Serbia’s firefighters and communities. At this difficult time, Europe stands firmly with Serbia and its people: our teams and aircraft continue to work side by side with Serbian responders to bring the fires under control. This is European solidarity in action, and we will continue to provide support as the situation evolves.’

EU agri-food trade surplus increased in the first half of 2026

EU agri-food trade continued to perform strongly in the first half of 2026, according to the latest EU agri-food trade report, with a trade surplus of pound 23.9 billion, pound 1.4 billion higher than in the same period in 2025. In June 2026, EU agri-food product exports totalled pound 20.3 billion, marking a 5% increase compared with the previous month and 6% above June 2025.

Cumulative exports reached pound 117.2 billion between January and June 2026, a 2% decrease compared with the first half of 2025, mainly driven by lower export values for cocoa products, pigmeat and olive oil. At the same time, cumulative exports to Egypt increased by pound 278 million (+28%) year-on-year, driven mainly by wheat, while exports to India rose by pound 174 million (+26%) and those to Ukraine by pound 247 million (+12%). By contrast, exports to the United Arab Emirates declined by pound 395 million (-25%), reflecting disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Exports of spirits and liqueurs increased by pound 405 million (+10%) while exports of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices saw the largest decrease in value.

Cumulative imports in the January-June 2026 period reached pound 93.4 billion, down pound 3.6 billion (-4%) year-on-year. This decrease was primarily due to lower import values for cocoa. Among product categories, imports of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices fell by pound 3.6 billion (-17%), while cereal imports declined by pound 715 million (-15%). By contrast, imports of fruit and nuts increased by pound 503 million (+3%).

More insights as well as detailed tables are available online.

EU agri-food trade surplus increased in the first half of 2026

EU agri-food trade continued to perform strongly in the first half of 2026, according to the latest EU agri-food trade report, with a trade surplus of pound 23.9 billion, pound 1.4 billion higher than in the same period in 2025. In June 2026, EU agri-food product exports totalled pound 20.3 billion, marking a 5% increase compared with the previous month and 6% above June 2025.

Cumulative exports reached pound 117.2 billion between January and June 2026, a 2% decrease compared with the first half of 2025, mainly driven by lower export values for cocoa products, pigmeat and olive oil. At the same time, cumulative exports to Egypt increased by pound 278 million (+28%) year-on-year, driven mainly by wheat, while exports to India rose by pound 174 million (+26%) and those to Ukraine by pound 247 million (+12%). By contrast, exports to the United Arab Emirates declined by pound 395 million (-25%), reflecting disruptions linked to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Exports of spirits and liqueurs increased by pound 405 million (+10%) while exports of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices saw the largest decrease in value.

Cumulative imports in the January-June 2026 period reached pound 93.4 billion, down pound 3.6 billion (-4%) year-on-year. This decrease was primarily due to lower import values for cocoa. Among product categories, imports of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices fell by pound 3.6 billion (-17%), while cereal imports declined by pound 715 million (-15%). By contrast, imports of fruit and nuts increased by pound 503 million (+3%).

More insights as well as detailed tables are available online.

Commission approves pound 285 million Italian State aid for agricultural, fishing and aquaculture companies facing increased fuel and fertiliser prices

The European Commission has approved a pound 285 million Italian State aid scheme to support agricultural, fishing and aquaculture companies facing increased fuel and fertiliser prices due to the Middle East crisis. The scheme was approved under the Middle East Crisis Temporary State Aid Framework (METSAF) adopted by the Commission on 29 April 2026.

The scheme, which will run until 31 December 2026, aims at mitigating the impact of the increase in agricultural fuel and fertiliser prices, as well as in fishery and aquaculture fuel prices. The aid will take the form of direct grants and tax advantages. For the agricultural sector, the amount will be determined based on estimates of fuel and fertiliser consumption. For the fishery and aquaculture sectors, it will be based on estimates of fuel consumption.

The Commission assessed the scheme under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 107(3)(c) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, which enables Member States to support the development of certain economic activities subject to certain conditions, as well as Sections 1 and 2.1 of the METSAF. The Commission found that the scheme is in line with the conditions set out in the METSAF. In particular, the aid will be granted based on a scheme with a clear estimated budget and will be provided to temporarily support the development of companies active in primary production of agricultural products. The Commission concluded that the scheme is necessary, appropriate and proportionate to facilitate the development of an economic activity and does not adversely affect trading conditions to an extent contrary to the common interest. On this basis, the Commission approved the Italian regional scheme under EU State aid rules.

Commission clears acquisition of Anwim by EEP, Ara Partners and Stonepeak

The European Commission has approved, under the EU Merger Regulation, the acquisition of joint control of Anwim S.A. of Poland by Energy Equation Partners Limited (‘EEP’) of Jersey, Ara Partners Group LLC and Stonepeak Partners LP (together with its affiliates, ‘Stonepeak’), both of the US.

The transaction relates primarily to the supply of motor fuels, specifically the supply of fuel via B2B fleet cards in various EU Member States.

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

Commissioner Brunner participates in youth policy dialogue in Austria

On Monday, Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, will participate in a Youth Policy Dialogue at the European Forum Alpbach, in Austria. The event will bring together a group of over 30 young and international participants to engage in an open exchange on EU policies.

During the dialogue, Commissioner Brunner will engage in an open discussion with participants on topics such as organised and cross-border crime, asylum and migration management, external borders and labour mobility. Participants will also be able to share their views on evolving security challenges, civic engagement and the role of young people in shaping Europe’s future.

Increasing sheep and goat productivity and developing livestock fattening units away from existing farms are among the key priorities of a report by the Special Scientific Committee on the restructuring of the livestock sector, its head, Stavros Malas, told CNA.

Malas submitted the report to the President of the Republic on Thursday, saying that ‘the government is satisfied with most of the points we have highlighted’.

He said the Committee’s work focused on two main areas, the first concerning how farms affected by foot-and-mouth disease should be managed to prevent a similar outbreak from recurring.

‘We found that 84 of the 121 farms were located in livestock farming zones, with units situated next to one another,’ he said, noting that the risk of the disease spreading in such circumstances was extremely high.

‘Livestock farming zones made the problem much worse,’ he added.

The Committee made recommendations on how farmers who choose to return to livestock farming should do so, with emphasis on easing overcrowding in these zones. Malas noted that not all affected farmers were expected to return to the sector and that reorganisation would be needed where necessary.

The second part of the report contained broader proposals for the livestock sector. Malas said dairy and meat production needed to be developed in a balanced way.

Dairy production supports the halloumi industry, he said, but the challenges were not limited to the cheese’s Protected Designation of Origin status. They also included requirements that traders in Europe were expected to introduce regarding biosecurity, animal welfare and environmental responsibility.

‘Difficult decisions will have to be made regarding the halloumi trade,’ he said.

Turning to meat production, Malas said the supply chain had not been properly developed, leading to a ‘vast shadow economy involving the occupied areas’ and the movement and trade of livestock intended for slaughter.

‘We have not ensured suitable fattening conditions that would allow animals to reach their full productive potential,’ he said.

Malas said sheep and goat farming required the greatest support to increase animal productivity, while cattle farming needed improvements in animal welfare, biosecurity and productivity.

‘We need to increase productivity per animal so that we can produce milk with fewer animals,’ he added.

Media reports on Friday put the cost of the proposals at pound 610 million. Malas neither confirmed nor denied the figure, but said the measures would have to be financed from national funds.

He noted that the EU’s next funding cycle would begin in 2028 and that Cyprus could secure funds through the Common Agricultural Policy.

Malas also expressed the personal view that Cyprus might be able to discuss ad hoc funding with the European Commission, given the particular circumstances arising from the government’s inability to exercise effective control over part of its territory, which left the livestock sector more exposed to risks.

Asked which measures he considered most urgent, Malas said subsidies should immediately be provided for the establishment of livestock fattening units in areas away from existing farms.

This would allow animals to be transferred from livestock production farms to specialised fattening units, ease overcrowding in livestock farming zones and put the meat trade on a proper footing, he explained.

The measure would help address problems in the meat trade that had led to the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, while also stabilising sheep and goat prices and increasing revenue for cattle farmers, he said.

A second priority was the launch next year of a livestock replacement programme aimed at increasing productivity, using ‘modern breeding techniques and modern genetic analysis methods’.

Importing more productive animals was not the solution, Malas said, as only limited numbers could be brought into Cyprus and were therefore unlikely to make a significant difference.

Instead, the aim was to establish breeding populations of local or imported breeds on farms unaffected by foot-and-mouth disease, which could then serve as a source of livestock for the domestic market.

In a statement on Thursday, Malas said the Committee’s findings and recommendations would be presented publicly in due course.

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

MEETING DATE: 28/08/2026

INDICES BASE VALUES: FTSEMed=5000, OTH

EURO (pound )

TRADED VALUE:

297.423,64

INDEX

VALUE

% DIFF.

VALUE (pound )

FTSE/CySE 20

186,790

0,200

297.333,640

MAIN MARKET INDEX

248,810

0,370

257.838,180

INVESTMENT COMPANIES MARKET INDEX

2.815,730

0,340

8.208,000

CSE GENERAL INDEX

317,860

0,200

297.423,640

HOTELS INDEX

2.003,160

0,000

0,000

ALTERNATIVE MARKET INDEX

2.164,890

-0,300

39.585,460

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

Cyprus Football Federation’s intervention was prompt and in secret and led to the cancellation of a Barcelona training camp that was set to take place in Cyprus’ Turkish occupied areas, CFA President Haris Loizides told the Cyprus News Agency on Friday.

He said that the cancellation itself does not call for any celebrations, pointing out that the CFA will continue to closely monitor such actions and intervene when a violation of FIFA and UEFA regulations is detected. Loizides noted that there is an agreement between FIFA, UEFA, CFA and the Turkish Cypriot Football Federation in 2013, which paved the way for Turkish Cypriots to compete within the framework of FIFA and UEFA regulations.

CFA Chair said that once it was informed about the camp in the occupied areas, it was clear that there were serious violations of the regulations of the international football federations.

He went on to say that CFA’s job is to supervise the rules that concern purely the football aspect, while taking into account the prevailing political situation. But he underlined that ”monitoring political issues and potential violations of EU decisions and UN resolutions is the responsibility of other competent authorities”.

Loizides stressed that CFA wants to remind everyone, Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots, that there is the 2013 agreement between FIFA, UEFA, CFA and the Turkish Cypriot Football Federation, which was signed in Zurich, and based on this, ”the way was opened for children to compete within the framework of FIFA and UEFA regulations”.

‘Those who refuse to implement this agreement are also responsible for the current situation,’ he concluded.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. An illegal entity in the occupied areas unilaterally declared in 1983 is recognised only by Turkey.

The official visit of President Nikos Christodoulides to Kazakhstan has given fresh impetus to economic and business cooperation between the two countries, according to a post by the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus.

President Christodoulides’ official visit to Kazakhstan in June, ‘beyond its historic significance’, highlighted Kazakhstan’s consistent principled position in favour of the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Cyprus, based on the Charter of the United Nations and the relevant resolutions of the Security Council, it said.

The presentation to the President of the Republic of the Order of Friendship, Kazakhstan’s highest state distinction, it adds, was ‘a clear recognition of the level of bilateral relations and the shared political will to further deepen them’.

‘At the same time, the visit gave fresh impetus to economic and business cooperation, with the two countries recognising the significant prospects for achieving specific and tangible results,’ the Presidency added.

Cyprus, as a member state of the European Union and the eurozone, with a stable business environment, can serve as a reliable gateway for Kazakhstan to the European market and the Eastern Mediterranean, it said.

At the same time, Kazakhstan, as an important economic and transport hub in Central Asia, it adds, offers significant opportunities for the Cypriot business community, creating a more stable and structured framework for cooperation, with prospects in the fields of shipping, transport, energy, technology, cybersecurity, healthcare and tourism.

The quality of swimming waters in areas tested across Cyprus remains excellent, despite recent reports of foaming and patches in the sea off Limassol and complaints concerning discharges from the Moni Sewage Treatment Plant, the Department of Environment said on Friday.

In a statement issued in response to recent reports and public concern, the Department said that, based on checks and analyses carried out so far, ‘the quality of the waters in the swimming areas tested has not been affected and remains excellent.’

Swimming water quality is systematically monitored throughout the bathing season, from May 1 to October 31, in cooperation with the State General Laboratory and the Health Services.

For 2026, the Department said, intensified monitoring is being carried out in the districts of Famagusta and Limassol, as well as in the Mackenzie area of Larnaca, following complaints submitted during the previous bathing season. Sampling in these areas has been increased beyond the minimum requirements of the relevant legislation.

Regarding the foaming and patches recently observed in areas of the sea in Limassol district, the Department said additional sampling and analyses are being carried out to establish their nature and origin, in cooperation with the Shipping Deputy Ministry, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research and the State General Laboratory.

‘Based on the results available so far, no microbiological contamination associated with the observed foaming phenomena has been detected,’ the Department said, adding that the investigation is continuing.

Regarding complaints about discharges from the Moni Sewage Treatment Plant, the Department said it immediately launched an investigation and carried out additional checks and sampling.

Water samples were collected in the Moni area and five nearby bathing-water areas: Kalymnos, Governor’s Beach, Agios Georgios Alamanou, Aoratoi and Panagies, in cooperation with the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research and the Health Services.

The analyses showed increased microbiological levels only in samples taken close to the Moni plant and away from the five bathing-water areas. No microbiological contamination was detected in the five bathing areas, according to the Department.

‘Overall, as regards the quality of bathing waters in the area, the results of both the additional and scheduled sampling show that it has not been affected and continues to be classified as excellent,’ the Department said.

The Department said its inspectors would continue enhanced monitoring and that measures provided for under the law would be taken where violations are identified.

Limassol municipalities call for action

———–

The statement comes amid concerns over marine pollution in Limassol and a meeting held on Thursday with the Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis, during which Limassol municipalities raised the issue and called for a solution.

Speaking to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Friday, Amathounta Mayor Kyriakos Xydias said marine pollution in Limassol was caused by a combination of factors both on land and at sea, including fish farms, recreational vessels, commercial ships and pipelines discharging into the sea.

‘We demand that the competent authorities find a solution,’ Xydias said, noting that the issue had contributed to the decision by the municipalities of Amathounta and Limassol not to seek Blue Flag status for 2026. The Municipality of Amathounta had received nine Blue Flags in 2025.

Xydias also raised the issue of a drainage pipeline linked to a major development project, saying it had been moved last week from the Akti Olympion area towards Dasoudi. He said the Department of Environment had confirmed at Thursday’s meeting that the pipeline was authorised, but that it should have been located considerably farther from the coast.

He called on the authorities to explain why the pipeline had been diverted and why the conditions of the permit had not been checked.

Xydias said the water discharged by the pipeline might not necessarily pose a health risk to swimmers, but could create aesthetic problems and, if it reaches the shore, contribute to eutrophication.

He stressed that the municipalities were seeking a comprehensive solution to Limassol’s marine pollution problem, noting that the involvement of several authorities made the issue more difficult to address.