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Construction prices and production recorded an annual increase in the second quarter and the first half of this year according to the Statistical Service of Cyprus, on Tuesday.

It says that the Index of Production in Construction during the second quarter of 2025 reached 131.38 units (base year 2021=100.00), recording an increase of 4.6% over the second quarter of 2024.

The Output Prices Index in Construction for the second quarter of 2025 reached 126.32 units (base year 2021=100,00), recording an increase of 2.1% relative to the first quarter of 2025.

Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, the Index increased by 5.4%.

During the period January-June 2025, increases relative to the corresponding period of 2024 were observed in the Index of Production in Construction (3.7%) and in the Output Prices Index in Construction (4.9%).

The European Tourism Strategy was discussed, among other things, by Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis and European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism Apostolos Tzitzikostas, in a meeting on Monday in Nicosia, according to an announcement by the Deputy Ministry on Tuesday.

Koumis had a meeting Monday at the Deputy Ministry of Tourism with the European Commissioner in the context of Tzitzikostas’ visit to Cyprus.

The meeting ‘underlined’ the importance and high contribution of the tourism sector to Cyprus’ economy, as well as the performance of the sector from 2019 to-date, ‘taking into account that during this specific period of time, the tourism sector in Cyprus, as in other countries, was affected by the pandemic and geopolitical tensions,’ it adds.

‘The discussion focused mainly on the European Tourism Strategy, currently under development, which is an initiative of the European Commissioner,’ it said. It is noted that the strategy is based mainly on the EU’s 2030 Strategic Agenda, ‘which has become the strategic compass of the European Council on tourism issues.’

Koumis, ‘pointed out that the Government, through the Deputy Ministry of Tourism, is already implementing policy actions through the incentive plans that the Deputy Ministry has already announced, within the framework of the EU 2030 tourism strategic agenda, with particular emphasis on green transition and digital transformation,’ it said.

During the meeting, the two officials also exchanged views on the Informal Ministerial Meeting scheduled to take place between April 16-17 2026 within the framework of the EU Cyprus Presidency, according to the announcement.

It was emphasized, it said, that, in addition to being in charge of the final consultation round on the European Tourism Strategy, the Cyprus Presidency plans to submit Council Conclusions to the EU Competitiveness Council in May 2026, submitting a revised text of the Tourism Agenda 2030, based on the findings of the evaluation that will precede it, so that the EU will be able to adopt a new revised policy document, which will reflect the current needs and suggestions of the Member States.

Cyprus Meteorology Department has issued a yellow thunderstorms warning to come into effect from midnight Tuesday until 0900 local time on Wednesday.

Cymet says that isolated heavy thunderstorms are likely to affect initially the western and southern coastal areas and later the eastern coastal areas.

In storm areas hail is likely to fall which surface wind will be variable strengthening. Precipitation rate is expected to range between 35 and 55 millimeters per hour.

More than one thousand participants from thirty-five countries, including heads of state, ?inisters, regulators, shipowners and senior industry figures, participated in the first day of the deliberations of the Maritime Cyprus 2025 Conference that opened on Monday in the coastal town of Limassol.

Having as its main theme ‘Unlocking the Future of Shipping’, the conference is organised by the Shipping Deputy Ministry, the Cyprus Union of Shipowners and the Cyprus Shipping Chamber, the CSC says in a press release on Tuesday.

It adds that a special ministerial panel, ‘Ministers at the Helm of Maritime Transformation,’ expanded the day’s discussions to a regional level. The panel brought together Dr. Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications of the Kingdom of Bahrain, Vasilis Kikilias, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy of Greece, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Mohammed Al Thani, Minister of Transport of the State of Qatar and Marina Hadjimanolis, Shipping Deputy Minister to the President of the Republic of Cyprus.

The discussion focused on policy coordination, investment in human capital, and innovation as essential drivers of maritime transformation.

The Ministers, it adds, called for stronger regional cooperation on safety, efficiency, and digitalization, agreeing that global challenges such as decarbonization and seafarer shortages can only be addressed through collective action.

The first industry panel of the day, ‘Navigating Disruption: Steering the Shipping Industry Through Global Turbulences,’ examined how shipowners and policymakers are responding to shifting market, regulatory, and geopolitical pressures. The final discussion of the day, ‘Navigating Changes: Shipowners’ Insights on Industry Evolution,’ brought together leading shipowners from Greece and Cyprus for a candid exchange on the future of shipping.

Adding a national policy perspective, George Papanastasiou, Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry of Cyprus, addressed the panel to draw parallels between maritime and energy policy. According to the press release, he noted that Europe’s Green Deal, while well-intentioned, has at times advanced faster than technological capability, impacting competitiveness across industries. Moreover, he argued that Europe must retain all available energy options, including oil, gas, renewables, nuclear, and coal, to ensure affordability and energy security.

‘Energy and competitiveness go hand in hand,’ he said, warning that transitions made without viable alternatives risk deepening inequality. His remarks were widely welcomed by the panel as a realistic and inclusive approach to the challenges ahead, the press release concludes.

Meanwhile, a press release by the Cyprus Shipping Chamber says that it organised, on the opening day of the ‘Maritime Cyprus 2025’ Conference a high-level panel discussion titled ‘Navigating Disruption: Steering the Shipping Industry Through Global Turbulences.’

The discussion was moderated by Thomas A. Kazakos, Secretary General of the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and featured distinguished speakers from leading international shipowners’ organisations, including Themis Papadopoulos, Member of the Board and former Vice-Chairman of the ICS, Karin Orsel, President of the European Shipowners (ECSA), Ioanna Procopiou, President Designate of the Baltic and International Maritime Council (BIMCO) and Joe Kramek, President and CEO of the World Shipping Council (WSC).

The panel focused on the major challenges currently facing the global shipping industry, including the transition to decarbonisation, geopolitical uncertainties and increasing regulatory complexity. Speakers exchanged views on how shipowners and leading shipping organisations are adapting to an evolving landscape while maintaining operational efficiency and competitiveness, it says.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Research and Innovation Foundation (RIF) Demetris Skourides and its Director General Theodoros Loukaidis held meetings with ‘prominent figures’ in the international field of Research and Innovation, within the framework of the Science and Technology in Society Forum 2025, which took place between 5-6 October in Kyoto, Japan, according to an RIF press release.

Among other things, it said, they exchanged views with Marcia McNutt, President of the American Academy of Sciences, on the need to redesign research evaluation systems.

They also exchanged views with Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council, on the new EU framework programme, the budget for cutting-edge research and support actions for young scientists, as well as with Alexandra van Huffelen, President of the Executive Board of Radboud University in the Netherlands, on collaborations in areas such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence and neuroscience.

The representatives of RIF, it notes, also participated in the high-level meeting of the Research and Innovation Funding Agencies, ‘where the development of human resources with specialisation in artificial intelligence and the role of organisations in enhancing talent were discussed extensively.’

During the roundtable discussion, they exchanged good practices with Tsuyoshi Sugino, President of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Dr. Wiparat De-ong, Executive Director of the National Research Council of Thailand, Professor Alejandro Adem, President of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Dr. Georg B. Schutte, Senior Executive Director of the Volkswagen Foundation, and Andre Kudelski, President of Innosuisse.

They also had brief meetings with Professor Mari Sundli Tveit, Senior Executive Director of the Research Council of Norway, Lars Hultman, Senior Executive Director of the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, Fulifhelo Nelwamondo, Senior Executive Director of NRF South Africa, and Professor Tuula Linna, President of the Finnish Academy of Sciences and Letters.

It is noted that Skourides also held brief meetings with Edward Screven, Member of the Board of Directors of Ampere Computer Holdings, Dr. Harrick Vin, Chief Technology Officer at Tata Consultancy Services, Dr. Aswani Kumar, Senior Counsel of the Supreme Court of India, Dr. Michael Stampfer, CEO of the Vienna Science and Technology Fund, Dr. Mona Nemer, Canada’s Chief Science Advisor and Dr. John Roche, Chief Science Advisor to the Prime Minister of New Zealand.

The RIF representatives also attended lectures and participated in discussions on academia-business cooperation, retraining in the era of Artificial Intelligence, the application of artificial intelligence solutions in the public sector and green energy, the announcement concludes.

MED9 Ministers of Agriculture signed a Joint Declaration on Building Agricultural Resilience in the Mediterranean region during a meeting they had in Slovenia.

The Ministers of Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain reaffirmed their strong commitment to stepping up joint efforts to create a resilient, sustainable, and climate-adapted agricultural sector in the Mediterranean region, fully aligned with the European Green Deal, the EU Climate Adaptation Strategy, and the objectives of the future Common Agricultural Policy (CAP).

The Ministers recognized that the Mediterranean region, is one of world’s climate change hotspot, that faces increasing agricultural vulnerability due to climate-related and other risks. They also agreed on agriculture’s pivotal role in food security, food sovereignty, water resource management, biodiversity protection.

The Ministers in their declaration also recognized that existing European and national systems and policies remain insufficiently prepared to cope with these realities and noted the need for immediate, coordinated, and forward-looking responses across all levels of governance, integrating climate resilience into every policy field.

Moreover they stressed the need to promote a resilience-by-design approach, embedding adaptation into all relevant EU policies, including the CAP.

Cyprus Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment Maria Panagiotou in press statements noted that the MED9 meeting took a decisive step for coordinated action, pointing out that our region stands at the frontline of climate change that directly impact the daily lives of our farmers, our water resources, and our food security.

She said that farmers are already operating at the edge of their viability, and it would be unfair to expect them to bear alone the financial burden of climate change or compete on an unequal footing.

“That’s why we are here for our farmers, we are here for making sure that .our farmers will have the support they need in order to continue to produce under pressing circumstances. Our Joint Declaration sends a clear message on how imperative is to have a strategic and long-term approach to risk management in agriculture,” she stressed.

She also assured that Cyprus stands firmly with its MED9 partners in calling for urgent, coordinated, and forward-looking action, not only to protect farmers today, but to secure a sustainable and resilient future for Mediterranean agriculture.

Cyprus is among the European Union countries where employees work the longest hours, according to the latest Eurostat data for the second quarter of 2025. Specifically, 16.6% of employees aged 20-64 worked more than 45 hours per week. This percentage places Cyprus among the highest in the EU, where the average stands at just 10.8%.

At the European level, Cyprus follows only Greece (20.9%) and precedes Malta (14.6%), while the lowest rates were recorded in Bulgaria (2.5%), Latvia (4.1%), and Romania (5.9%). These figures highlight the differences in working conditions among member states, with Cyprus standing out for its long working hours.

Meanwhile, 72.3% of employees in the EU work between 20 and 44 hours per week, while part-time employment (up to 19 hours) is more widespread in countries such as the Netherlands (26.8%) and Denmark (25.5%).

The data are based on the EU Labour Force Survey (EU-LFS) and cover the total number of working hours, including overtime, in both primary and potential secondary employment.

Cyprus’ House President, Annita Demetriou, on Tuesday discussed with outgoing Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Cyprus, Vladimir Nemec, the strengthening of bilateral relations.

According to a statement by Parliament, Demetriou thanked Nemec for the good cooperation between the House of Representatives and the Embassy of the Czech Republic during his term and for his contribution to the further deepening of bilateral relations between Cyprus and the Czech Republic and, by extension, the two parliaments.

It said that the House President ‘expressed her appreciation for the principled stance and the long-standing support of the Czech Republic in the efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem, on the basis of the relevant United Nations Security Council Resolutions’.

The Ambassador ‘expressed his appreciation for his excellent cooperation with the House of Representatives, underlining his will and intention to continue to contribute to the further strengthening of relations and exchanges between the Czech and Cypriot parliaments at all levels’, it adds. Nemec reaffirmed his country’s firm principled position regarding the Cyprus problem and the efforts to resolve it, in accordance with the relevant UN Resolutions, wishing for the reunification of the island it said.

He also briefed the House President on the current political developments in his country, following the recent parliamentary elections. They also exchanged views on issues of European interest in view of Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January 2026, the statement concludes.

Deputy Minister of Shipping Marina Hadjimanolis and Minister of Transport of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulla bin Mohammed Al Thani, signed on Tuesday a Memorandum of Understanding in the fields of of cooperation, exchange of know-how, education, infrastructure, as well as the green transition of shipping.

Before the signing of the MoU, a meeting took place between the two delegations on the sidelines of the International Conference “Maritime Cyprus 2025”, which continues its deliberations in the coastal town of Limassol.

In her statements, the Deputy Minister said that the MoU refers to important areas, such as cooperation in International Organizations, recalling that Cyprus is running for re-election next November in the Council of the International Maritime Organization.

In addition, she said that the MoU covers issues of competitiveness of shipping, indicating that “Cyprus is the European country located most easterly in the heart of the Arabian Gulf and we attach great importance to this cooperation.”

The MoU, she noted, mainly includes the exchange of know-how on education issues, registry issues, issues related to the decarbonization of shipping, the environment, as well as port infrastructure and logistics.

The most important thing, Hadjimanolis stressed, ‘is that we do not want it to be just a signed MoU, but rather to have substance and deliverables’ adding that during the meeting it was agreed to make an effort before the official visit planned by the President of the Republic to Qatar, “to have deliverables and shipping to be among the things that will be discussed.’

2026 LUX Audience Award shortlisted films unveiled at the European Parliament

The films Christy, Sorda, It Was Just An Accident, Love Me Tender, and Sentimental Value will compete for the 2026 LUX Audience Award, it was announced this Tuesday in Strasbourg.

The five nominated films for the LUX Audience Award were chosen by a panel of film professionals from across EU member states.

‘Cinema is part of who we are as Europeans. These films embody the European Parliament’s commitment to defending democracy, freedom, and diversity, while addressing the challenges faced by our societies, from inclusion and human rights to young people’s mental health.

The LUX Audience Award is about bringing European cinema closer to people, wherever they live, and giving them a chance to see Europe from a different perspective,’ said the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola.

‘This year’s LUX films once again reflect the diversity of our society – with its different structures, tensions, and struggles. The selected films move us with powerful, deeply human stories and strong emotions. Together, they testify to the need for a robust cultural budget as a key instrument to build stronger, more inclusive and fairer democracies,’ added the vice-president responsible for the LUX Audience Award, Sabine Verheyen.

‘The LUX Audience Award is a unique tool of cultural and democratic expression. Viewers all over Europe get to elect the best out of a choice of remarkable European films.

In the Committee on Culture and Education, we are working to improve access to culture and the conditions for cultural creators. It is the EU’s responsibility to defend the independence of the European cultural sector, and celebrate the diversity of our film industry,’ stated the chair of the Committee on Culture and Education Nela Riehl.

Discover the films

Christy. Directed by Brendan Canty, Christy centres on a 17-year-old Irish boy of the same name who is ousted from his foster home and forced to live with his estranged older half-brother. Despite the potentially negative influence of his extended family, Christy begins making friends and reconnecting with his roots. As his brother tries to secure a better future for him, both are faced with tough decisions that challenge their fragile bond.

Sorda. Spanish director Eva Libertad tells the story of Ángela, a deaf woman expecting a child with her hearing partner. Ángela’s fears about motherhood and her ability to communicate and interact with her daughter mount as she confronts the reality of raising a baby in a world not built for her.

It Was Just An Accident. Directed by 2012 Sakharov Prize laureate Jafar Panahi, the film explores political repression in Iran through the story of a night driver who kills a dog. Stranded, he goes to a garage, where his rescuer believes him to be the prison officer who tortured him. This film was made without official filming authorisation from the Iranian authorities.

Love Me Tender. French director Anna Cazenave Cambet adapted Constance Debré’s book about a 40 year-old woman who loses custody of her son after telling her ex-husband that she has romantic relationships with women. This fact is used against her in court, leading the judge to grant the father full custody. The film centres on the woman’s fight to remain a mother and a free woman.

Sentimental Value. The complexities of family dynamics are explored in this English, Norwegian and Swedish-language film from director Joachim Trier. Two sisters are reunited with their father, a once-renowned director trying to make a comeback film. After one of his daughters turns down a role in the film, he gives it to an eager young Hollywood actor. Suddenly, the already complicated family relationship gains an additional element, with the arrival of the American star.

Next Steps

Free screenings of the five films will take place in all EU countries up until April 2026. In keeping with the European Parliament’s total commitment to accessibility, and for the first time, the shortlisted films will have subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing.

Citizens across Europe, as well as the Members of the European Parliament, can vote for their favourite film on the LUX Audience Award rating platform. Their respective votes will each count 50% towards the films’ final scores.

A ceremony to announce the 2026 LUX Audience Award laureate will take place at the hemicycle of the European Parliament in Brussels in mid-April 2026.

For the 2025 edition of the award, more than 900 screenings of the shortlisted films were organised, with discussions involving more than 90,000 audience members. 2025’s laureate was the film Flow by Gints Zilbalodis.

Background

The LUX Audience Award has been awarded by the European Parliament and the European Film Academy, in partnership with the European Commission and the Europa Cinemas network, since 2020. It fosters dialogue and engagement between politics and the public. The award is complemented by the Young Talent Programme, which seeks to engage young cinema professionals in the promotion of European values and the LUX Audience Award project.

Further information

Press conference to announce the 2026 nominees with VP Sabine Verheyen and chair of the Committee on Culture Nela Riehl

Streaming of the launch event in the presence of European Parliament President Roberta Metsola

LUX Audience Award website

Timeline and rating process

LUX Audience Award communication kit

European Parliament Multimedia Centre: free pictures, videos and audio material: 2026 LUX Audience Award

Committee on Culture and Education

This edition nominees touch upon subjects such youth and mental health, inclusiveness and democracy @EP