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‘Cataract: Modern Diagnosis and Treatment’ – Public Information Day at European University Cyprus

European University Cyprus (EUC), in collaboration with the Holy Archdiocese of Kykkos, the Cyprus Medical Association, and the ‘Apostolos Loukas’ Medical Center, is organizing a special event dedicated to cataract awareness and treatment:

‘Cataract: Modern Diagnosis and Treatment’, as part of World Sight Day.

The event will take place on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at the Cultural Center of European University Cyprus.

Aim and Key Themes

The information day aims to raise awareness among the public and healthcare professionals about the latest methods in cataract diagnosis and treatment, highlighting technological advances and challenges faced in Cyprus and the wider Eastern Mediterranean region.

Distinguished keynote speakers include:

Dr. Ioannis Aslanides – President of the Hellenic College of Ophthalmology, Founder and Medical Director of Emmetropia S.A., Professor of Ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, Visiting Professor at Wenzhou Medical University in China, and Member of the Scientific Committee of the Hellenic Olympic Committee

Dr. Anastasios Kanellopoulos – Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, Founder and Scientific Director of LaserVision, and Professor of Ophthalmology at the New York University School of Medicine

Dr. Paraskevi Choleva – Paediatric Ophthalmologist at Archbishop Makarios III Hospital in Nicosia, Scientific Collaborator of the Medical School, University of Cyprus

Dr. Serafeim Antonakis – Ophthalmologist and Vitreoretinal Surgeon, Consultant at Southampton University Hospital, Clinical Lecturer and Research Project Supervisor at the University of Southampton

Dr. Avraam Renos, General Practitioner, Clinical Assistant Professor, Medical School, University of Nicosia

Topics to be addressed:

Modern diagnostic techniques

New interventional treatments

Advances in cataract surgery with combined procedures

This event underlines European University Cyprus’s strong commitment to advancing public health in Cyprus and positioning the country as a hub for medical knowledge and innovation in the Eastern Mediterranean. By fostering collaboration between medical experts, institutions, and the community, EUC continues to enhance awareness, prevention, and treatment in ophthalmology.

Event Details

Venue: Cultural Center, European University Cyprus

Date and Time: Saturday, 4 October 2025 | Doors open 09:30 | Event starts 10:00

Admission: ?pen to the public

Language of the event: Greek

President of the Hellenic Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, has said that it is a positive development that for the first time in 8 years there is some movement as regards efforts to solve the Cyprus issue.

Kaklamanis was addressing a special session of the House of Representatives plenary in Nicosia, where he is paying an official visit.

On her part, the President of the House of Representatives, Annita Demetriou, pointed out that the first official visit of Nikitas Kaklamanis to Cyprus as President of the Hellenic Parliament ‘entails high symbolism, but is also an act of fundamental political importance’, because ‘it demonstrates the strong historical ties between Greece and Cyprus and demonstrates the will of our two states to maintain a solid common front of Athens and Nicosia’.

Demetriou noted, inter alia, that ‘the strong fraternal bonds, the solidarity and the coexistence of Greece and Cyprus are reflected in the excellent cooperation between our two Parliaments over time, with a milestone in this cooperation being the publication of the ‘Cyprus File’, an extremely difficult undertaking, which contributes decisively to the goal of national self-awareness’.

She also assured that the House of Representatives will continue to work to further strengthen and expand cooperation with the Greek Parliament at all levels.

In his address, the President of the Hellenic Parliament, Nikitas Kaklamanis, pointed out that Greece and Cyprus have made it clear that a solution to the Cyprus problem is not conceivable without the complete withdrawal of the illegal occupation troops and without the liberation of Cyprus from anachronistic systems of guarantees and rights of third-party intervention in Cypriot affairs.

He noted that it is a positive development that for the first time in 8 years there is some movement in efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, at the initiative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the Republic of Cyprus.

He also assured that, despite the climate of tension in the Hellenic Parliament, Cyprus is one of the few issues that unites the political parties in the Parliament.

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. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

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

MEETING DATE: 30/09/2025

INDICES BASE VALUES: FTSEMed=5000, OTHERS = 1000

EURO (pound )

TRADED VALUE 402,109.00

CYPRUS DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY

FORECAST FOR THE SEA AREA OF CYPRUS (C)

FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1800 30/09/2025 UNTIL 1800 01/10/2025

Area covered is 8 kilometers seawards.

Winds are in BEAUFORT scale. Times are local times.

Atmospheric pressure at the time of issue: 1012hPa (hectopascal)

Seasonal low pressure is affecting the area. The weather will be mainly fine but locally increased cloud will be present.

Visibility: Good

Sea surface temperature: 27°C

Warnings: NIL

Cyprus’ 2026 state budget foresees higher operating, development and social expenditures, while maintaining a strong focus on reducing public debt, with 21% of expenditure earmarked for debt servicing, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos said on Monday after presenting the draft budget to the Cabinet.

Keravnos described the 2026 budget as ‘balanced, growth-oriented, with a strong emphasis on social cohesion and social policy.’

Macroeconomic outlook

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According to the baseline macroeconomic scenario, Cyprus’ medium-term economic prospects remain positive, though subject to considerable uncertainty. GDP growth is projected at 3.1% in both 2025 and 2026, followed by 3% in 2027 and 2.9% in 2028.

Inflation is estimated at just 0.2% in 2025, rising to 2.5% in 2026 before easing to 2% in 2027-2028. Unemployment is expected to remain stable at 4.6% in 2025-2027, edging down to 4.5% in 2028.

The fiscal balance is projected to remain in surplus at 3.7% of GDP in 2025, compared with 4.3% in 2024, while the primary surplus is estimated at 5% in 2025. For 2026-2028, the fiscal surplus is forecast at around 3.4% of GDP.

Public debt is set to continue its downward trend, falling below the EU’s 60% threshold in 2025 at 57.9%. It is expected to decline further to 52.9% in 2026, 48.7% in 2027, and 43.6% by the end of 2028.

Budget figures

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The 2026 budget, excluding debt servicing, is projected at pound 10.7 billion. Total revenues are estimated at pound 12.68 billion, while expenditures amount to pound 10.78 billion. Debt repayments of pound 2.27 billion and interest payments of pound 665 million bring total spending to pound 13.72 billion.

Revenue includes pound 4.05 billion from direct taxation, pound 4.55 billion from indirect taxation, pound 683 million from sales of goods and services, pound 237 million from rents, royalties and other proceeds, and pound 100.4 million from transfers. Financial revenues are projected at pound 2.88 billion.

Expenditure priorities

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Debt servicing takes up the largest share, accounting for 21% of expenditures. This includes pound 2.1 billion in foreign debt repayments, pound 71 million in domestic debt repayments, and pound 665 million in interest.

Operating expenditure rises 11.8% compared with 2025, reaching pound 3.77 billion, or 11.5% of the budget. The increase reflects higher spending on water supply (pound 26.1 million), defence and policing (pound 31.1 million), preparations for Cyprus’ EU Presidency in 2026 (pound 6 million), and staff training (pound 16.1 million).

Personnel expenditure accounts for 27.5% of the budget. The number of public sector posts will be reduced by 14 for a second consecutive year, with 458 new posts created and 472 abolished. Employment in the public service is down by 1,963 since 2012, or 5,883 if seconded staff at state hospitals are included. In contrast, employment in education has risen by 3,752 since 2012.

Transfers increase by 5.2% year-on-year, making up 30.8% of the budget. Social benefits rise by 6.7% to pound 2.3 billion. Contributions to the Social Insurance Fund and the national health system (GeSY) total pound 1.6 billion, up pound 163.4 million. Other transfers include pound 294.1 million to the EU budget, pound 231.6 million in grants to public and private sector organisations including universities, and pound 147 million to local authorities.

Capital expenditure declines by 2.6% to pound 580 million.

The Finance Ministry also outlined major infrastructure projects budgeted for 2026-2028, with total costs of pound 1.1 billion. The most expensive include the new Cyprus Museum (pound 145.7 million), the ‘Ktizo’ housing scheme (pound 130 million), the Deneia-Akaki-Astromeritis road (pound 129.7 million), and the Nicosia Courthouse complex (pound 119 million).

The critical importance of research and innovation in strengthening the EU’s strategy for startups and scaleups, was pointed out by the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nikodimos Damianos, at the EU Competitiveness Council for Research, on Tuesday in Brussels. “This strategy is not only about supporting new businesses, but also about retaining talent and innovative startups within Europe,” stressed Damianos, adding that “Cyprus is ready to actively contribute to its implementation, especially in view of the upcoming Cypriot Presidency of the EU Council in 2026.”

A regards the Council’s main conclusions, Damianos stressed that “we must bridge the innovation gap between member states,” highlighting that “this strategy will enhance Europe’s competitiveness and technological sovereignty, ensuring that top talent and innovative companies remain within the EU.”

The research ministers of the 27 member states also approved conclusions on the EU’s Life Sciences Strategy, that underscores their critical role in boosting competitiveness, strategic autonomy, and social well-being. “Life sciences are one of the key pillars for Europe’s economic and technological independence,” noted Damianos, adding that “Cyprus, with its investments in areas such as biotechnology and biobanks, is ready to contribute to the implementation of this strategy.”

The most political part of the second day’s discussions focused on research and innovation for dual-use and defense applications. During the debate on the “Horizon Europe” Framework Programme (2028-2034), Damianos emphasized that “the new approach to dual-use and defense will strengthen the EU’s resilience and competitiveness.” However, he stressed the need for clear rules and criteria for third-country participation to avoid risks to the EU’s energy and technological security. “We must ensure that procedures are simplified and free of additional administrative burdens, especially for Member States with limited resources,” he added, referring to the need to support “widening” Member States in accessing critical technological infrastructures.

During a working lunch, ministers discussed the EU’s future ambitions regarding research and technological infrastructures. Damianos pointed out that “as a geographically small and isolated Member State, Cyprus considers EU support for access to world-class infrastructures vital.” However, “without this support, we risk falling behind in critical areas such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors,” he added.

On the sidelines of the Council in Brussels, Damianos held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Estonia, Minister of Education and Research, Kristina Kallas, and Portugal, Minister of Education, Science and Innovation, Fernando Alexandre, aiming to coordinate and prepare for key issues ahead of Cyprus’s EU Council Presidency in 2026. “Cyprus will place particular emphasis on strengthening research, innovation, and digital transition, with the goal of a more competitive and sustainable Europe,” he concluded.

The Minister of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Maria Panayiotou, briefed the House Agriculture Committee on Tuesday about the challenges facing the production and trade of halloumi PDO, the checks carried out so far, and the government’s support measures for producers.

Panayiotou said that in 2025 to date, the Competent Authority has conducted nine inspections with nine samples, while the Control Body carried out 11 inspections with 22 samples. These checks identified two cases of non-compliance by the Control Body and one by the Competent Authority. As a result, batches were seized and relabelled to ensure they would not be sold as PDO halloumi.

On export checks, she said that up to 19 September, 250 administrative controls of halloumi PDO exports had been carried out, with six complaints submitted in four countries through the EU’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (iRasff).

The Minister highlighted the creation in autumn 2024 of an Interdepartmental Committee on halloumi, bringing together all relevant authorities for the first time to coordinate exports. This committee has drawn up a roadmap to address problems in marketing halloumi PDO and is already active at both European and international level. It has identified target markets such as Australia, the UAE and Japan, aiming to include halloumi PDO in trade agreements. Panayiotou added that she personally raised producers’ concerns with her UK counterpart regarding difficulties linked to Brexit.

She stressed that strict checks are applied at every stage, from dairies to retail and exports, with close cooperation between the Agriculture Ministry, the Ministry of Commerce, the Health Services and the State General Laboratory, as well as with European partners to combat imitation products. Since October 2024, dairies have been required to record milk quantities through software, ensuring transparency in sheep and goat milk use.

Panayiotou also outlined support measures for livestock farmers, acknowledging the pressures of rising production costs. These include a pound 30 million investment programme for goat and sheep farming, launched in June 2025, as well as more attractive headage subsidies linked to productivity, with a pound 4 million annual budget. For 2025, two subsidy categories apply based on milk yields, with a transition to a single scheme by 2026-27.

Additionally, she referred to a plan to allocate 26 state-owned plots for large-scale livestock units, offering investment subsidies of up to pound 600,000. Fifteen applications have been received so far, while 25 livestock plots have already been granted.

?he military parade as part of the celebrations for the 65th anniversary of the declaration of independence of the Republic of Cyprus, is to take place at 9am on Wednesday, October 1, in Nicosia.

According to an announcement by the Ministry of Defence, President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, will take the salute, in the presence of the Minister of Defence, Vassilis Palmas, Greece’s Deputy Minister of National Defence, Thanasis Davakis, and the Chief of the National Guard, Lieutenant General Georgios Tsitsikostas.

According to the announcement, the parade will be held on Iosif Hadjiosif Avenue, with the participation of various units and aircraft of the National Guard, the Cyprus Police, the Fire Service, the Civil Defence, the Department of Forests and the Public Health Services.

Ambassadors and Defence Attachés of foreign countries and other officials will also attend the military parade which is open to the public, it said.

The parade will begin with a 21-gun salute, it said.

Cyprus has been ranked second in Europe for improving its air connectivity between 2019 and 2025, according to the June 2025 report of the Aviation Council International, Deputy Minister of Tourism Kostas Koumis said on Monday.

Speaking at an event in Larnaca Castle to mark World Tourism Day, Koumis said that Cyprus continues to record positive results in tourist arrivals and revenues, while the sector leaves ‘a positive footprint on local businesses – a factor of particular importance for the government.’

He noted that promising signs are emerging from special forms of tourism and from off-peak months, which are showing marked improvement in arrivals and revenue. Extending the tourism season, he stressed, is key to achieving year-round tourism.

This year’s World Tourism Day theme, ‘Tourism and Sustainable Transformation,’ highlights the need for a universal shift toward sustainability, Koumis said. He warned that the effects of climate change are felt more acutely in the Mediterranean, where temperatures are rising 20% faster than in other regions, making adaptation harder for countries like Cyprus.

‘Our responsibility is greater, and so is the need to join forces between the public, semi-public, and private sectors,’ he said. Tourism, he added, must evolve into a sustainable model, requiring a change in mindset, investment in knowledge, and institutional reforms where needed.

Koumis outlined the ministry’s priorities, including strengthening individual destinations and infrastructure, enhancing hospitality in rural and mountain areas, upgrading training programs, and investing in sustainability and digital transformation. Artificial intelligence, he noted, will increasingly shape the industry, with the ministry already planning joint initiatives with the Deputy Ministry of Research and Innovation.

Koumis also announced a new project with the Cyprus University of Technology to document the history of Cyprus tourism. Through academic research, interviews, and historical data, the initiative aims to highlight how the past can guide the sector’s future development.

‘Despite the many adversities of the past three years, Cyprus tourism has not only returned to strong performance levels but stabilized them,’ Koumis said.

He noted that the main responsibility now lies in ensuring a smooth transition to the next phase of tourism, guided by the principles of sustainability, respect for the environment, and sound economic management.