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The launch of the Competitive Electricity Market is a strategic reform, Government Spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Thursday, adding that this is the first step in a broader energy policy plan that the government is implementing with the aim of reducing energy costs.

In statements during a media briefing at the Presidential Palace, the Spokesman said that as of the 1st of October Cyprus has turned a page in the energy sector.

For the first time, he pointed out, citizens and businesses in Cyprus can freely choose their supplier within a competitive environment that includes nine producers.

The Competitive Electricity Market, which is now operational, ‘is a strategic reform’, he stressed.

Referring to the benefits for the citizen, he said that, from today, they will be able to compare prices, choose the supplier that is most beneficial to them, have access to new products and packages, and even green energy options.

From January 2026, he continued, changing suppliers will be done within 24 hours, at no cost and with complete transparency, while consumers will be able to become active participants in the energy market, either as self-producers from renewable energy sources (RES) or as members of energy communities.

The benefits for businesses are equally important, he went on to say, noting that ‘the ability to negotiate with more suppliers allows for better prices and tailored solutions, reducing operating costs”.

Letymbiotis added that participation in savings and RES programs enhances the sustainability and competitiveness of businesses.

The Spokesman stressed that the most important is that the Competitive Electricity Market enhances competition and that this is expected to lead to lower prices, but also to innovative services that will adapt to the needs of households and businesses. He added that the dependence on limited suppliers is reduced and the decentralization of production is promoted.

‘The government proves once again that with a plan, methodical manner and political will, it can solve chronic problems and implement reforms that improve the everyday life of citizens,’ he concluded.

The Cyprus Composite Leading Economic Index (CCLEI)1, which is constructed and estimated by the Economics Research Centre (CypERC) of the University of Cyprus, recorded a year-over-year increase of 1.8% in September2 2025.

According to a press release, issued by the Economic Research Centre of the University of Cyprus, this increase follows year-over-year increases of 2.1% in August and 2.2% in July 2025, according to the most recently revised data.

The year-over-year CCLEI growth slowed slightly in September, reflecting developments in both domestic and international leading indicators.

Specifically, the Economic Sentiment Indicator (ESI) in the euro area, the temperature-adjusted volume of electricity production, as well as property sales contracts contributed to the slowdown in the rise of the CCLEI in recent months.

On the contrary, the positive development of the other leading indicators that make up the CCLEI, such as tourist arrivals and retail trade, combined with the fall in the weekly price of Brent crude oil, partially offset the negative pressures and strengthened the overall growth of the CCLEI.

In summary, the CypERC said, “the slowdown in the year-over-year growth of the CCLEI in September suggests that the growth momentum of the Cypriot economy which despite maintained positive course, remains vulnerable to geopolitical developments and prevailing economic uncertainty.”

Ireland supports all efforts to seek a resolution of the Cyprus problem, in accordance with the original UN resolutions and processes, which would bring immense benefits to Cyprus, the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence of Ireland, Thomas Byrne, told CNA on Tuesday, in the context of his recent three-day visit to Cyprus, as Ireland will succeed Cyprus at the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of 2026.

He also highlighted the need for the EU to understand the specificities of all Member States in terms of security and defence, while strengthening relations with key trade partners and at the same time diversifying its trade strategies.

Asked about the significance of his visit to Cyprus, the Irish Minister of State said it is a very important visit, particularly with Cyprus taking on the presidency of the Council of the European Union next year, adding that it is always good to visit Cyprus as the two countries are so close on many issues, ‘sharing so much in our history and in our modern day attitude to the world as well’.

He further noted that Ireland has a big connection with Cyprus through its involvement with the United Nations and he himself met some of Irish police officers stationed in Cyprus.

He added that his schedule included meetings with the Committee of Missing Persons, UN officials, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna, the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee, Haris Georgiades, as well as a meeting with the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulides, who, he said, knows well from his time as Foreign Minister and his participation at the Council of EU Ministers and with whom he had some very good engagements.

Asked about Ireland’s priorities as it will be taking over from Cyprus in view of the next EU Presidency Trio, Byrne referred first to the Multiannual Financial Framework, which, as he said, is going to be a major focus of their work.

‘It is going to be a big feature of the Presidency of the Republic of Cyprus and indeed of our own Presidency as well because that is the timeline for the negotiation. It means there is a lot of work to do during that time. For us in Ireland to advance our own national interests before we take on the Presidency I think is important and we did make some of those points to Minister Raouna this morning, but it is a big piece of work so there is a major priority to achieve that’, he explained.

Security and defence in all its facets is obviously a major European priority, a major priority of the Member States as well, he continued, adding that ‘it is very important from an Irish point of view and indeed from a Presidency point of view to understand the specificities of all the Member States’.

‘There are different issues on the Russian border, which is obviously a grave threat from Russia really to all of us in many respects, but also you have your own circumstances here on the Eastern Mediterranean too. We have to be cognisant of all the circumstances that Member States face and we will certainly endeavour to do that during our Presidency’, he further stressed, adding that notwithstanding the fact that Ireland is not a member of NATO, it will ‘certainly be acting as an honest broker and pushing forward the agenda of the Member States who quite simply want to protect their citizens’.

Asked whether Ireland is planning to take advantage of the SAFE initiative, Byrne said that is a possibility, however at this moment Ireland is not taking loans.

‘We may do some cooperation but we do not at this point in time need to take loans. We are increasing our defence spending significantly anyway from our own resources and we want more interconnection, more interoperability with other European Defence Forces’, he noted.

‘We already have that in some of the peacekeeping missions that we undertake and we work closely through Partnership for Peace and are deeply cognisant of what Member States are going through. There is a threat from Russia that we face ourselves, not in the context of a land invasion but in the context of threats to cables and threats to the information space and to the public sphere. We have to be cognisant of that and take action at a European level’, he further explained.

‘I think the concept of defence needs to be quite broad. There is defence material that people need to have and to build up their stocks of, we absolutely accept and understand that and we are doing that ourselves, but we have to think more as well about the whole area of cyber security, the whole area of the resilience of our citizens in the face of crisis that can be caused by adverse actors , the issue of the cables as well and the information space, so that is really important’, he stressed in that regard.

Asked whether there a message by the Irish government concerning the efforts to resume the negotiations process on the Cyprus problem at the United Nations level, Byrne said that the Irish government supports all efforts to seek a resolution to the issue, in accordance with the original UN resolutions and processes.

‘I think that is very important and certainly a message that I gave to the President and the Minister when I met them, it is mainly a UN process. I think if the issues can be resolved in accordance with what we know to be the will of the global community, that would bring immense benefits to Cyprus and I have no doubt about that’, he noted.

Asked about recent developments in the Middle East, the Irish Minister of State said that the American peace proposal has been released and there was an initial welcoming reaction from the Irish government but also from some Arab and Islamic countries.

‘I think that is very important and it is very important that Hamas signs up to this. This is too important to allow an organisation like Hamas to stop it. We must look at all genuine peace efforts, no peace process will be perfect, we know that in Ireland more than anybody, but we must give peace and people a chance and ultimately our belief and our faith is in a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine’, he underlined.

He remined that Ireland was the first Western country to advocate for that back in 1980. ‘It has been a long-standing principle of Irish foreign policy that Israel and Palestine should be allowed to live side by side in peace and in security and that the people of Israel and the people of Palestine can have futures and protection in those futures. So we certainly support any efforts to secure peace and President Trump’s efforts are very welcome’, he added.

Asked whether he is worried about the way trade relations or trade competition could affect the European economy as a whole, Byne said that uncertainty is the enemy of economic development, therefore anything that brings certainty is welcome.

‘We welcomed the agreement reached between the European Union and the United States which is holding and that has given some certainty. Ireland is very much an export-led economy and we need that certainty in our relations with the rest of the world’, he said.

He added that at the same time, it is important that Europe diversifies its trade strategies too and work with Southeast Asian countries and other friends, including in Africa and South America, as best it can to ensure that European products can have the widest possible markets, with Canada being another country with which a trade agreement was concluded and implemented and Europe can do a lot more business with.

‘These are important countries but America is a very important country too and we certainly place great store in really positive relations with the United States. We want to see relations with Britain normalised as much as possible and that process has accelerated under the Starmer administration and this (European) Commission. We welcome that and certainly we expect during the Cyprus Presidency and the Presidency of Ireland of the Council of the EU that relations with the UK would be a big feature and we certainly encourage the work of the European Commission in this respect’, he stressed on the issue.

Asked about the relationship with the UK and what Ireland’s experience with Brexit has been so far, the Irish Minister of State said that the experience since the Keir Starmer government came in has been positive.

‘They have a new openness they want to do things that will benefit them and ultimately benefit all of us. We have always said that we need the closest possible relations with the UK, that is the position, we maintain that bilaterally as well. We have our own summit with the UK and our own arrangements under the Good Friday Agreement as well with this cross-border cooperation and east-west cooperation’, he explained.

‘Any move towards bringing the European Union closer to the UK would be welcomed by us and that has happened in the area of security and defence, which we very much welcome, and we certainly hope that either during Cyprus’s Presidency or Ireland’s Presidency that a an SPS agreement, as envisaged by the recent EU-UK agreement, can in fact be put together and finalised and that I think would bring would bring great benefits to all of us’, he concluded.

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.

Cyprus Independence Day, was celebrated in Brussels, on Wednesday, during an event in front of the Manneken Pis, the iconic statue-symbol of Brussels, which was dressed with the traditional Cypriot vraka.

The event, held during early afternoon on Wednesday in Brussels, drew a large crowd of Cypriots. The Republic of Cyprus and its Permanent Representation to the EU were represented by Ambassador Petros Mavrikios, Head of the Cyprus Mission to the EU’s Political and Security Committee (PSC). The City of Brussels was represented by Karin Lalieux, City Councillor responsible for Culture. Also present were members of the Order of Friends of Manneken Pis, as well as Nicolas Edelman, the Official Dresser of the statue.

In his remarks, Ambassador Mavrikios thanked the City of Brussels for its warm welcome and hospitality.

“Today, we celebrate independence, but we also remember the sacrifice of those who gave their lives to make this goal a reality,” Mavrikios said.

He added that despite the challenges of occupation, Cyprus has worked to build a modern, vibrant, and prosperous nation, with the remarkable achievement of EU accession in 2004 as a testament to its commitment to the values at the heart of the European project, respect for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law.

“Cyprus is proud to be a member of the European family, working closely with the other member states to improve our societies, protect our citizens, and fulfil our potential,” he underlined.

Karin Lalieux, Brussels’ Municipal Councilor for Culture, highlighted that Manneken Pis is a symbol of Brussels, the capital of the European Union, and that today’s event, dressing the statue in Cyprus’ national costume, is a sign of the city’s friendship with Cyprus.

For his part, Nicolas Edelman, who has exclusively dressed Manneken Pis since 2014, told CNA that while the vraka was a bit more challenging to fit compared to other costumes, he was prepared for the task. “It’s was a bit more difficult, but I’ve been dressing Manneken Pis since 2014, and I’m ready for all challenges,” he noted.

The national costume, featuring the vraka, was donated to the City of Brussels by the Cypriot Embassy in 2010 ahead of Cyprus Independence Day and is displayed in the museum’s “Manneken Pis, a Very European Brussels Resident” exhibit alongside other EU national costumes.

Further strengthening the defence and security of the European Union is a priority for the Republic of Cyprus, Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis said on Thursday, while referring to a meeting, in Copenhagen, between the President of Cyprus and NATO chief.

Speaking at a media briefing, in Nicosia, Letymbiotis referred to the contacts of Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, in Copenhagen, and said that on Wednesday evening, ‘as has already been announced’ the President had a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. During the meeting, the two men ‘certainly discussed the issues of NATO cooperation with the European Union, and of course broader defence and security issues as well’ he went on.

Letymbiotis added that one of Nicosia’s priorities during the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union, is to further strengthen defence and security in the European Union, but also the government has set it as ‘one of the highest priorities’ in its program.

Moreover, he noted that the meeting of the European Political Community was taking place on Thursday and that the President was expected to have bilateral meetings in the afternoon, including with the Presidents of Switzerland and Moldova, the Prince of Monaco, while he is also expected to meet with the Prime Minister of Denmark.

The European Political Community will also address the issue of strategic autonomy as well as the strengthening of defence and security and the issue of immigration, that are ‘also among the priorities of the Christodoulides Government’ the Spokesman concluded.

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

MEETING DATE: 02/10/2025

INDICES BASE VALUES: FTSEMed=5000, OTH

The Cypriot shooter Andreas Pontikis secured the bronze medal at the ISSF Junior World Cup held in New Delhi, India.

According to a press release, the young athlete scored 121/125 in the qualification round and 43/50 in the final, raising the Cypriot flag on the third podium step.

The gold medal was claimed by Italy’s Marco Coco, who shot 122/125 in the qualification and 56/60 in the final. The silver went to Finland’s Matias Kauppinen, with 121/125 and 53/60.

Cyprus was also represented by Markos Kontopoulos and Savvas Savvides, who scored 119/125 and 113/125 respectively, finishing in 7th and 19th place.

Retail trade turnover in Cyprus, excluding motor vehicles, recorded a significant increase in August 2025, according to data released on Thursday by the Statistical Service of Cyprus.

The Value Index rose by 4.9% year-on-year, while the Volume Index increased by 8.4% compared with August 2024. For the period January-August 2025, the value and volume indices posted increases of 6.2% and 7.4%, respectively.

The three largest increases in volume in August 2025 compared with the same month of 2024 were recorded in clothing and footwear (+18.1%), food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (+16.5%), and information and communication equipment (+9.8%). By contrast, motor fuels recorded a decline (-1.0%), while marginal increases were observed in recreational goods (+0.4%) and in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products (+3.9%).

In terms of value, the strongest annual increases were also recorded in food, beverages and tobacco in specialised stores (+12.4%), in flowers, plants, jewellery, watches, optical and second-hand goods (+11.9%), and in retail trade outside stores (+9.2%). At the same time, motor fuels posted a sharp decrease (-8.3%), while small positive changes were seen in information and communication equipment (+0.9%) and in recreational goods (+0.8%).

The most important economic and technological challenges facing Cyprus and Europe in general was the focus of discussions on Thursday, during the first half of the second day of the Cyprus Forum, which is being hosted at the Old Town Hall in Nicosia.

The Forum was attended by members of the government, guests from the academic and business community, as well as officials from European and international organizations.

Europe must become a competitive continent, says N. Damianou

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During the first discussion of the day on Cyprus’s main priorities and legislative initiatives in the field of innovation, the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy, Nicodemos Damianou, said that these include, on the one hand, digital policy, which also covers cyber resilience and cyber security, and, on the other hand, competitiveness, as well as the discussion on space.

According to the Deputy Minister, Europe must move from its current identity as a regulatory-driven continent to a competitive continent and consider competitiveness more actively.

He explained that Europe has a new digital regulatory framework, which includes the law on artificial intelligence, the Digital Services Act, and the Digital Markets Act, while next year the Digital Networks, EU Cloud and AI Development Act are also expected.

He added that Cyprus is interested in promoting the EU Business Wallet, a proposal which, he said, is expected to be submitted before the end of the year and is part of the simplification of procedures, especially for SMEs.

In the area of competitiveness, the main issue, according to Damianou, is the strategy for start-ups and growing businesses.

“The whole point of what Draghi is highlighting is that Europe has a lot of activity in terms of launching start-ups. We have presumably more start-ups being launched than any other continent, however, we maintain less than a 10% global share of new start-ups. The same is the situation with researchers and entrepreneurs, we cannot find a way yet to keep them in Europe. That is a key challenge and the main instrument there is the European Innovation Act,” he concluded.

A state must modernize and be accountable to its citizens, according to I. Piki

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During a discussion on institutional reforms with the Deputy Minister to the President, Irene Piki, she referred to the GRECO report on Cyprus.

As she noted, the report included 22 recommendations, of which 6, or almost 28%, have been completed, while significant progress has been made on another 13. “Overall, approximately 85% of the recommendations have been fully implemented or have recorded significant progress,” she pointed out.

According to Piki, the main recommendations among those that have been completed concerned the code of conduct for ministers, the appointment of an ethics advisor for officials and ministers, the completion of the electronic consultation, and the strengthening of the Anti-Corruption Authority.

She added that a monitoring committee has been set up to implement the Greco committee’s recommendations, involving the relevant government departments under the supervision of the Deputy Minister herself, with the participation of the Transparency Commissioner.

Regarding the effort to reform the Law Office, Piki said that, in addition to separating the role of legal advisor from that of public prosecutor, it also includes the review of the public prosecutor’s decisions, while for the corresponding reform of the Audit Service, she said that financial independence will now be provided to the service, and the creation of an Audit Council is also planned.

“We are in favor of reforms; a state must modernize, it must move forward, it must be accountable to its citizens, and it must be more effective and operate with greater transparency,” she concluded.

Ioannides describes Nicosia’s practice of returns as “successful.”

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In a panel discussion on migration policy, Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nicolas Ioannides said that in 2025, so far, departures of third-country nationals from the Republic of Cyprus have reached nearly 10,000, while in 2024 there were almost 11,000 departures, noting that Nicosia’s return practice is “successful.”

The Deputy Minister also said that relocations are “vital” for the Republic of Cyprus, noting that since 2022, more than 3,000 asylum seekers have been relocated to other EU Member States.

He also said that integration is “an important strategic goal” for the government, and that Cyprus is one of the few Member States that will soon have a strategy for the integration of asylum seekers, which is expected to be approved by the Council of Ministers in November.

According to the Deputy Minister, the adoption of the Pact on Migration and Asylum is “a step in the right direction,” noting that one of the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency of the EU “is to ensure the proper implementation of the Pact.”

He also said that a new reception center for asylum seekers, with a capacity of 1,000 people, is in its final stages in the Limnes area, with medical facilities, modern accommodation, sports fields, and parks, while the pre-departure center will be located next to it, and that the project is expected to be delivered in phases by the end of 2025.

The aim, he noted, is “to continue to address the issue consistently and responsibly and in accordance with international and EU law.”

Long-term care is not just a technical term, but also an indicator of civilization, says M. Damianos.

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In a discussion on long-term care in Cyprus, Health Minister Michalis Damianos spoke about the National Strategy for the Health of Older People, which, he said, is part of the broader National Strategy for Active Aging 2025-2030, coordinated by the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.

According to the Minister, the strategy is based on four strategic pillars: prevention (vaccinations, pre-symptomatic checks, and accident prevention), healthy aging with an emphasis on mental health, physical activity, proper nutrition, and social participation; a friendly environment, with infrastructure adaptation, strengthening of home care, and combating age discrimination; and research and education.

At the same time, he referred to the establishment of the National Committee for the Health of Older People, which acts in an advisory capacity to the Ministry and promotes interdisciplinary cooperation between all relevant bodies, specialized centers, and the academic community.

“Long-term care is not just a technical term, but also an indicator of civilization. It reflects the way we perceive social cohesion, solidarity between generations, and the right of all to a quality life. The cooperation of all, including health professionals, civil society organizations, and the academic community, is important in order to build a truly holistic approach to the health and care of the elderly,” he concluded.

Excellent job market prospects in Cyprus, says Y. Panagiotou

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In his own intervention during a discussion on the future of work, the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance, Yiannis Panagiotou, described social justice as the most important factor for the future of work, as “it is the path through which we can achieve greater social cohesion, greater social stability, and greater social prosperity.”

He added that with technology evolving rapidly, it is even more necessary to ensure that the benefits of technological progress are distributed in a socially just manner, ‘otherwise, if developments in the labor market lead to more inequality, a smaller middle class, and a wider gap between those who prosper and those who struggle, the future will not be bright for anyone’.

Regarding the labour market situation in Cyprus, Panayiotou said that the reduction in unemployment in the country over the last two years has been such that conditions of full employment have been created.

He further pointed out that participation in training programs in Cyprus has increased by 86% over the last two years, while participation in training programs focusing on green and digital skills has increased by 742%.

“Harnessing these opportunities, together with the prospects offered by targeted professional development programs, is yielding concrete results. We are continuing in this direction by upgrading our legislative framework on teleworking, regulating the relationship between employer and employee to make use of flexible forms of work, and so on, in order to achieve the target which, we set last year, where the employment rate exceeded 80%, the highest we have ever had,” he noted.

“It was a target set to be achieved in 2030, and we achieved it five years earlier. So, our prospects are excellent, and we will continue to make the most of them,” he stressed.

The Cyprus Forum program continues on Thursday afternoon and Friday morning, October 3.

Its proceedings started yesterday, Wednesday, 1 October, with President of the Republic, Nikos, Christodoulides, saying in his recorder message that ‘the effort for bold and continuous reforms to strengthen the rule of law and combat corruption is unstoppable.”

For all this, he noted, a strong economy is needed that rewards the sacrifices of the people and confirms the policies of the Government.

With regard to the Cyprus issue, the President reiterated his cautious optimism about the resumption of talks.

The Cyprus News Agency is the media sponsor of the conference.

Commission proposes targeted changes that will reduce administrative burden and ensure consistency across the revised Economic Governance Framework

Today, the European Commission has adopted proposals for targeted changes to some of the EU economic governance rules. The changes are aimed at ensuring their consistency with the outcome of the comprehensive reform undertaken in April 2024, while reducing reporting and administrative burdens, and streamlining funding arrangements for assisting non-euro area Member States facing balance of payments difficulties.

These proposals will simplify EU law, remove redundant administrative requirements, and make financial assistance more efficient. The simplification package will directly benefit national administrations by easing their administrative workload and making it easier to implement EU law, enabling them to refocus resources on other tasks.

Valdis Dombrovskis, Commissioner for Economy and Productivity; Implementation and Simplification said: ‘This initiative reflects the Commission’s ongoing commitment to tackle red tape, increase efficiency, and eliminate unnecessary reporting requirements, while supporting competitiveness and economic growth across the European Union. By removing outdated requirements and reducing administrative complexity, the EU can support Member States in focusing resources where they are most needed: on delivering sound public finances, fostering growth and ensuring financial stability.’

More information is available in our press release.

(For more information: Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Francisca Marçal Santos – Tel.: +32 2 299 72 36)

Commission’s assessment of Estonia and Slovakia National Energy and Climate Plans shows improvements on ambition closing in on 2030 targets, but more efforts needed

The Commission today published its assessment of the final updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) of Estonia and Slovakia, which contains guidance to assist both countries in facilitating implementation and raising their ambitions in line with EU targets for 2030.

While Estonia and Slovakia have raised their ambition compared to their draft plans, the assessment finds that both countries must increase their efforts to implement the plans and close remaining gaps on renewable energy and energy efficiency. They also must make progress towards the national 2030 targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon removals – in accordance with the Effort Sharing Regulation and the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF) Regulation, respectively.

This assessment is published today given the submissions of these two NECPs arrived late to be taken into account as part of the EU-wide assessment of the final updated NECPs and Staff Working Document published on 28 May 2025. The EU-wide assessment  showed significant progress made by Member States towards closing in on the EU’s 2030 climate and energy targets. Efforts should now also turn to implementation and delivery: using public funds to de-risk investments, unlock private finance and coordinate measures at regional and European level.

The Commission reiterates its call on the two Member States that have not yet submitted their final updated plans – Belgium and Poland – to do so without further delay. The Commission will then assess the plans.

More information is available in a news item online.

(For more information: Anna-Kaisa Itkonen – Tel.: +32 2 295 75 01; Ana Crespo Parrondo – Tel.: +32 2 298 13 25; Cristiana Marchitelli – Tel: +32 2 298 94 07)

Commission approves new geographical indications from Italy and Spain

The European Commission has approved the addition of ‘Olive taggiasche liguri’ and ‘Carne Salada del Trentino’ from Italy to the register of Protected Geographical Indications (PGI) and ‘Tharsys’ from Spain as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO).

‘Olive taggiasche liguri’ are table olives and olive paste made from olives of the ‘taggiasca’ variety. The taggiasca olive is named after the town Taggia where Benedectine monks planted its first trees in the tenth century. The plant is characterised by great fertility and strong growth, though also by susceptibility to frost and extreme temperatures. It acclimatised itself to Liguria, a region shaped like an arc, a narrow strip of land between the sea and a mountain ridge that shelters it from winds and cold.

‘Carne Salada del Trentino’ denotes a cured meat product made from beef cattle characterised by leanness, the taste of mature meat and a slightly spice aroma. The meat is produced and packaged in the entire administrative territory of the Autonomous Province of Trento, with the exception of some municipalities. The traditional processing and conservation practice used for Carne Salada del Trentino has survived in Trentino since ancient Rome, while having been almost completely abandoned elsewhere.

Thirdly, ‘Tharsys’ is a red, white and rosé wine from the urban area of Requena in Spain, a region that has been adorned with vineyards and an underground winery since the 16th and 19th century respectively. The wines each have different aromas depending on their age and colour – ranging from intense blue-flower notes for young reds, to the toasted-spices and smoky aromas of barrel-aged rosés.

This new designation joins the more than 3,680 protected names already listed in the eAmbrosia database. For more information, see the Quality Policy pages.

(For more information: Balazs Ujvari – Tel.: +32 2 295 45 78; Emma Marechal – Tel.: +32 2 299 48 18)

Commission approves pound 24.5 million Italian State aid measure to support the expansion of a freight terminal

The European Commission has approved, under EU State aid rules, a pound 24.5 million Italian State aid measure to expand a multimodal freight terminal near Bologna. The measure will promote the shift in freight transport from road to rail.

Domestic freight transport by rail is considerably below EU average in the Emilia-Romagna region. The opening of the Brenner Base Tunnel will significantly increase freight traffic by rail in the area after 2030. The project will expand the existing multimodal platform at Interporto Bologna by adding five new, 750m long railway tracks, as well as expanding the platform by about 80,000m², by the end of 2026. The beneficiary of the measure is Interporto Bologna, which operates the existing infrastructure. The terminal is situated at the intersection of three TEN-T corridors and is considered a strategically important railway infrastructure at national level.

The Commission assessed the measure under EU State aid rules, in particular Article 93 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (‘TFEU’) on transport coordination. The Commission found that the measure is necessary to promote the use of rail transport, which is less polluting than road transport and contributes to reducing road congestion, in line with the objectives of the EU Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy and the European Green Deal. Furthermore, the Commission found that the aid will have an ‘incentive effect’ as the beneficiary would not carry out the investment to the same extent in the absence of the public support. Finally, the Commission concluded that the measure is proportionate, as it is limited to the minimum necessary and has a limited impact on competition and trade between Member States. On this basis, the Commission approved the Italian measure under EU State aid rules.

The non-confidential version of the decision will be made available under the case number SA.118718 in the State aid register on the Commission’s Competition website once any confidentiality issues have been resolved.

(For more information: Arianna Podestà – Tel.: +32 2 298 70 24; Luuk de Klein – Tel.: +32 229 94774)

Commissioner Albuquerque visits Ireland for high-level talks on the Savings and Investments Union

Maria Luís Albuquerque, Commissioner for Financial Services and the Savings and Investments Union, is visiting Ireland from today to tomorrow. The Commissioner will engage with Ireland’s top-level policymakers, key stakeholders and students.

During the visit, the Commissioner will meet with Minister for Finance and President of the Eurogroup Pascal Donohoe, Minister of State for Financial Services, Credit Unions and Insurance Robert Troye, as well as representatives of the Central Bank of Ireland. She will also meet various representatives of the finance industry and trade unions. In addition, the Commissioner will deliver a keynote speech at the Banking and Payments Federation Ireland, and will participate in the ‘Talking with The Future’ event with students of Trinity College Dublin.

A key topic during the visit will be the Savings and Investments Union, which aims to enhance the capability of the EU financial system to connect savings with productive investments. In this context, the Commissioner will encourage Irish authorities to adopt the recent recommendation Saving and Investment Accounts frameworks quickly. Other important topics will include the simplification agenda, banking regulation and payments.

(For more information: Olof Gill- Tel.: +32 2 296 59 66; Mara Perez-Cejuela Romero – Tel.: +32 2 296 37 70)

Commissioner Roswall hosted high-level roundtable on simplifying environmental laws

This morning, Commissioner Roswall met with business representatives, civil society and think thanks in Brussels to discuss the results of the call for evidence on an environmental simplification package. The call closed on 10 September 2025 and gathered more than 190,000 responses.

The exchanges of the roundtable focused on key actions to simplify reporting, permitting and reduce administrative burden in the areas of circular economy, industrial emissions, waste management and environmental permitting. Simplifying and improving EU laws will make rules clearer and easier to understand and faster and cheaper to implement.

The simplification of environmental rules follows on from the Competitiveness Compass, which sets a clear framework for Europe to become the place where future technologies, services, and clean products are invented, manufactured, and put on the market, while being the first continent to become climate neutral. One way to achieve this will be the simplification of the regulatory environment.

Commissioner for the Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Jessika Roswall, said: ‘This Commission is committed to simplification. Today’s roundtable enabled an open discussion with stakeholders to identify key actions to reduce administrative burden. What we want to achieve is a leaner legal framework that is easier to implement for businesses and public administration, while staying the course on our environmental objectives. This is crucial for our common goal: fostering Europe’s competitiveness while preserving the environment and safeguarding public health.’

You can find more information on the roundtable on simplifying environmental laws online.

(For more information: Maciej Berestecki – Tel.: +32 2 299 63 02; Maëlys Dreux – Tel.: +32 2 295 46 73)