The Ministry of Energy, Commerce, and Industry participated in the International Wine and Spirits Exhibition PROWEIN 2024 in Düsseldorf, Germany. 14 Cypriot wineries showcased native grape varieties and wines like commandaria and zivania. Cypriot wineries also made important business contacts at the event. The Ministry supports Cypriot businesses in strengthening their export capabilities and penetrating new markets.
Over 3,500 people will be voted to positions of public office in the elections on June 9.
The Council of Agriculture Ministers has approved a new Regulation extending the proportion of milk used for halloumi production until 2029, following an agreement signed by cheese producers, cattle farmers, and goat and sheep farmers in July 2022. The minimum ratio of goat and sheep milk in halloumi production will increase from 25% to 50% within five years.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing strains within his coalition due to disagreements over proposals to draft ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military. The cabinet meeting to discuss changes to the conscription law was called off, and Netanyahu’s relations with U.S. President Joe Biden worsened after a disagreement over a U.N. Security Council resolution on Gaza. Despite support from his religious-nationalist coalition partners, there is pressure internationally on the government. The divide over the conscription law highlights the longstanding divide between secular and religious Israelis.
Fact: President Nikos Christodoulides announced that green taxation in Cyprus will begin by the end of 2024, not on April 1 as some people had thought.
Fact: Everest CC is the only club that has decided to play only in the 40 Over league and not the T20, and has reaped dividends with victories in their first two games.
The European Commission released a report on Cyprus’ economy, noting that GDP is expected to grow and inflation to decrease. The report also highlighted risks related to interconnections with economies within and outside the EU, as well as vulnerabilities related to debt. The GDP growth rate in 2023 was 2.4%, down from 5.1% in 2022, with expectations of rebounding growth in 2024 and 2025. The Cypriot labor market remains robust, with employment rising and unemployment expected to fall. The country’s fiscal position is strong, with a surplus expected to be maintained. Cyprus’ high integration with EU and non-EU economies makes it susceptible to economic developments in those regions, posing risks to its economy.
Fact: Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos stressed the necessity to fully commit to the United Nations Charter after meeting with his Kazakh counterpart in Astana and stated that a two-state solution to the Cyprus problem proposed by the Turkish Cypriot leadership “cannot be accepted.”
Fact: The crime of bird trapping has been reduced by 94 per cent since the establishment of an action plan in 2016.
Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou emphasized the importance of considering the individual circumstances of member states when working towards EU climate goals.