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Stelios Foundation Pledges Up To €260,000 For Families Of Cyprus Ferry Disaster Victims

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 1, 2026

The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation has announced it will provide up to €260,000 in direct financial support to the families of those killed in the ferry sinking off Cyprus’s northern coast, in a move described as a small but immediate gesture of solidarity.

Immediate Aid For Grieving Families

Eight people have been confirmed dead following the August 30 disaster, while 18 others remain missing. In a statement issued on Monday, Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou, founder and president of the Stelios Philanthropic Foundation and creator of the easy family of brands, offered his “most sincere condolences” to the families and loved ones of the victims.

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He also extended “thoughts and prayers” to the relatives of those still reported missing.

€10,000 Per Confirmed Victim

As part of what the foundation called “a small but tangible gesture of support and solidarity,” each next of kin of a person confirmed dead will receive a €10,000 cash donation, provided the application is made within one month of the incident.

If all 26 people are ultimately confirmed dead within that period, the total assistance could reach €260,000.

The foundation said the funding is intended “to provide immediate financial relief” to families facing the aftermath of the tragedy.

Who Can Apply

The donation will be paid by bank transfer to the closest living relative of each victim, up to and including the second degree of kinship. Applicants must submit a written request proving their relationship to the deceased, along with contact details and bank account information, including the IBAN.

The foundation has identified the order of priority for the closest living relative as the spouse, father, mother, oldest adult child and oldest brother or sister.

Application details will be published on the foundation’s website: Stelios Philanthropic Foundation.

A Wider Record Of Philanthropy

The Stelios Philanthropic Foundation is a non-profit organisation supporting charitable activity across six countries where Sir Stelios and his family have lived and worked: Cyprus, Greece, the UK, Ireland, Monaco and France.

In Cyprus, its initiatives include the Bi-Communal Business Cooperation Awards and the Youth Entrepreneurship Awards, both of which offer financial grants to winners. The foundation also runs Food from the Heart, which provides food to thousands of people facing economic hardship, and supports vulnerable groups, disaster relief efforts, charitable organisations and university students through scholarships.

This is not the first time the foundation has stepped in after a national tragedy. It has previously provided financial assistance to the families of victims in Cyprus and Greece, including the 2019 murders committed by serial killer Nicos Metaxas in Cyprus, the 2018 Mati wildfires outside Athens and the Tempi train collision in Greece.

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Europe’s Busiest Ports Show The Scale Of Maritime Trade

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 7, 2026

Maritime transport carried roughly 13 billion tonnes of goods worldwide in 2024, highlighting its central role in global trade and supply chains. EU ports handled about 3.4 billion tonnes, or 26% of the global total, while nearly 90% of the bloc’s external freight trade is carried by sea.

Rotterdam And Antwerp-Bruges Lead The EU

Rotterdam was the EU’s busiest port in 2024, handling 397.3 million tonnes of goods. Antwerp-Bruges ranked second with 243.7 million tonnes, putting the two northern European hubs well ahead of the rest.

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Hamburg ranked third at 97 million tonnes, followed by Spain’s Algeciras at 81.5 million tonnes and Amsterdam at 78.8 million tonnes. France’s HAROPA port complex, covering Le Havre and Rouen, handled 76.6 million tonnes, while Gdansk recorded 71 million tonnes.

Marseille and Valencia followed with 66 million and 64.5 million tonnes, respectively. Romania’s Constanta completed the top 10 at 57.6 million tonnes, reflecting the Black Sea’s role in Europe’s wider trade network.

Europe’s Second Tier Of Major Ports

Several ports handled between 40 million and 56 million tonnes in 2024. Barcelona recorded 55.5 million tonnes, followed by Trieste at 53.5 million, Genoa at 47.4 million and Sines at 44.1 million.

Piraeus handled 43.7 million tonnes, while Germany’s Bremerhaven recorded 42.5 million. Sweden’s Göteborg handled 38.5 million tonnes and Dunkerque in France 36.8 million.

Netherlands Leads By National Port Volume

Looking at total cargo across each country’s ports, the Netherlands ranked first with 538.1 million tonnes in 2024. Italy followed with 488.6 million tonnes and Spain with 486 million tonnes, putting all three well ahead of the rest of the EU.

Belgium ranked fourth at 274.9 million tonnes, followed by Germany at 273.9 million and France at 269.8 million. Greece, Sweden and Poland each handled more than 100 million tonnes, showing the breadth of Europe’s maritime network.

Turkey Expands The Regional Picture

Including EU candidate countries and EFTA members puts Turkey in second place with 524.7 million tonnes, behind the Netherlands. Norway ranked eighth with 212.1 million tonnes and handled 212.1 million tonnes.

The European Commission has described maritime transport as a long-standing driver of European economic development. Its role now extends beyond moving cargo, with ports increasingly tied to supply chains, energy security and industrial policy.

In March 2026, the Commission adopted two strategies focused on competitiveness, sustainability, security and resilience across the EU’s waterborne sector, including ports, shipping and shipbuilding.