Cyprus continues to lag behind the European Union average in digital skills among young people, even as the bloc records steady progress in digital literacy. New Eurostat data released on Wednesday also show that Cyprus has the widest gender gap in the EU, with young women significantly outperforming young men.

Cyprus Falls Short Of The EU Benchmark

According to Eurostat, 63.9% of Cypriots aged 16 to 24 had at least basic digital skills in 2025, well below the EU average of 74.6%.

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Across the bloc, nearly three-quarters of young people have reached at least a basic level of digital competence, reflecting the growing importance of digital skills in education, employment and everyday life.

Nordic And Central European Leaders Set The Pace

Denmark recorded the highest share of digitally skilled young people, at 92.1%, followed by the Czech Republic with 91.7% and Malta with 91.5%.

At the other end of the ranking, Bulgaria and Romania were the only member states where fewer than 60% of young people had achieved at least basic digital skills, at 52.8% and 53.3%, respectively.

Women Outperform Men Across Most Of The Bloc

Eurostat’s figures also highlight a persistent gender gap across much of the EU. At the bloc level, 75.9% of women aged 16 to 24 possessed at least basic digital skills, compared with 73.3% of men. The same pattern was recorded in 22 member states, including Cyprus.

No country recorded a wider gender gap than Cyprus. Some 73.9% of young women had at least basic digital skills, compared with 55.1% of young men, a difference of 18.8 percentage points.

A Wide Gap With Policy Implications

The disparity is significant because digital skills have become increasingly important for access to education, employment opportunities and participation in a technology-driven economy.

For policymakers, the figures underline two challenges: raising overall digital proficiency while narrowing the gap between young women and young men. Slovenia recorded the second-largest gap in favour of women, at 11.6 percentage points, followed by Austria with 9.1 points.

By contrast, young men outperformed women in only five EU countries. The widest gaps in favour of men were recorded in Malta, where 93.6% of young men had at least basic digital skills compared with 89.1% of young women, and Romania, where the figures stood at 55.1% and 51.1%, respectively.

Russian buyers accounted for 51% of foreign residential property purchases in Cyprus in 2025, according to a report published by Russian business magazine Business Petersburg.

Cyprus Retains Its Pull For Russian Capital

Despite European sanctions and tighter banking controls, Cyprus continues to attract Russian property buyers. According to the report, the island’s appeal lies in its European Union membership, established Russian-speaking community, favourable tax environment and permanent residence programme linked to the purchase of newly built property.

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Drawing on insights from real estate executives, the publication said Russian buyers remained the largest foreign group in the market. Many are purchasing homes not only to preserve wealth but also to relocate businesses, particularly technology companies, and establish a long-term presence within the EU.

Where Demand Is Concentrated

Interest remains strongest in newly built homes priced between €500,000 and €1.5 million, with Limassol, Larnaca and Paphos continuing to attract the highest demand.

Another key factor is Cyprus’ permanent residence programme. Foreign nationals who purchase newly built property worth at least €300,000 may qualify for permanent residency, making the scheme an important incentive for overseas investors seeking long-term stability and access to the European market.

Banking Compliance Remains A Barrier

Tighter compliance requirements introduced after sanctions against Russia have made property transactions more complex.

According to the report, purchases can now take between three and six months to complete as Cypriot banks carry out enhanced due diligence and request additional documentation. Those procedures have increased both transaction times and administrative costs for buyers.

Risks In The North Temper Enthusiasm

The report also examined the property market in northern Cyprus, where lower prices and more flexible payment terms continue to attract some Russian investors.

At the same time, it warned that the territory’s lack of international recognition and longstanding property ownership disputes create significant legal uncertainty. Particular caution was advised when considering properties built on land that may be subject to claims by displaced Greek Cypriot owners.

The Republic Remains The Safer Bet

While northern Cyprus may offer lower purchase prices, Business Petersburg concluded that the Republic of Cyprus remains the more secure option for investors seeking legal certainty, access to the European market and a stable regulatory environment.

For buyers balancing cost against long-term security, those advantages continue to outweigh the lower entry prices available in the north.

The Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (CySEC) is encouraging regulated entities to participate in two public consultations launched by the European Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA), as the European Union moves to strengthen and harmonise its anti-money laundering framework.

Covering draft technical standards, the consultations will help shape how suspicious activity is reported and how non-financial businesses are assessed for money laundering and terrorist financing risks across the bloc. For regulated firms, the outcome will define future compliance obligations.

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First Consultation Focuses On Suspicious Transaction Reporting

One consultation concerns the draft Implementing Technical Standards (ITS) under Article 69(3) of Regulation (EU) 2024/1624, which set out the format for reporting suspicious transactions and for submitting transaction records.

CySEC said the draft standards, supporting documents and consultation response form are available on AMLA’s website, with comments accepted until September 20, 2026.

AMLA will also host a public hearing on September 9 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. CEST.

Second Consultation Targets Non-Financial Sector Risk Assessment

Another consultation focuses on draft Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) under Article 40(2) of Directive (EU) 2024/1640 (AMLD 6). The proposal introduces a common methodology for assessing the inherent and residual money laundering and terrorist financing risks of non-financial obliged entities.

Comments may be submitted until September 27, 2026, while a second public hearing is scheduled for September 10.

According to CySEC, the consultation is particularly relevant for non-financial entities under its supervision, including administrative service providers and crowdfunding service providers.

Toward A Harmonised EU Framework

According to AMLA, the proposed methodology would establish a consistent approach to assessing money laundering risks across all EU member states, allowing supervisors to evaluate comparable businesses using the same standards.

Feedback is also being sought on whether the reporting requirements are proportionate, practical and cost-effective, particularly for smaller organisations. Simplified reporting obligations are proposed for smaller entities, while supervisors would be able to rely on information already available to them instead of requesting duplicate data.

Implementation of the new framework is expected to begin in December 2028, with the first risk assessments under the harmonised system scheduled for 2029. Until then, national supervisors will continue applying their existing methodologies while preparing for the transition.

Businesses, supervisory authorities, financial intelligence units, industry bodies, academics and other stakeholders are encouraged by AMLA to submit feedback before the standards are finalised.

The Cypriot economy grew 3.0% year on year in the first quarter of 2026, marking its slowest pace in 10 quarters as a rebound in imports reduced the contribution from net exports. Domestic demand, however, remained resilient, supported by stronger private consumption, low unemployment and continued strength in residential investment.

Imports Dampen First-Quarter Growth

According to Eurobank Research, GDP growth eased from 4.3% in the fourth quarter of 2025 and 3.6% in the first quarter of the previous year.

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The slowdown was driven primarily by a weaker contribution from net exports. Although exports and imports both recorded strong annual growth of 10.5% and 10.4%, respectively, imports rebounded sharply after an unusually weak period a year earlier, particularly in transport equipment such as ships and aircraft. As a result, external trade contributed less to overall economic growth.

Domestic Demand Remains The Main Engine

Domestic demand continued to underpin the economy. Private consumption accelerated to 4.9% year on year from 3.6% in the previous quarter, supported by favourable labour market conditions. Unemployment fell to 4.0%, the lowest first-quarter level on record.

Public consumption also strengthened, while the decline in gross fixed capital formation eased significantly to 6.9% from 21.7% a quarter earlier.

Residential investment remained resilient, expanding 4.7% year on year after a 5.9% increase in the previous quarter, supported by strong growth in housing lending throughout 2025. By contrast, momentum in non-residential construction weakened considerably, while investment in intellectual property products declined sharply for a second consecutive quarter.

Tourism Faces Pressure, But Services Remain Resilient

Looking ahead, Eurobank Research expects Cyprus to remain exposed to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, although the overall macroeconomic impact should remain limited if regional conditions continue to stabilise following the June 17 ceasefire agreement.

Tourism and transport are likely to experience the greatest pressure. After a record year in 2025 and strong growth at the beginning of 2026, tourist arrivals fell sharply in March and April before the decline eased to 4.9% in May, raising hopes of a gradual recovery during the summer season.

Information and communications technology, financial services and other business services are expected to remain comparatively resilient.

Inflation And Labour Market Pressures Emerge

Some signs of strain are beginning to appear. Registered unemployment rose 9.0% year on year in April and May, reversing the decline recorded during the first quarter. The increase was concentrated in tourism, administrative services and logistics.

Inflation also accelerated, reaching 4.0% in June from 0.9% in February as higher energy costs filtered through to service prices. Government measures aimed at containing imported inflation, together with an increase in wage indexation to 90% from July, are expected to help offset some of those pressures.

Construction Continues To Support Growth

Construction is expected to remain one of the economy’s key growth drivers through the second half of 2026.

Building permits increased 48.8% year on year in January and February, while the total approved building area expanded by 56.5%. Property sales also remained strong during the first four months of the year, supported by continued growth in housing lending.

Momentum softened in May as demand from foreign buyers eased. Even so, overseas purchasers remained the primary driver of market growth during the first five months of the year, accounting for 61% of the increase in property sales.

Labour Shortages Remain The Main Structural Challenge

Despite slower economic growth, Cyprus continues to benefit from strong public finances, improving financing conditions and a business-friendly regulatory and tax environment.

Eurobank Research identifies labour shortages as the country’s main structural constraint. With the job vacancy rate remaining elevated at 2.8% in the first quarter, policies that improve labour mobility and attract skilled foreign workers will be essential to sustaining the Cypriot economy’s medium-term growth potential.

Cyprus and Lebanon are taking a significant step toward a long-discussed electricity interconnection project that could reshape energy links across the eastern Mediterranean.

Formal Request To The World Bank

According to reliable information, the two governments are expected to sign a joint letter within days requesting World Bank financing for an undersea electricity interconnection. The move marks the transition from political discussions to a formal international funding process.

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From Feasibility Study To Strategic Project

Nicosia and Beirut jointly approached the World Bank at the end of 2025 to prepare a feasibility study for the proposed project. The study is expected to examine technical feasibility, potential tariffs and the project’s commercial viability, all key factors in determining whether the interconnection can move forward.

Beyond creating a physical link between the two countries, the project could strengthen energy security, improve regional integration and expand access to wider electricity markets.

Possible Connection Point In Zouk

Lebanon’s Energy Minister Joe Saddi said in April that the most likely connection point would be the Zouk area.

He added that, if the project proceeds, Cyprus could eventually connect to the wider European electricity grid, creating a potential route for Lebanon to access the same network.

Such a development would extend the project’s importance beyond bilateral cooperation, positioning Cyprus as a potential energy bridge between the Middle East and Europe while giving Lebanon a stronger connection to the European electricity system.

A Broader Diplomatic And Energy Context

The initiative follows another milestone in relations between the two countries. On November 26, 2025, Cyprus and Lebanon signed a landmark agreement delimiting their Exclusive Economic Zones, strengthening the legal framework for closer cooperation in the eastern Mediterranean.

Taken together, the two initiatives suggest that energy, infrastructure and diplomacy are becoming increasingly interconnected as both countries seek to deepen regional cooperation and improve long-term energy security.

The effort to establish a new cooperative bank in Cyprus has entered its most decisive phase, with a public share offering aimed at raising €42 million now serving as the gateway to securing a banking licence and launching operations.

Published by Phileleftheros, the prospectus of Pancyprian Cooperative Holdings and Promotion of Cooperativism Limited outlines both the opportunities and the risks facing investors, while also detailing the institution’s governance structure and principal shareholders.

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A Capital Raise Designed To Unlock Licensing

Raising €42 million is intended to provide the capital required to satisfy regulatory requirements, complete the licensing process and finance the bank’s initial operations.

Without a successful fundraising round, the proposed institution cannot move forward as a licensed credit institution.

A Cooperative Ownership Model With One Vote Per Member

Among the principal shareholders, the Limassol cooperative society holds the largest stake at 28.22%, followed by the Police and Military cooperative society with 12.53%, Paphos with 12.11%, Nicosia with 8.34%, Regional Nicosia with 6.97% and Lhedra with 6.69%.

Voting rights, however, do not mirror ownership. Under the company’s statutes, each of its 199 members has one vote regardless of the number of shares held, reinforcing the cooperative governance model rather than a traditional shareholder structure.

Board Composition And Regulatory Oversight

Elected in October 2025 for a three-year term, the Committee of Administration consists of 19 members, 18 of whom are classified as independent. Panikos Hamba serves as chairman, while Evgenios Eleftheriou is board secretary.

Before operations can begin, board members, senior executives and heads of key functions must all pass regulatory “fit and proper” assessments, making governance one of the project’s most important licensing requirements.

Limited Conflicts Of Interest

According to the prospectus, no material conflicts of interest have been identified among board members or those involved in the offering. The only disclosed relationship concerns the employment of the daughter of Chairman Panikos Hamba at the law firm providing legal services to the company.

The Investment Comes With Significant Risks

Investors are warned that the project carries substantial risks. Because the shares will not be listed on a stock exchange, there will be no organised secondary market for trading them. Transfers will also be restricted to company members, limiting liquidity.

Dividend payments are not expected during the early years, as any future distributions will depend on the bank reaching sustainable profitability.

Execution risk is also significant. Success depends on securing a banking licence, recruiting experienced staff, building technology infrastructure, complying with regulatory requirements and managing cybersecurity threats.

Funding Remains The Biggest Challenge

Meeting the fundraising target is only one of several milestones. Regulatory approval, operational readiness and the ability to attract customers in a highly competitive banking market will all determine whether the project succeeds.

Should the capital raise fall short, or regulators decline to grant a banking licence, the project will not proceed, and investors’ funds will be returned in accordance with the terms of the offering.

Management also warns that available funding may prove insufficient to cover technology investment, recruitment, marketing and other start-up costs. Any shortfall could delay expansion plans, weaken competitiveness and reduce future profitability.

Start-Up Costs Highlight The Scale Of The Challenge

Launching the public offering is expected to cost about €950,000. Personnel expenses are projected to account for roughly half of administrative costs, rising from between €3.5 million and €5.5 million in the first year to between €8 million and €10 million by the fifth.

As of 31 March 2026, the company reported negative working capital of €48,500 and estimated funding needs of almost €38 million over the following 12 months, underscoring the importance of completing the capital raise successfully.

What Comes Next

If the fundraising and licensing process is completed successfully, the new cooperative bank plans to offer deposits, mortgages, business lending, payment services, cards, digital banking and insurance products.

For the moment, the project’s future depends less on its long-term ambitions than on clearing the financial and regulatory hurdles required to begin operating.

The Central Bank of Cyprus has welcomed the selection of Bank of Cyprus and JCC Payment Systems for the European Central Bank’s digital euro pilot, giving Cyprus a direct role in testing the bloc’s proposed digital currency.

Both Cyprus-based payment service providers are among 36 institutions selected across the euro area to participate in the next phase of the project, which forms part of the Eurosystem’s preparations for a possible digital euro.

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Cyprus Gains A Seat At The Table

In a statement, the Central Bank of Cyprus said it would work closely with both institutions and the ECB ahead of the pilot, describing their participation as an opportunity for Cyprus to help shape the future of digital payments in the euro area.

Scheduled to begin in the second half of 2027, the pilot will run for 12 months. During that period, participating payment service providers will test a beta version of the digital euro alongside the ECB and national central banks.

Testing Functionality Before Any Issuance Decision

Designed to evaluate the digital euro’s technical performance, operational framework and user experience, the programme will help refine the project’s design before any decision is taken on its launch.

According to the ECB, the beta version will closely resemble the digital euro proposed under draft legislation, although it will not have legal tender status.

More than 50 payment service providers applied after the ECB opened the selection process in March 2026. From those applications, 36 institutions were chosen to reflect a broad mix of business models and company sizes across the euro area.

Private Sector Interest Signals Momentum

“The strong market interest in the pilot shows the private sector’s readiness to engage actively and quickly advance with the digital euro project to strengthen the European payments landscape,” said ECB Executive Board member Piero Cipollone, who chairs the High-Level Task Force on a digital euro.

“We look forward to deeper engagement as we work with and learn alongside European payment service providers in developing a secure, efficient and inclusive digital euro,” he added.

Selected institutions will test different parts of the ecosystem. Some will provide beta digital euro services, including opening accounts and processing payments, while others will enable merchants to accept digital euro transactions. Several participants will perform both roles.

A Pan-European Testing Network

Alongside the ECB, the pilot will involve the Central Bank of Cyprus and the other 18 national central banks across the euro area.

Testing will include central bank staff, participating payment providers, merchants and e-commerce businesses. Participants will be able to make person-to-person payments both online and offline, as well as purchases at physical points of sale and through online retailers.

What Comes Next

Feedback gathered during the pilot will help refine the digital euro’s design and improve the user experience before any final decision on its introduction.

Bank of Cyprus and JCC Payment Systems will now work with the Central Bank of Cyprus and the ECB to complete preparations ahead of the pilot’s launch in 2027.

TikTok is mounting a public defence of its safety record as European policymakers step up efforts to restrict children’s access to social media, increasing pressure on major platforms to demonstrate that they can protect younger users.

Pressure Builds Across Europe

Speaking to CNBC’s Squawk Box Europe, Ali Law, TikTok’s director of public policy and government affairs for Northern Europe, said the platform was built with a “safety by design” approach aimed at protecting younger users.

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“We’re really conscious of the concerns that both parents and policymakers have in this area,” Law said. “We want people to have a healthy and safe relationship with the app because of the amount of benefits that people can get when they’re using it.”

Governments are increasingly moving to tighten rules around children’s use of social media. Australia became the first country to enforce a legal ban in December, while the U.K., France, Greece and Spain have all announced plans to introduce similar restrictions.

At the EU level, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed this week that the bloc will move forward with measures aimed at limiting children’s access to social media, including the possibility of introducing a minimum age requirement.

The proposal follows recommendations from a special panel on child safety online established by von der Leyen.

“We in Europe believe that parents bring up our kids, and not predatory algorithms,” she said. “To that end, let me be very clear: social media is not a toy.”

TikTok’s Safety Playbook

Law said TikTok has introduced more than 50 default safety features for users under 16, including a one-hour daily screen-time limit and a 10 p.m. reminder encouraging teenagers to stop using the app. Although users can continue browsing, the prompts are designed to discourage excessive use.

The platform also restricts direct messaging for younger users and does not allow those under 16 to buy or sell products through TikTok Shop.

“All of these are little default aspects, little nudges to make sure that people have a balanced and healthy relationship with our app,” Law said. “That works in our interests, because if people are using it too much and are burnt out, they’re not going to get value from it.”

He added that TikTok invested $2 billion in trust and safety last year, reflecting the company’s growing focus on moderation, parental controls and product safeguards.

A Broader Industry Reckoning

The debate extends well beyond TikTok as regulators scrutinise how major social media platforms affect children’s wellbeing.

Earlier this year, TikTok settled a high-profile lawsuit alleging that platforms including Instagram and YouTube contributed to mental health problems among young users through addictive features such as infinite scrolling. In the same case, a jury later found Meta and Google negligent for failing to warn users about risks associated with their platforms.

As governments consider tougher age limits and new accountability rules, social media companies face growing pressure to demonstrate that user engagement can coexist with meaningful protections for younger audiences.

Minimum Pensions In Europe Reveal A Deep Policy Divide

As Cyprus continues discussions on pension reform, with Labour Minister Marinos Moushiouttas considering planned increases to minimum pensions, new parliamentary research highlights just how differently European Union countries support retirees.

A study prepared by the Cyprus Parliament Research Service at the request of AKEL MP Nikos Kettiros shows that minimum old-age pensions across the bloc range from as little as about €250 per month in some countries to more than €2,350 in others. The differences reflect each country’s pension system, contribution rules, living standards and cost of living.

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The Cypriot Baseline

In Cyprus, the full basic pension stands at €483.77 per month, while the minimum pension for beneficiaries without dependents is €411.20. The monthly social pension amounts to €391.85.

These figures form part of a broader debate over how much income protection the state should provide in retirement and how that support should be shared between the social insurance system and general taxation.

A Wide Range Across Europe

The parliamentary study highlights striking differences in minimum pension levels across the EU.

Luxembourg provides the highest minimum old-age pension, at €2,350.89 per month for retirees with 40 years of insurance. Austria follows with €1,273.99 for single pensioners and €2,009.85 for married couples, while Belgium pays roughly €1,500 net per month for employees and self-employed workers with a full 45-year career.

Elsewhere, guaranteed pensions remain below €1,100. The Netherlands provides between €1,045.91 and €1,527.63 depending on household composition, Sweden pays €1,095 to single pensioners and €992 to married pensioners, while Finland’s guaranteed pension stands at €986.30 per month.

Southern Europe offers lower minimums. Greece’s full national pension is €436.40, Portugal pays between €331.79 and €480.08 depending on contribution years, while Italy’s minimum pension varies annually according to each beneficiary’s circumstances.

Across Central and Eastern Europe, statutory minimums are generally lower still. Slovenia provides €774.67, Latvia calculates its minimum pension using a reference income of €754.74, while Poland pays approximately €440 gross per month. Slovakia’s minimum pension stands at €397.70, Estonia’s national pension at €393.26 and Bulgaria’s at €322.38. Romania guarantees €253 per month, the Czech Republic €255, while Hungary records the lowest statutory minimum in the study at around €74 per month, although eligibility rules differ significantly from country to country. Croatia also applies a different model, calculating minimum pensions according to years of pensionable service rather than setting a fixed amount.

Countries Without A Fixed Minimum Pension

Not every EU country operates with a single statutory minimum pension.

France relies on a guaranteed minimum pension linked to years of insurance and eligibility for a full pension. In 2025, it stood at €747.69 per month and could rise to between €800 and €850 for those meeting the full contribution requirements.

Germany also has no legislated minimum pension. Retirement income depends on contributions and earnings throughout a person’s working life, while lower-income pensioners may receive additional support through the country’s basic security scheme, which can amount to roughly €900 to €1,000 per month depending on individual circumstances.

Lithuania follows a similar approach, supplementing lower pensions automatically to meet minimum consumption needs rather than guaranteeing a fixed statutory amount. In 2025, the minimum consumption threshold was estimated at €450 per month.

Why The Numbers Matter

The comparison illustrates that minimum pensions are shaped by far more than generosity alone. Contribution histories, residency requirements, household composition and national wage levels all influence what retirees ultimately receive.

For Cyprus, where pension reform remains under discussion, the findings provide useful context. The debate is no longer simply whether minimum pensions should increase, but how any changes can balance fiscal sustainability with adequate income protection and the long-term resilience of the country’s social security system.

Cyprus has emerged as one of the European Union’s clearest examples of how the benefits of the energy transition are not being shared evenly.

A Wider Divide Than Most Of Europe

New Eurostat data show that 30.3% of Cypriots not at risk of poverty or social exclusion lived in homes that had undergone energy efficiency improvements during the previous five years. Among those at risk of poverty or social exclusion, the figure dropped to 16.7%.

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The resulting gap of 13.6 percentage points ranks among the three widest in the EU.

Only the Netherlands recorded a larger disparity, with 63.3% of people not at risk of poverty living in upgraded homes compared with 45.3% of those at risk, a difference of 18 percentage points. Denmark followed with a gap of 13.5 percentage points, as 36.4% of higher-income households had benefited from energy efficiency improvements versus 22.9% of vulnerable households.

The EU Picture Still Favors Better-Off Households

Across the EU, 23.9% of people lived in homes that had undergone energy efficiency improvements over the previous five years.

The overall figure, however, masks a persistent inequality. Only 17.4% of people at risk of poverty or social exclusion lived in upgraded homes, compared with 25.6% of those not at risk.

For lower-income households, access to improvements such as better insulation, more efficient heating systems and upgraded windows can significantly reduce energy bills while improving resilience to future price increases.

Netherlands Leads, Italy Trails

The Netherlands recorded the highest overall share of residents living in energy-efficient homes, at 60.5%, followed by Denmark at 34.0%. France and Slovenia shared third place, with 33.3% each.

Italy ranked last at just 2.6%, followed by Malta at 7.8% and Greece at 9.5%.

A Challenge For Europe’s Green Transition

The figures suggest that while energy efficiency upgrades are becoming more common across Europe, access remains uneven both between and within member states.

For policymakers, the challenge extends beyond improving buildings. Ensuring that lower-income households can benefit from the energy transition will be essential if Europe wants to reduce both emissions and energy poverty at the same time.