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Cypriot Business Leaders Engage In Strategic Dialogue On The EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement

Cypriot business leaders are invited to participate in a high-level webinar on November 10, 2025, aimed at examining the European Union–Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EU-Japan EPA). The event, organized by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve), seeks to gather firsthand insights and experiences regarding the trade pact.

An Opportunity To Shape EU Trade Policy

This meticulously curated seminar forms part of an evaluation study commissioned by the European Commission and executed by the ECFORTE consortium. Industry stakeholders will have the platform not only to review the official evaluation outcomes but also to discuss the tangible impacts, opportunities, and challenges posed by the agreement. Their contributions are poised to refine the EU’s future trade policies and amplify the voice of Cypriot enterprises within the broader European dialogue.

Webinar Details And Agenda

Scheduled from 10:00 to 11:30 (Cyprus time) on November 10, 2025, the online seminar will present a detailed agenda outlining the evaluation results and facilitating interactive discussion. This initiative underscores the critical role played by local stakeholders in enhancing policy frameworks that affect international trade.

Registration And Additional Information

Interested parties can register for the webinar via the dedicated registration link. For a comprehensive overview of the evaluation study, further details are available on the official website at www.eu-japan-evaluation.eu.

Cyprus Records EU’s Largest Quarterly Drop In Public Debt Ratio

Cyprus recorded the European Union’s largest quarterly decline in government debt as a share of GDP in the second quarter of 2026, as its debt burden continued to fall while borrowing levels across the bloc increased, according to Eurostat.

Debt Ratio Falls To 48.5%

Cyprus’ government debt fell to 48.5% of GDP at the end of June, down from 51.5% in the first quarter and 58.1% a year earlier.

In absolute terms, debt declined to €19.2 billion from €20.03 billion at the end of March and €21.7 billion in June 2025. Cyprus also recorded the EU’s second-largest annual reduction in its debt-to-GDP ratio, after Greece.

Cyprus Outpaces Other EU Member States

Greece recorded the largest annual decline, at 11.2 percentage points, followed by Cyprus at 9.5 points, Slovenia at 4.5 points and Portugal at 3.4 points.

Quarterly, Cyprus led the bloc, ahead of Greece, where the ratio fell by 2.7 percentage points, and Hungary, which recorded a 2-point decline.

By contrast, the EU’s debt-to-GDP ratio increased to 82.9% in the second quarter from 82.5% in the first. The euro area ratio rose to 88.8% from 88.4%. Compared with the same period in 2025, the figures increased from 81.4% and 87.3%, respectively.

Debt Levels Remain High Across Europe

Greece had the EU’s highest debt ratio at the end of June, at 140.8% of GDP, followed by Italy at 139.9%, France at 119.1%, Belgium at 110.2% and Spain at 101.4%.

The lowest ratios were recorded in Estonia at 26.1%, Denmark at 27.1%, Luxembourg at 28.2% and Bulgaria at 28.7%.

Compared with the first quarter, debt ratios rose in 15 member states and fell in 10, while the Netherlands and Spain remained unchanged. Poland recorded the largest quarterly increase, at 3 percentage points.

Cyprus Maintains A Government Surplus

Cyprus’ debt reduction comes alongside a strong fiscal position. In 2025, the country recorded a government surplus of 3.6% of GDP, the highest in the EU, according to audited figures published by Cystat and Eurostat. Government debt at the end of that year stood at €20.05 billion, or 52.3% of GDP.

However, Cyprus’ seasonally adjusted government surplus narrowed to 3.3% of GDP in the second quarter of 2026, from 3.8% in the first quarter.

The figures come from Eurostat’s latest government deficit and debt release, based on member states’ second 2026 notifications under the EU’s Excessive Deficit Procedure and compiled under the European System of Accounts 2010 methodology.

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