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Cyprus Advances In Digital Services But Lags In AI Adoption

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 23, 2026

Robust Digital Infrastructure And Evolving Public Services

Cyprus continues to improve its performance in digital public services, connectivity, and business digitalisation, according to the European Commission’s 2026 State of the Digital Decade report.

The country achieved full 5G coverage in 2024 and has extensive gigabit connectivity, including in rural areas. Around three-quarters of small and medium-sized enterprises have reached a basic level of digital intensity, while cloud computing and data analytics are becoming more widely used.

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Challenges In Artificial Intelligence And Digital Inclusion

Despite progress in several areas, the report points to a relatively low adoption of artificial intelligence among businesses. The European Commission also highlighted the need to ensure that digital public services remain accessible to all citizens. While Cyprus has introduced an AI-powered chatbot to support access to government services, further implementation efforts are still required.

Digital Skills Disparities And Health Information Trends

Eurostat data show that 70.1% of Cypriots aged 16 to 74 used online public services in 2025, slightly below the EU average. Differences in digital skills continue to be linked to factors such as age, education, and employment status. Online platforms are also increasingly used for health-related information. According to the data, 81% of Cypriots searched online for health information, while interest in physical and mental health topics was even higher.

Investments And The Road Ahead

Public investment continues to support Cyprus’ digital transition. The national Digital Decade roadmap includes 62 measures with a combined budget of almost €1 billion. Additional funding from recovery and cohesion programmes is also supporting digitalisation projects.

In its assessment, the European Commission noted that the effectiveness of digital services depends not only on the launch of new platforms but also on their accessibility and ease of use for citizens.

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Cyprus Fuel Prices Jump 20.5% As Energy Costs Rise Across The EU

Cyprus recorded a 20.5% year-on-year increase in the prices of fuels and lubricants for personal transport in May 2026, according to Eurostat data released on Monday.

The increase was broadly in line with the European Union average of 20.7%, with fuel and lubricant prices rising across all EU member states during the period.

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Cyprus Tracks The EU Average

Among EU countries, the largest annual increases were recorded in Bulgaria (33.9%), Luxembourg (32.2%), Lithuania (30.8%) and Romania (30.4%). At the other end of the scale, Hungary registered the smallest increase at 3.5%, while annual growth ranged from 12.7% in Poland to 29.2% in France across the remaining member states.

Eurostat noted that fuel and lubricant prices generally declined across the EU until February 2026 before moving higher in subsequent months.

Diesel And Petrol Follow Different Paths

Across the European Union, diesel prices increased by 29% in May 2026 compared with the same month a year earlier, while petrol prices rose by 16.2%. Monthly trends, however, were more mixed. Between April and May 2026, diesel prices across the EU fell by 5.8%, whereas petrol prices increased by 0.8%.

In Cyprus, diesel prices declined by 1.5% over the same period. Although lower than in April, the decrease was less pronounced than in Germany (-11.9%), Greece (-8.5%), Estonia (-8.4%) and Ireland (-8.1%).

Petrol prices moved in the opposite direction, rising by 2.1% between April and May. A similar pattern was observed across much of the EU, with 23 member states reporting monthly increases. Italy recorded the largest monthly rise in petrol prices at 6.9%, while decreases were reported in Germany (-5.6%), Ireland (-2.0%) and Sweden (-0.7%).