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Cyprus And UK Move To Implement Maritime Cooperation Agreement

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 16, 2026

Cyprus and the United Kingdom have agreed on the next phase of maritime cooperation following talks in London between Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister Marina Hadjimanolis and her British counterpart, Keir Mather, according to the Cyprus News Agency.

From Agreement To Implementation

The talks focused on implementing the Memorandum of Understanding signed in February 2023 between the Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry and the UK Department for Transport. Discussions covered practical cooperation as well as broader challenges facing global shipping and opportunities to strengthen bilateral ties.

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The agreement covers maritime safety and security, decarbonization, ship-source pollution, seafarers’ employment and welfare, maritime education and training, research and innovation, digitalization and cybersecurity.

Cooperation Across Key Maritime Priorities

The framework also provides for cooperation on piracy, fraudulent ship registrations and shipping-related sanctions, as well as engagement through international bodies such as the International Maritime Organization.

Potential measures include expert exchanges, technical workshops, training, technical assistance and sharing best practices. The private sector could also play a larger role in developing cooperation between the two maritime industries.

Seafarer welfare and safety and the green transition were identified as initial priorities. A UK government review published in December 2024 also referred to plans to exchange expertise on implementing the Maritime Labour Convention 2006.

Shipping In A Wider Economic Context

Mather, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Aviation, Maritime and Logistics, oversees maritime policy, freight and borders, international transport, security and resilience.

Hadjimanolis and Mather also took part in the 18th Annual Capital Link Shipping & Marine Services Forum alongside TEN founder and CEO Nikolas Tsakos. The roundtable covered trade, regulation and maritime competitiveness, including tariffs, sanctions, supply-chain resilience and the role of regulators.

Cyprus Seeks Deeper Industry Links

During her London visit, Hadjimanolis also met Foresight Group founder and chairman Ravi K. Mehrotra to discuss opportunities for greater cooperation in maritime and shipping activities.

Founded by Mehrotra in 1984 as a shipping company, Foresight has since expanded into offshore drilling and infrastructure. Its shipping business is now focused on LPG transportation, with a target of 25 modern very large gas carriers by 2034.

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Cyprus Business Electricity Prices Rank Among The EU’s Highest

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 6, 2026

Electricity prices for a defined group of non-household consumers in Cyprus reached €0.23 per kilowatt-hour in the first half of 2026, placing the country among the most expensive in the EU, according to Eurostat.

The rate matched Italy and exceeded the EU average of €0.18. Ireland recorded the highest price at €0.27 per kilowatt-hour.

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The figures cover non-household consumers with annual electricity consumption of between 500 and 2,000 megawatt-hours, rather than all businesses or households.

EU Electricity Prices Continued To Fall

Across the EU, average prices for this consumer group declined by 2% compared with the second half of 2025 and were 5.4% lower year on year.

The lowest rates were recorded in Finland (€0.09 per kWh) and Sweden (€0.12), followed by Denmark, Spain and Portugal, all at €0.13.

Prices Fell In Most Member States

Electricity prices declined year on year in 19 EU countries during the first half of 2026. Luxembourg recorded the largest fall, at 23.8%, followed by Czechia (11.9%) and Greece (11.8%).

Prices increased in eight member states, led by Sweden (18.8%), Finland (18.7%) and Bulgaria (14.2%). Despite the sharp increases, Finland and Sweden continued to have the lowest electricity prices in the bloc.