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Cyprus Central Bank Unveils Strategic Transformation Plan for 2025-2026

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

November 5, 2024

The Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) has rolled out an ambitious 2025-2026 transformation strategy to bolster its role within the European financial landscape and adapt to modern economic, technological, and environmental challenges. Governor Christodoulos Patsalides emphasized the urgency of transformation, citing rapidly evolving global conditions and the need for the CBC to actively support both Cyprus and the broader European community.

The strategy introduces 76 targeted actions designed to foster long-term economic resilience and adaptability. Patsalides highlighted the need for a progressive approach that redefines the bank’s mission, strategic goals, and core values, envisioning a CBC that can meet the demands of today’s interconnected world.

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Key Pillars of the CBC Strategy:

Fix the Bank: This foundational pillar addresses internal reorganization, emphasizing a structure that enables robust risk management, strengthened internal controls, and improved operational continuity.
Run the Bank: Focused on developing supervisory strategies, this pillar targets core responsibilities across the CBC, with initiatives to manage staffing, establish climate resilience frameworks, and set up a procurement division.
Change the Bank: The final pillar aims at modernizing governance, advancing human resources, and leveraging IT innovation. It also plans to establish a Research and Policy Development Center, fostering deeper expertise and influence in the bank’s areas of responsibility.

Each action is assigned a project lead with clearly defined timelines. By the end of 2024, 33 actions are set for completion, with another 20 scheduled for mid-2025. Regular progress will be tracked through a monthly dashboard, ensuring accountability and steady advancement.

The CBC’s new strategy positions it as a dynamic, responsive institution, aligned with Cyprus’s evolving economic role within Europe and committed to excellence, innovation, and transparency.

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Call for Reform: Cyprus Faces New Challenges with Emerging Tobacco Products

by News Editor

May 31, 2025

In the face of a burgeoning variety of tobacco products, existing smoking laws in Cyprus are struggling to keep pace, as highlighted by Christos Minas, the president of the Cyprus National Addictions Authority (AAEK). On World No-Tobacco Day, there was a push for legislative reforms to comprehensively cover all tobacco forms, including non-nicotine alternatives.

Addressing Rising Trends with Effective Policies

Minas emphasized the surge in popularity of e-cigarettes and flavored products, particularly among the youth. The proposed legal updates aim to enhance enforcement efficiency against these emerging trends.

In collaboration with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) framework, the AAEK has established the first set of national guidelines for smoking cessation in Cyprus, crafting prevention and treatment strategies based on robust scientific evidence.

Educating Youth and Public Awareness Initiatives

Efforts are underway to raise awareness, with informative materials distributed to secondary schools across Cyprus. A public event in Nicosia highlighted the state’s ongoing commitment, providing carbon monoxide testing and expert advice on new tobacco products.

Recent data from the Cyprus general population survey 2023 indicates that 38% of smokers have used e-cigarettes recently, and the smoking initiation age remains at 18.

A Glimpse into Youth Smoking Patterns

According to the latest European school survey, 14% of Cypriot students aged 15-16 reported smoking traditional cigarettes last month. Although this rate is declining, Cyprus still ranks high in Europe for e-cigarette and hookah use among students.

The concern is global, with WHO reports showing over 37 million children aged 13-15 engage in tobacco use, driven by aggressive marketing in loosely regulated environments.

The urgency for reform is clear: before these trends solidify, proactive measures are necessary to protect future generations from potentially hazardous habits.