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Cyprus EU Presidency Emphasizes Cohesion Policy For Economic Resilience

Setting A Focused Agenda

During the inaugural General Affairs Council on Cohesion Policy under the Cyprus EU Presidency, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos reinforced the pivotal role of cohesion policy in enhancing competitiveness and bolstering economic resilience across the European Union. In Brussels, Minister Keravnos highlighted the significance of Cyprus’ six-month tenure at the helm of the Council, marking a defining moment for strategic policy reform.

Cohesion Policy And Strategic Autonomy

Addressing colleagues upon his arrival, Keravnos stated, “It is a great pleasure for me to chair today’s meeting on Cohesion Policy, which is the first since Cyprus took over the Presidency.” He emphasized that an autonomous Union, open to the world, is built on the foundation of competitiveness and strategic economic resilience. This approach not only underscores the value of cohesion policy in the European agenda but also directly links it to the Union’s broader objectives of strategic autonomy.

Key Agenda Items And Future Directions

The Council’s discussions will center on two principal items. The first is the adoption of conclusions regarding cities and functional urban areas, which are seen as critical engines for economic, social, and territorial cohesion. The second focuses on the mid-term review of cohesion policy for the 2021-2027 programming period. This review aims to design stronger incentive frameworks and introduce greater flexibility for the next cycle, thereby ensuring closer alignment with the EU’s strategic priorities in a shifting economic and geopolitical landscape.

Toward An Enhanced Policy Framework

Experts anticipate that the meeting will further delve into bolstering the administrative and operational capacities of member states and regions. Additional discussions are expected to highlight targeted support for regions facing specific geographical and development challenges, including the EU’s eastern border areas. These measures aim to forge a more robust and agile policy framework, better equipped to navigate the uncertainties of the current global environment.

Meta’s Muse Is Outpacing ChatGPT In Early Mobile Adoption, New Data Suggests

Meta’s new AI app, Muse, may be emerging as one of the company’s strongest consumer launches to date. Fresh estimates from market intelligence firm Apptopia suggest the app has outperformed ChatGPT in early mobile traction, at least in the U.S. and Canada.

According to Apptopia, Muse recorded more downloads in its first 12 days on the market than ChatGPT did during the comparable period after its mobile debut. The comparison, limited to the U.S. and Canada, puts Muse’s iOS downloads at 1.8 million versus 1.3 million for ChatGPT over the same initial window.

A Strong Early Start Across Platforms

In total, Muse has reached 2.8 million global installs in its first 12 days, according to the firm. The app’s momentum also appears to be holding. After debuting at No. 2 on the U.S. App Store, Muse has since climbed to No. 1, surpassing ChatGPT, according to reporting from Business Insider. Appfigures had previously estimated that Muse crossed 1 million downloads shortly after launch.

That early rise matters because app-store performance in the first days after launch often signals whether a product can sustain consumer attention beyond initial curiosity. In Meta’s case, the data suggests Muse is not simply benefiting from novelty; it is gaining ground quickly enough to challenge the category leader.

Daily Users Show Similar Momentum

Apptopia’s estimates point to another favorable comparison for Meta: daily usage. In the U.S. alone, Muse is said to have 642,000 daily active users, well above the 231,000 ChatGPT had at the same stage of its mobile rollout.

To make the comparison fairer, Apptopia also narrowed the analysis to iOS only, since ChatGPT launched on iPhone before expanding more broadly. Even under that tighter lens, Muse still comes out ahead, with 359,000 daily active users on iOS compared with ChatGPT’s earlier figure.

Why Meta Has An Advantage

Third-party estimates are not the same as internal company data, and Apptopia cannot see Meta’s proprietary numbers. Still, even directional data suggests Muse may be on track to become a meaningful consumer product for Meta.

That possibility is strengthened by Meta’s distribution advantage. The company has already demonstrated how powerful its ecosystem can be with Threads, which surpassed 500 million users after heavy promotion across Instagram and Facebook. Muse is likely to receive a similar boost, especially because it can connect across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Apptopia does not track Meta’s internal promotion strategy, but its data indicates that more than 95% of Muse users are also Facebook users, while 63% are Instagram users. That overlap underscores how effectively Meta can move users across its products when it chooses to prioritize a launch.

The Strategic Test For Meta

For Meta, the early signal from Muse is less about one app’s download count than about whether the company can turn its scale into durable AI adoption. The first test is attention. The harder one is retention.

If Muse can convert early downloads into habitual use, Meta may have found a new front door into its AI ambitions. If not, the app risks becoming another example of how easily mobile hype can spike before settling back down.

Meta, which was asked for comment, has not yet released public figures on Muse’s early adoption.

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