Cyprus President To Receive New Armored Limousine Worth €595,000 As Government Bypasses Tender Process

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 8, 2026

Cyprus is preparing to spend €595,000 on a new armored limousine for President Nikos Christodoulides, with the Finance Ministry seeking parliamentary approval for the funds.

The Council of Ministers approved the purchase on July 16. Instead of launching a public tender, the government negotiated directly with a Cyprus-based car dealership, with the request now before Parliament’s Finance Committee.

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Cabinet Approves Purchase As Security Details Remain Confidential

The Finance Ministry has asked lawmakers to authorize the release of funds for the Presidency of the Republic. It declined to disclose the vehicle’s technical specifications, citing confidential security requirements, including details of its armor protection.

The Finance Committee is due to examine the request on Monday.

Cyprus Has Previously Bought Armored Presidential Cars Directly

Cyprus has used direct arrangements with specific companies for previous presidential armored vehicles. Christodoulides currently uses an armored limousine purchased during the presidency of Nicos Anastasiades in 2019 for €258,850 plus VAT.

That vehicle replaced the armored car used by former President Demetris Christofias, which was purchased in 2010 for €291,000 plus VAT. Parliamentary records show maintenance costs for Christofias’ vehicle later reached €138,654.

Armored Vehicles Also Used For EU Presidency Events

Cyprus has also leased armored vehicles for major diplomatic events. During its Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the government rented 12 armored limousines for visiting heads of state attending an informal EU leaders’ summit.

The vehicles were transported from Germany and leased for 10 days at a total cost of €140,000. Cyprus said it intended to seek reimbursement from the European Union.

State Spending On Electric And Hybrid Vehicles

Two years ago, the state purchased 35 electric and hybrid vehicles for public officials at a total cost of €1.65 million. The fleet included 25 electric saloon cars, five electric all-terrain vehicles and five plug-in hybrid vehicles.

The proposed presidential limousine would cost €595,000, more than twice the purchase price of the armored vehicle acquired in 2019.

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Italy Leads Europe In Pay Transparency As Salary Disclosure Hits 61%

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 8, 2026

Clear salary ranges are becoming more common in Europe’s job market, with Italy showing the strongest shift among major economies.

The EU adopted the Pay Transparency Directive to address unequal treatment, weaker bargaining power and the gender pay gap. Member states were required to implement the rules by June 7, but most have missed the deadline.

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Italy Moves Ahead On Salary Disclosure

Italy is the only one of Europe’s largest economies to have fully implemented the directive so far. Indeed data shows that the share of Italian job postings including salary information rose from 26% in July 2025 to 61% in July 2026.

That put Italy ahead of the UK for the first time, with 60% of UK job ads including salary information. The Netherlands followed at 49.5%, France at 43%, Spain at 18% and Germany at 14%.

“Italy is emerging as a frontrunner on pay transparency among large economies in Europe, and the data suggests regulation is making a real difference,” Pawel Adrjan, director of economic research at Indeed, told Euronews Business. Adrjan also shares analysis on LinkedIn.

Most Of Europe Remains Behind

A PwC article published in early August said only five EU member states had transposed the directive by that point: Italy, Slovakia, Malta, Lithuania and Greece. Spain has made limited progress, Germany has delayed implementation until early 2027, and France’s position remains unspecified in the source material.

Italy also went beyond the EU baseline by requiring employers to include starting salaries or pay ranges directly in job advertisements. Adrjan said disclosure rose from 35% in January to 61% in July, accelerating after the directive took effect.

The share is unlikely to reach 100%, he said, because some job categories are excluded and enforcement issues remain.

Pay Transparency And The Gender Pay Gap

Salary transparency aims to reduce the information gap between employers and candidates, particularly for women. Eurostat put the EU gender pay gap at 11.1% in 2024, meaning women earned an average of €88.90 for every €100 earned by men.

The European Trade Union Confederation has criticized delays in implementing the directive. General Secretary Esther Lynch called the missed deadline “a betrayal of working women,” arguing that pay secrecy limits workers’ ability to challenge unequal pay.

ETUC research estimates that women in the EU lose €358 billion a year because of the gender pay gap, or almost €3,900 per woman. Italy’s experience shows how quickly salary disclosure can change after national rules take effect, while other EU countries continue working toward implementation.

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