Grant Scheme Announced To Strengthen New Business Activity In British Bases Areas

A second announcement of a grant scheme to strengthen new business activity in areas within the British Bases has been approved by the Council of Ministers following a proposal by the Minister of Energy, Trade and Industry George Papanastasiou.

According to a press release by the Ministry, the scheme, which was prepared for equal treatment of citizens of the Republic, aims to develop, support and promote entrepreneurship, placing an emphasis on specific groups, such as young people and women, who wish to be active in business in the sectors of manufacturing, services and tourism, making use of their knowledge, experience, training and talents.

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The grant will be up to 70% for young men and women aged 18-29 years, while for men aged 30-50 and women aged 30-55, it will be up to 60%. The grant is calculated on the cost of the eligible costs of the investment (equipment, special facilities, construction, purchase and renovation/configuration of building spaces, promotion and other expenses), with a maximum eligible budget per company of €120,000.

The total budget to be allocated for the needs of the 2nd announcement of the scheme amounts to €500,000 and comes from the state budget.

Those interested can obtain the scheme guide, which contains all the details, the list of supporting documents, as well as other required forms or documents, from the Ministry’s website and, particularly, from the website of the Industry and Technology Service.

It is noted that the applications/proposals from the beneficiaries will only be submitted through the electronic system of sponsorship plans of the Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry, in a specific period that will be determined in the relevant call for proposals, which will be announced in the next period.

For more information, those interested can contact the relevant officials at 22867178/156/317/109/194.

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EU Farm Output Prices Decline For The First Time In Nine Months

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 12, 2026

EU Market Adjustments Signal New Price Trends

Agricultural output prices across the European Union declined in the fourth quarter of 2025, marking a shift after several quarters of increases. Data from Eurostat shows that farm gate prices fell by 1.9% compared with the same period in 2024.

Crisis of Declining Prices In Select Markets

Cyprus recorded one of the more notable decreases in agricultural input costs among EU member states, with prices falling by 2.6% compared with Q4 2024. The reduction eased cost pressures for the local agricultural sector following periods of higher prices earlier in 2025. Across the EU, prices for goods and services consumed in agriculture remained relatively stable. Non-investment inputs such as energy, fertilisers and feedingstuffs showed limited overall changes during the quarter.

Country-Specific Divergence In Price Movements

Eurostat data highlights considerable variation across member states. Fifteen EU countries recorded declines in agricultural output prices. Belgium registered the largest decrease at 12.9%, followed by Lithuania (8.2%) and Germany (6.0%). At the same time, twelve countries reported increases in output prices. Ireland recorded the strongest rise at 6.8%, followed by Slovenia (5.6%) and Malta (4.2%).

Stability In Agricultural Inputs Amid Commodity Shifts

Agricultural input prices also showed mixed developments. Eleven member states recorded declines, including Cyprus (2.6%), Belgium (2.1%) and Sweden (2.0%). Other countries experienced moderate increases, including Lithuania (4.2%), Ireland (3.3%) and Romania (2.5%). Among major agricultural commodities, milk prices declined by 4.1% while cereal prices fell by 8.9% across the EU. In contrast, fertilisers and soil improvers increased by 7.9%, reflecting continued volatility in input markets.

Outlook For EU Agriculture

The latest Eurostat data points to uneven price developments across the EU agricultural sector. While input prices remained broadly stable in many markets, movements in output prices varied significantly between member states. These trends highlight the need for farmers and policymakers to adapt to shifting commodity prices and changing cost structures across the European agricultural market.

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