Invest Cyprus Positions Island As A Stable European Base For Regional Expansion

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 23, 2026

Invest Cyprus used a London briefing on Tuesday to make its case for the island as a credible base for international business, financial services and wealth management, underscoring Cyprus’ role as a platform for regional growth.

Investors Are Looking Beyond Cost

The investment promotion agency, which partnered with FT Locations for the event, said the priorities of international companies are changing. Cost still matters, but it is no longer the decisive factor. Stability, regulatory credibility, access to talent and strong connectivity are increasingly shaping location decisions.

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That shift, according to Invest Cyprus chairman Evgenios Evgeniou, plays directly to Cyprus’ strengths.

A European Base With Strategic Reach

Cyprus offers a combination that is difficult to replicate: membership in the European Union and eurozone, a common-law legal tradition, a multilingual international workforce and a geographic position linking Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and Asia.

For companies seeking to establish or expand operations, that mix can be especially valuable. In a business environment increasingly defined by regulation, technology and cross-border service delivery, jurisdictions that can offer stability and trust are gaining an edge.

Competing On Trust, Not Just Cost

Invest Cyprus argued that the island’s opportunity lies in competing on more than operating expenses. As financial services become more sophisticated and more technology-driven, the agency said Cyprus can serve as a platform for companies that want to operate efficiently while reaching markets well beyond the island itself.

“Our ambition is to compete beyond cost. On the combination of stability, access to talent and trust,” Evgeniou said.

A Broader Investment Proposition

The London discussion was part of a wider effort by Invest Cyprus to reposition the country in the minds of global investors. The message was clear: Cyprus is not simply an investment destination, but a base from which businesses can grow across Europe and into adjacent high-potential markets.

In an era when executives are reassessing geopolitical risk, regulatory certainty and workforce quality alongside price, that proposition is designed to resonate.

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EU Agrees On Major Overhaul Of Financial Market Supervision

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 9, 2026

European Union finance ministers have reached agreement on a sweeping package designed to strengthen oversight of the bloc’s financial markets, in a move aimed at reducing fragmentation and improving the flow of capital across borders.

A Push To Deepen Capital Markets

The Market Integration and Supervision Package, or MISP, would grant the European Securities and Markets Authority direct supervision over major market operators that are currently regulated by national authorities. The reforms are intended to make Europe’s capital markets more integrated, more efficient and better able to channel savings into productive investment.

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According to the Irish presidency, the package is meant to help savings and investments move more freely across the European Union, improving access to finance for companies while giving households broader opportunities to earn returns on their savings.

What The Reform Would Change

Under the new framework, ESMA would take direct oversight of key trading venues, clearing houses, securities settlement bodies and crypto-asset service providers. The package would also establish a permanent, independent executive board within the regulator, strengthening its institutional capacity.

Market operators would be able to opt into a new EU-wide operating framework. In parallel, the reforms would seek to make national supervision more consistent and update rules governing trading, transaction completion, investment management and the use of blockchain technology.

Why The Agreement Matters

Supporters of deeper capital markets argue that Europe has long paid a price for regulatory inconsistency. While many rules are harmonised across the bloc, differences in enforcement and supervision have contributed to a patchwork system that can make cross-border investment slower and more costly.

A more integrated framework, proponents say, could lower costs for companies seeking funding and broaden the menu of investment options available to savers and institutional investors alike.

Outstanding Questions Remain

Despite the broad agreement, some important details remain unresolved. Trading venues operated by Deutsche Börse, the company behind the Frankfurt stock exchange, may remain outside ESMA’s direct supervision.

Euronews previously reported that Germany had secured an exemption for Deutsche Börse’s domestically focused trading venues, leaving part of the system under regional supervision. The latest announcement did not clarify whether that arrangement will stand.

A Step Forward For The Savings And Investments Union

Dutch Finance Minister Eelco Heinen welcomed the deal, calling it a major advance for the Capital Markets Union and saying Europe had made more progress in 10 months than in the previous 10 years.

The agreement is an important milestone in the Savings and Investments Union, the EU’s broader effort to channel more of Europeans’ savings into investments that can support growth, innovation and competitiveness across the bloc.

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