Limassol Targets Metropolitan Park Expansion Across Multiple Areas

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 18, 2026

Limassol Mayor Yiannis Armeftis has unveiled an ambitious proposal to integrate the Polemidia Forest Park in Ayia Fyla with adjacent municipal land, aiming to establish a metropolitan park that bolsters urban green space and promotes sustainable development.

Strategic Expansion For Urban Green Space

The proposal targets approximately 40,000 to 50,000 square metres of land currently occupied by the Limassol recruitment training centre (KEN). The mayor emphasized that this initiative marks the preliminary step in a broader transformation, designed to extend the benefits of a sizable suburban park to the entire metropolitan area. In a conversation with Entrepreneurial Limassol, a publication by the Limassol Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Evel), Armeftis detailed that these plots, potentially unused by the defence ministry, have already been identified on maps forwarded to Defence Minister Vasilis Palmas.

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Navigating Governmental Coordination And Institutional Planning

The mayor’s plan includes upgrades to public infrastructure around the existing forest park, aimed at supporting walking, running and other recreational activities. Discussions with Defence Minister Palmas remain at an exploratory stage, with the ministry expected to review the proposal based on the submitted plans. Armeftis also referred to a meeting with Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou in 2025, noting the need for a coordinated master plan under the ministry’s jurisdiction, as the Ayia Fyla forest falls within its remit.

Regional Collaborative Efforts For Sustainable Development

The initiative forms part of a broader regional collaboration involving the municipalities of Limassol, Amathus and Polemidia, alongside academic partners including the University of Cyprus, Cyprus University of Technology and Frederick University. Current efforts focus on securing the required land before finalising a master plan that will define the metropolitan park’s boundaries.

Mayor Armeftis said the phased approach reflects international practices, where military infrastructure is relocated to support long-term urban development.

The Polemidia forest area is planned as the first phase of the project, with future expansion expected to connect surrounding areas, including the Polemidia dam and other green zones across Limassol. The initiative, first introduced in 2022 under the “Integrated Limassol Development” framework, addresses urban expansion while supporting environmental planning.

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Cyprus’ Poverty And Social Exclusion Risk Stands At 17.1%

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

October 20, 2026

Cyprus recorded a poverty or social exclusion risk rate of 17.1% in 2025, below the European Union average of 20.9%, according to new Eurostat figures. Across the bloc, however, more than 92 million people continued to face the risk, highlighting persistent social and economic inequalities.

More Than 92 Million People At Risk Across The EU

A total of 92.7 million people across the EU were at risk of poverty or social exclusion in 2025, equivalent to just over one in five residents.

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Cyprus is treated as a single statistical region because of its size, unlike many member states divided into multiple regions for comparison. Its national figure therefore provides an overall picture but does not capture differences between districts or communities.

Regional Gaps Remain Stark Across Europe

The risk varied considerably across the EU, with the highest rates concentrated largely in southern, eastern and outermost regions. In 24 of the 243 regions with available data, at least 31.5% of the population faced poverty or social exclusion.

These regions were located in Spain, Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, France and Romania, as well as Brussels in Belgium and Bremen in north-western Germany.

French Guiana recorded the highest rate, at 54.8%, followed by Calabria in southern Italy at 45.3% and Sicily at 44%. Melilla, a Spanish autonomous city, recorded 43.7%, while Réunion, another French outermost region, stood at 42.3%.

Central Europe Records The Lowest Rates

At the other end of the scale, 24 regions reported poverty or social exclusion risk rates below 13% in 2025. These included five eastern EU capital regions: Bratislava in Slovakia, Warsaw in Poland, Prague in the Czech Republic, Budapest in Hungary and Zagreb in Croatia.

Other regions with low rates were concentrated in northern Italy, the Czech Republic, northern Belgium, Hungary, Poland and Austria, illustrating the uneven distribution of economic security across Europe.

Cyprus Remains Below The EU Average

Cyprus’ rate of 17.1% places it below the EU average, although it remains higher than the levels recorded in the bloc’s lowest-risk regions.

The figures suggest that Cyprus performs relatively well compared with the wider EU, but poverty and social exclusion remain significant challenges across the bloc, affecting more than 92 million people.

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