Breaking news

Rapid Boost In European AI Adoption Highlights Cyprus’ Challenges

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

December 12, 2025

According to recent data from Eurostat, artificial intelligence adoption among European enterprises reached new heights in 2025. However, while the European Union continues to witness remarkable progress, Cyprus remains notably behind the continental average.

EU Growth Momentum

Across the bloc, approximately 20 percent of enterprises with at least 10 employees implemented AI technologies in 2025. This strong 6.5 percentage point increase from 13.5 percent in 2024 underscores the accelerating momentum among businesses in embracing digital tools to drive innovation and efficiency.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Cyprus’ Lagging Performance

Despite steady improvements over the past four years, Cyprus recorded an AI adoption rate of only 9.27 percent in 2025, significantly lower than the EU-27 average of 19.95 percent. This gap of more than 10 percentage points positions Cyprus just above countries like Greece, Bulgaria, Poland, Turkey (7.41 percent), and Romania, thereby highlighting a persistent challenge for Cypriot enterprises.

Historical Perspective And Comparative Analysis

In 2021, Cyprus’ AI adoption was a modest 2.59 percent, compared to an EU-27 average of 7.65 percent. Although by 2023 Cyprus had increased its rate to 4.67 percent—with the EU average at 8.06 percent—the disparity remained evident. By 2024, as the EU surged to 13.48 percent and Cyprus reached 7.90 percent, the performance gap widened further. In 2025, despite Cyprus more than tripling its 2021 rate, the divide continued to grow.

Country Leaders And Innovative Trends

The data reveals stark contrasts among EU nations. Leaders such as Denmark, Finland, and Sweden reported adoption rates of 42.0 percent, 37.8 percent, and 35.0 percent respectively. Meanwhile, nations like Romania (5.2 percent), Poland (8.4 percent), and Bulgaria (8.5 percent) trailed behind, with Cyprus falling just above these lower figures. Additionally, nearly all EU countries reported increases in AI usage, with Denmark, Finland, and Lithuania registering the most significant gains.

Key Applications Driving Adoption

The analysis further indicates that the most common application of AI was in analyzing written language, used by 11.8 percent of businesses. This was followed by generating multimedia content (9.5 percent), creating written or spoken language (8.8 percent), and converting spoken language into machine-readable formats (7.2 percent). Notably, the analysis of written language experienced the fastest growth compared to 2024, increasing by 4.9 percentage points.

This trend clearly demonstrates AI’s transition from a nascent technology to an integral component of business strategy across Europe, even as some markets like Cyprus continue to grapple with broader digital integration challenges.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

ECB Raises Deposit Facility Rate For First Time In Nearly Two Years

Economic Shift: ECB Reverses Years Of Declining Rates

The European Central Bank (ECB) confirmed its first interest rate increase in nearly two years, raising the deposit facility rate in response to inflationary pressures and geopolitical uncertainty. Marking a shift in monetary policy, the move follows a period of rate cuts aimed at supporting economic activity and easing financing conditions.

Reevaluation Of Bank Liquidity Strategies

Although the immediate impact will be felt by only part of the borrowing market, the decision carries broader implications for banks. During the period of lower rates, banks maintained significant amounts of excess liquidity with the ECB as returns on these funds declined alongside deposit rates. With the deposit facility rate increasing by 0.25 percentage points to 2.25% from 2.00%, returns on surplus liquidity are expected to improve.

Follow THE FUTURE on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and Telegram

Higher interest rates, however, could also increase borrowing costs and influence lending conditions across the banking sector.

Transitioning Investment Approaches And Market Dynamics

Banks had already begun diversifying the use of excess liquidity through investments in bonds and by expanding lending activities.

Successive reductions in the deposit facility rate from 3.00% at the end of 2024 through four consecutive cuts in early 2025 reflected a more accommodative policy stance as inflation pressures moderated.

Sectoral Impact And Future Outlook

Data from the ECB’s 2025 monetary policy report show that liquidity in the Cypriot banking system declined from €19.2 billion at the end of 2024 to €18.6 billion by the close of 2025. Despite the reduction, liquidity levels remained elevated. Outstanding loans increased from €27.6 billion to €31.7 billion, while deposits recorded a slight decline. Customer deposits continued to account for the vast majority of funding. By the fourth quarter of 2025, they represented 95% of total liabilities, highlighting their importance as the banking sector’s primary source of financing.

Changes in ECB rates are expected to influence how banks manage liquidity and allocate capital as monetary conditions evolve.