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University Of Nicosia Opens €65 Million Campus In Athens

A major international investment is reshaping Cypriot higher education with the launch of the UNIC Athens campus, financed by Eurobank. The facility, costing more than €65 million, marks a strategic expansion of the University of Nicosia’s influence in Greece.

Strategic Inauguration

The campus was officially inaugurated on April 30 in Athens’ Elliniko area, drawing high-profile figures from both the political and academic arenas. Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Nikos Christodoulides were among those in attendance, alongside key government representatives and members of the business community. Eurobank, represented by Deputy CEO Konstantinos Vassiliou, underscored its commitment to fostering academic excellence and international outreach.

Investing In Higher Education Excellence

UNIC Athens will operate as the University of Nicosia’s academic and research hub in Greece, expanding the Cypriot institution’s presence within the Greek higher education sector. The project is being developed in partnership with Hellenic Healthcare Group and forms part of broader efforts to strengthen regional academic collaboration and international outreach.

Robust Financial Architecture

Financing for the development includes Eurobank lending, participation in Greece’s Recovery and Resilience Facility programme and equity investment from Fastforward A.E. Approximately €20.27 million of the total investment has been allocated to modernisation and technical upgrades, while €18.73 million is designated for eligible building improvements.

Commitment To Sustainability And Green Transition

Sustainability initiatives linked to Greece’s “Green Transition” framework form a central part of the project’s development strategy. The campus has been designed with energy-efficient systems and environmental performance targets aligned with LEED Gold certification standards under the broader “Greece 2.0” recovery plan.

Shaping The Future Of Regional Education

Michalis Louis, Chief Executive Officer of Eurobank Limited, stated, “The co-financing of UNIC Athens is both a major project for Eurobank and a pivotal development for Cypriot education. We are proud to support a state-of-the-art academic facility that promises to enhance quality academic life for students while delivering exceptional operational and environmental performance.” Louis further emphasized the bank’s commitment to projects that drive progress, expand international engagement, and lay the foundation for sustainable long-term growth.

Cyprus Government Surplus Rises To €1.61 Billion In First Nine Months Of 2026

Cyprus recorded a general government surplus of €1.61 billion in the first nine months of 2026, equal to 4.0% of gross domestic product, as revenue growth outpaced the rise in public spending. Higher receipts from income taxes, social contributions and value-added tax (VAT) drove the improvement, while lower capital expenditure helped restrain spending.

Preliminary figures released Tuesday by the Statistical Service of Cyprus show the surplus rose to €1.17 billion, or 3.0% of GDP, up from € 442.1 million in the same period of 2025.

Total government revenue increased 6.5% to €12.09 billion, while expenditure rose 2.9% to €10.48 billion.

Key Fiscal MeasureJanuary–September 2025January–September 2026
Total revenue€11,353.9 million€12,091.8 million
Total expenditure€10,186.2 million€10,482.1 million
Government surplus€1,167.6 million€1,609.7 million
Surplus as a share of GDP3.0%4.0%

Income Taxes And VAT Lead Revenue Growth

Taxes on income and wealth made the largest contribution to the increase in revenue. Receipts in this category climbed by €442.2 million, or 15.3%, to €3.34 billion, compared with €2.89 billion a year earlier.

Social contributions rose by €235 million, or 6.6%, to €3.78 billion. Taxes on production and imports increased by €251.5 million, or 7.2%, reaching €3.77 billion.

Net VAT receipts, after refunds, totalled €2.64 billion, up €293.1 million, or 12.5%, from €2.35 billion in the first nine months of 2025.

Some Revenue Streams Decline

Not all revenue categories moved higher. Capital transfers fell by €74.6 million to €96.7 million, while current transfers declined by €71.6 million, or 20.5%, to €278.2 million.

Revenue from services slipped 1.0% to €743.5 million. Interest and dividend receipts dropped by €37 million, or 28.6%, to €92.4 million.

Social Benefits And Personnel Costs Increase

On the expenditure side, social benefits rose by €199.6 million, or 4.9%, to €4.27 billion. Compensation of employees—which includes imputed social contributions and public-sector pensions—increased by €108.3 million, or 3.8%, to €2.99 billion.

Intermediate consumption, covering goods and services used in the delivery of public services, rose by €114.3 million, or 11.0%, to €1.16 billion. Interest payments increased by €8.7 million, or 2.6%, to €340.7 million. Current transfers were up €68.7 million, or 10.6%, at €714.7 million.

Lower Capital Spending Limits Expenditure Growth

The overall increase in spending was tempered by a decline in capital expenditure. Capital-account spending fell by €189.9 million, or 16.9%, to €936.2 million from €1.13 billion in the same period last year.

Investment in fixed capital declined by €94.1 million, or 12.1%, to €686.4 million. Other capital transfers fell by €95.8 million, or 27.7%, to €249.8 million. Subsidies also decreased, dropping by €13.9 million, or 15.5%, to €75.8 million.

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