Day: May 10, 2022

The trade deficit in February amounted to €429 million, according to the final data on the month’s trade published by the Statistical Service on Tuesday. Additionally, preliminary data from the Statistical Service show that the trade deficit for March 2022 reached €729 million.

Total imports of goods from EU Member States and from third countries amounted to €727.6 mn in February 2022, as compared to €744.2 mn in February 2021, recording a decrease of 2,2%.

Exports of domestically produced products, including stores and provisions, in February 2022 were €151.3 mn as compared to €110.2 mn in February 2021, recording an increase of 37.3%.

Domestic exports of industrial products in February 2022 were €142.1 mn compared to €102.1 mn in February 2021, whilst domestic exports of agricultural products in February 2022 were €8.1 mn compared to €6.9 mn last year.

Exports of foreign products, including stores and provisions, in February 2022 were €147.3 mn as compared to €69.2 mn in February 2021, recording an increase of 112.9%.

In addition, preliminary data on March foreign trade were released on Tuesday.

According to them, total imports of goods were €998.1 mn as compared to €596.5 mn in March 2021, recording an increase of 67.3%.

Imports from other EU Member States in March 2022 were €594.7 mn and from third countries €403.5 mn, compared to €413.5 mn and €183 mn respectively in March 2021. Imports in March 2022 include the transfer of economic ownership of mobile transport equipment (vessels), with total value of €159.2 mn as compared to €27.7 mn in March 2021.

On the other hand, total exports of goods in March 2022 were €268.6 mn as compared to €223.4 mn in March 2021, recording an increase of 20.3%. Exports to other EU Member States in March 2022 were €82.6 mn and to third countries €186 mn, compared to €70.2 mn and €153,1 mn respectively in March 2021. Exports in March 2022 include the transfer of economic ownership of mobile transport equipment (vessels and aircrafts), with total value of €29.9 mn as compared to €45.4 mn in March 2021.

Total imports of goods from EU Member States and from third countries in January – March 2022 amounted to €2,474.2 mn as compared to €1,931.3 mn in January – March 2021, recording an increase of 28,1%.

Total exports of goods to EU Member States and to third countries in January – March 2022 were €789.7 mn compared to €559 mn in January – March 2021, registering an increase of 41.3%. The trade deficit was €1,684.5 mn in January – March 2022 compared to €1,372.3 mn in the corresponding period of 2021.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus will have ten aerial firefighting means at its disposal this year, as it was discussed Monday evening during a broad meeting President Anastasiades convened with all competent authorities in order to discuss the combating of fires the summer season.

According to reports, the government is in negotiations with Jordan to acquire aerial means.

President Anastasiades posted on his twitter account that during the meeting they discussed ways to enhance the framework in place for the prevention and tackle of fires and that the aim is to be as better prepared as possible in the upcoming summer season.

Government Spokesman Marios Pelekanos told the press after the meeting that the authorities discussed the preparedness and the needs that arise. In particular they discussed the capabilities in aerial means, the use of technology, the collaboration and cooperation of all services, the staff adequacy, the upgrade of the rural fire stations and the role of the local authorities and volunteers.

He said that the Agriculture Ministry has made all preparations so mid-May Cyprus has an adequacy in aerial means.

Information suggest that a central collaboration body was set up for the coordination of all competent services. Moreover, the needs in staff of the Forest Department, the Fire service and the rapid response unit are being met.

There will also be a patrol program to cover all areas and the use of technological means to quickly detect fires.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cyprus Prisons Department participated in a competition by the European Commission titled #Beinclusive EU Sport Award 2021 – 2022 and was awarded one of the first three prizes as one of the best activities of EU member states. The prize of 2,500 euro was deposited into the Welfare Fund of the inmates.

A press release issued Tuesday by the Prisons Department says that the competition acknowledges the best practices, initiatives and innovative ideas in sports with the aim to have an inclusive environment that respects difference and diversity through sports.

There was a total of 87 projects submitted and Cyprus Prisons were awarded in the category “Celebrating Diversity”.

Sports and games are a great part of the inmates’ everyday life. There are currently 8 gyms at the prisons department, courts in all open areas where prisoners can practice volleyball, badminton, ping-pong, soccer, basketball, tennis and futsal.

Cyprus Prisons say that the award reflects the good work done in the last 8 years and the changes that were achieved.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Cypriot government announced on Tuesday new relaxations in the measures aiming at containing the spread of Covid-19, as the epidemiological situations improves further, Minister of Health Michalis Hadjipantela has said.

In statements following the Council of Ministers meeting, Hadjpantela said the Cabinet decided that as of May 15 no Safe Pass will be necessary for entertainment venues, nightclubs, music and dance venues and receptions venues, including for wedding and baptising ceremonies, while no Safe Pass will be required for visits in both public and private hospital with a maximum number of two per day (one person per visit). Visitors will be required to show a negative rapid antigen test valid for 24 hours.

Safe Pass is required only for hospitals, closed structures and homes for the elderly, Hadjipantela said.

“Our country’s epidemiological situation continues to improve with a noteworthy reduction both in the daily numbers of infections and hospitalisations,” he added.

Responding to a question, Hadjipantela said according to the latest data, daily Covid infections are around 200 with lowest at 120 per day, while daily tests amount to around 45,000 with the lowest daily test at around 12,000.

Hadjipantela also said that daily positivity rate amounts to around 1%, while today total hospitalisations amounted to 50 with 7 patients treated at Intensive Care Units.

“This improvement allows us to proceed with further relaxations, evaluating the scientific data on a daily basis and taking careful and targeted decisions,” he added.

Collective and individual responsibility has contributed in dealing with the pandemic and I would like to stress once more that positive developments in no case should lead to complacency and failure to comply with the measures for personal protection, he said.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

As of Wednesday, a booster/4th vaccine dose (mRNA technology) will also be administered to people of any age with diabetes and severe obesity (BMI =40 or =35 with metabolic syndrome), provided that the five-month period since the previous booster/3rd dose has elapsed, according to a statement from the Ministry of Health.

It is noted that beneficiaries can go to vaccination centres by presenting a medical certificate from a specialist (ID card or passport and vaccination card) or they can express interest in arranging a vaccination appointment through the attending physician by sending a request to 4dose@moh.gov.cy. Receiving the booster/4th dose is optional.

Vaccination centres can be found in the State Fair in Nicosia, the Old Hospital in Larnaca, Linopetra Health Centre in Limassol, the General Hospital in Paphos, the Famagusta Health Centre, the Vaccination Centre (formerly SPE) in Kyperounda, and the Polis Chrysochous Hospital (every Tuesday 9:30am to 2:00pm).

The vaccination center hours (walk-in) are the following: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 8:00am – 3pm, Wednesday, 8:00am – 6pm and Saturday, 8:00am – 1pm.

It is further noted that vaccine administration may be carried out 14 days after the infection, provided that there are no active symptoms against COVID-19.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

In the framework of the European Year of Youth 2022, the first ever Voice Platform of the European Commission has been launched.

The European Commission has launched the Voice Platform, with the aim to give youth from all backgrounds and countries the chance to raise their ideas and concerns for the future of Europe, and shape a future built on solidarity, democracy, and justice.

The National Coordinator of Cyprus for the European Year of Youth is the Office of the Commissioner for the Citizen.

According to a press release the events began in Cyprus on February 28 with a discussion on the repercussions of the pandemic on young people’s mental health, while more events, workshops, training programmes, online seminars, conferences, discussions, as well as an online research will follow.

Recently workshops on the improvement of public consultations in the framework of the Democracy Forum took place, as well as the Digital Democracy Hackathon and a forum with the participation of EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

Cypriot MEP Giorgos Georgiou was elected to be one of four vice presidents in the European Parliament’s committee on inquiry on investigating allegations of use of the Pegasus spyware in the European Union.

In a press release, the AKEL MEP assesses his election as important since “the new committee will also put Cyprus under the spotlight during its inquiries, in order to determine whether procedures included in EU law were followed regarding the handling of the issue related to Pegasus.”

The commission of inquiry is expected to hand its report to the Plenary within 12 months, along with suggestions on policies regarding spyware and the protection of the EU from such practices.

As announced recently by the European Parliament, the committee of inquiry is made up of 38 members from all political groups and it will investigate “alleged breaches of EU law in the use of the surveillance software by, among others, Hungary and Poland.”

The committee will also look into “existing national laws regulating surveillance, and whether Pegasus spyware was used for political purposes against, for example, journalists, politicians and lawyers.”

According to the Parliament’s rules of procedures, the term of a committee of inquiry is twelve months and can be extended twice by three-month periods.

The committee of inquiry, as well as two new special committees on foreign interference including disinformation and on lessons drawn from the COVID-19 pandemic, were set up by the Plenary in March.

According to Georgiou’s press release, the MEP had noted during a discussion on the issue during the May Plenary that the use of such technologies “is not limited to authoritarian regimes but is also found among democratic governments” which “pursue politicians, activists, journalists, political dissidents” thus undercutting fundamental pillars of democracy.

In his statement, Georgiou also suggested that the Parliament should take action to put limits on this global surveillance industry, such as a moratorium on sales until a global legal framework is established.

Source: Cyprus News Agency

The Cypriot government on Tuesday approved a bill with tax incentives aiming to attract talent and promote headquartering in Cyprus, in line with the Strategy for Attracting Businesses for Activities or/and Expansion of their Activities in Cyprus approved by the Council of Ministers in October 2021.

Furthermore, in statements following a Cabinet meeting, Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides said that the Ministry of Interior is expected to table a bill granting visas and work permits to spouses of professionals that opt to relocate in Cyprus, as well as the operation of a One-Stop-Shop.

“We are convinced that this programme is one of the most competitive in the EU and already there is a huge interest particularly from high tech companies which in recent years have selected Cyprus as the place to relocate their headquarters,” Petrides said, adding “we are certain that this bill will further boost the development of this sector which constitutes a strategic aim for the government.”

The bill provides for the reduction of the minimum required salary from €100,000 to €55,000 pern annum (p.a).

For existing employees, the bill provides for a 50% tax break on renumeration from employment earning €55,000 p.a exercised in Cyprus by an individual already in Cyprus, provided that prior to the commencement of his employment in Cyprus he was abroad for 12 consecutive years.

The bill also provides a grace period of six months for obtaining the benefit, while the exemption will continue to apply for 17 years from the commencement of employment.

For new employees, the bill provides a 50% tax deduction on remuneration exercised in Cyprus by an individual who was abroad for 12 consecutive years, while eligible persons should earn €55,000 p.a. For new employees the grace period amounts to two years for obtaining the benefit. The exemption will also be provided for 17 years from the commencement of employment.

Petrides said the employees and businesses opting to relocate in Cyprus due to the plan will bring direct and indirect benefits to the Cypriot economy, while businesses are encouraged to relocate their administration to the Republic bringing “real infrastructure to the island.”

“Through this relocation the tax base and consequently the tax income is broadened,” he said.

Source: Cyprus News Agency