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1921. EU to ease virus travel bans from July 1, but not to all

The European Union on Thursday announced plans to ease a ban on nonessential travel to the continent, with foreign students, non-EU nationals who normally live in Europe and certain highly skilled workers likely to be exempt from the coronavirus restrictions from July 1....

1922. EU bird populations on decline for decades, Eurostat shows

Bird populations in the EU have been declining for several decades, data released by Eurostat on Friday, that marked World Environment Day, showed....

1923. EU issues '10 commandments' for safe travel

As EU countries gradually lift confinement measures, Europeans may be able to travel this summer, provided the health situation and national restrictions allow....

1924. Med7 calls on Turkey to respect law of the sea

The foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain, a group dubbed the Med7, issued a joint declaration on Thursday calling on “all countries of the region to respect international law, including the law of the sea, and in particular the sovereignty and sovereign rights of EU member-states.” ...

1925. Cyprus must remain successful in battle against virus, Health Minister says

Cyprus has been successful so far in controlling COVID-19 but needs to remain so, said Health Minister Constantinos Ioannou, noting that the EU must improve the overall quality of its healthcare services to be better positioned to deal with issues like COVID-19 in the future....

1926. Finance minister makes the case for Cyprus

Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides is confident the tourism industry in the Republic of Cyprus won’t have a catastrophic year following the pandemic, while calling on Europe to step up its recovery plan equally across the board...

1927. The growing complications of the reopening of checkpoints

The discussion for the reopening of checkpoints will be anything but an easy feat, as in addition to the role played by the epidemiological situation, the matter is inevitably being politicized in view of ‘elections’ set to take place in the north, but also in light of the UNSG’s report expected around the end of June....

1928. Cyprus public debt spikes to €24.5 billion due to Covid-19 crisis

Cyprus General Government debt spiked to €24.56 billion according to official data in April, reflecting the large debt issuances by the Finance Ministry to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus outbreak to the economy....

1929. Greece to make massive riot police equipment purchase

Greece is planning purchases worth millions of euros to equip the Hellenic Police’s (ELAS) riot force with shields, helmets, uniforms, bullet-proof vests and other supplies, including large quantities of tear gas, in anticipation of a fresh push on the northeastern border with Turkey by undocumented migrants and refugees trying to force their way into the European Union....

1930. FinMin delves into details of 'new, more targeted measures'

Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides held a press conference on Thursday to delve into the details of the new bundle of economic support measures announced by President Nicos Anastasiades in a televised national address Wednesday night....

1931. President unveils new stimulus package

President Nicos Anastasiades announced on Wednesday a new set of measures to support tourism, businesses, and the self-employed workers that took a hit in the coronavirus pandemic...

1932. Repair and Prepare: EU unveils €750 bln plan for coronavirus recovery

The European Commission unveiled on Wednesday a plan to borrow on the market and then disburse to EU countries 750 billion euros in grants and loans to help them recover from their coronavirus slump, giving an immediate boost to the euro....

1933. Cyprus to get €2.5 billion, EU Commission proposal says

The European Commission will propose on Wednesday that Cyprus gets €1.433 billion of the new recovery fund, and €2.52 billion in total....

1934. Negative coronavirus test certificate needed to go through crossings

With the partial opening of checkpoints on June 8, as agreed by the island’s two leaders on Thursday, Presidential Commissioner Photis Photiou said that in addition to the enclaved, Greek Cypriots who resettled in their villages in the breakaway north will also be allowed to pass through crossing points....

1935. Turkey defends Larnaca-bound flight decision

Ankara says a Larnaca-bound plane never submitted a timely request to fly through Turkish airspace, accusing the Republic of Cyprus of using the pandemic to score points for political gain...

1936. Commission calls on Turkey to show solidarity without discrimination

The European Commission called on Turkey "to maintain a spirit of solidarity without discrimination", referring to Wednesday’s incident where Turkey denied a flight transporting medical equipment to Cyprus to enter its airspace....

1937. Medical supplies arrive after eventful flight

Another huge load of medical supplies from China was delivered to the Republic of Cyprus on Wednesday, after an “adventurous” flight on a Russian aircraft that did not have enough fuel to make it in one go...

1938. EU unveils guidelines for travel, tourism

The European Commission unveiled a series of measures aimed at ensuring people can start traveling safely across the continent again as governments try to revive tourism and airline industries brought to a halt by the coronavirus....

1939. EU pushes to unlock borders as coronavirus ravages travel

1940. Teachers refuse to livestream their classrooms

Public school teachers in the classroom remain firm on their refusal to live stream lessons online, saying it would be unproductive and dangerous, while reports point to a fear over internet memes...

1941. The market needs oxygen, FinMin says

The market needs oxygen, Finance Minister Constantinos Petrides said Monday, stressing that the least citizens expect from politicians is to reach a consensus in order to support the economy in line with a prudent policy without placing it in further danger....

1942. Cabinet approves new bundle of support measures

The Cabinet on Thursday approved a new bundle of support measures for businesses to keep the economy afloat after the slowdown brought about by the coronavirus outbreak....

1943. Eurozone set for record recession, EU Commission warns

The eurozone economy will contract by a record 7.7 percent this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic and inflation will almost disappear while public debt and budget deficits will balloon, the European Commission forecast on Wednesday....

1944. 'Tourism dogma' piques Israel’s interest

The Israeli tourism minister says his country is looking into the possibility of joining a safe zone for travel that is currently in the works between Cyprus and Greece...

1945. Greece pledges €3m, Cyprus €200,000 to Covid-19 vaccine fundraiser

Greece is among dozens of nations that will help bankroll research into new treatments and a vaccination against the deadly novel coronavirus, pledging 3 million euros to the cause during a fundraising event on Monday....

1946. Cyprus announces 'timid first steps' in easing restrictions

In a televised national address on Wednesday night, President Nicos Anastasiades presented the detailed plan of the first two phases of Cyprus’ lockdown exit plan, with the first phase, which will see a timid resumption of the economy and a small loosening of restrictions on individual freedoms, set to begin on May 4....

1947. EU governments risk clash with EU exec in bid to save tourism season

European Union governments risk a clash with the EU executive arm over their support for travel firms issuing vouchers for cancelled holiday deals without giving customers the option of cash refunds as required by EU law, diplomats said....

1948. Report draws attention to migrant centres

A report published this week by Ombudswoman Maria Stylianou-Lottides takes stock of current conditions in migrant facilities in the Republic of Cyprus, pointing out medical challenges, problems associated with weather, and asylum issues...

1949. Turkey: ‘Maximalist and uncompromising attitude’ of Greece and Cyprus threatens regional peace

Turkey has reacted to Greece’s condemnation Tuesday of the country’s newly declared drilling within the exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and continental shelf of the Republic of Cyprus....

1950. EU investigators follow the money to Cyprus

Cyprus came on the European Anti-Fraud Office’s radar this week, after it emerged that money allegedly stolen from an environmental project was diverted to a casino project on the island...