• President of the Republic: The effort for bold and continuous reforms to strengthen the rule of law and fight corruption is relentless.

• Peace and Democracy Award presented to Xenophon Kallis and Türkan Aziz

The opening day of the Cyprus Forum 2025 in Nicosia on Wednesday, 1 October, was a great success. This is one of the most important public policy conferences in the region, bringing together political leaders, European Commissioners, intellectuals, academics, business leaders, and civil society representatives at the same table.

The conference runs from 1 to 3 October, and for three days participants will address the major challenges facing Cyprus, Europe, and the wider region, seeking solutions and innovative approaches.

The opening ceremony took place at the Old Town Hall of Nicosia, with a welcome address by Nicolas Kyriakides, Executive President and Founding Member of the Cyprus Forum.

This was followed by greetings from prominent Cypriot and European personalities.

The President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, in his speech, stated that the effort for bold and continuous reforms to strengthen the rule of law and combat corruption is relentless. He stressed that this requires a strong economy that rewards the sacrifices of the people and validates the government’s policies. On the Cyprus problem, the President reiterated his cautious optimism regarding the resumption of negotiations.

EU Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans, Costas Kadis, outlined the EU’s strategic priorities for oceans and shipping, highlighting the use of data and technology to restore marine health. He noted that Cyprus, as an island EU member state, has much to showcase and benefit from this strategy, particularly in view of its upcoming EU Presidency in 2026.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, in her address, emphasized the need to work towards enlarging the EU by welcoming new member states. A larger Union, she said, will benefit both its citizens and the EU’s global standing in facing international challenges. However, she clarified that EU membership requires tangible and targeted reforms, not just words.

The conference was also addressed by Mario Nava, Director-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion of the European Commission, and Constantinos Yiorkadjis, President of the Nicosia District Organization for Local Government.

The evening continued with a discussion led by Michalis Argyrou, Professor of Economics and Head of the Economic Office of the Prime Minister of Greece, who analysed the prospects and challenges of the European and Cypriot economies.

The first day concluded with the presentation of the Peace and Democracy Award, introduced by Charalambos Prountzos, Mehmet Harmancı, and Giulia Bertezzolo, Head of the Cyprus Settlement Support Unit at the European Commission. The award, a Cyprus Forum institution, honours individuals and initiatives that promote democracy, cooperation, and reconciliation in Cyprus and internationally.

The posthumous recipients of the Cyprus Forum 2025 Peace and Democracy Award were Xenophon Kallis and Türkan Aziz.

In this way, the opening day set the tone for the sessions to follow. Among the speakers in the coming days are Deputy Minister to the President Irene Piki, Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Yiannis Panayiotou, Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry George Papanastasiou, Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy Nicodemos Damianou, and Deputy Minister of Migration Nicholas Ioannides, along with other international and local representatives from politics, the economy, and civil society.

Cyprus Forum 2025 continues on Thursday 2 October and Friday 3 October with a rich programme of high-level thematic discussions and interventions.

You can see the full list of speakers HERE and the full programme HERE. You can also watch the discussions live HERE.