It is also said that the recommendation of the European Council of June 30 with regard to the  gradual and coordinated lifting of travel bans to the EU was also taken into consideration.

Passengers coming from Category A countries are not required to present a laboratory test certificate. Passengers coming from Category B countries are required to have carried out a laboratory test by a recognised laboratory at least during the last 72 hours prior to departure and possess a Certificate showing a negative PCR for COVID-19.

All passengers, regardless of country category, shall be obliged to file an application for the CyprusFlightPass (https://cyprusflightpass.gov.cy/) within 24 hours before the departure of their flight.

For reasons of protecting Public Health and monitoring the epidemiological situation a random laboratory testing on passengers of selected arriving flights shall take place.

Category A – Low-risk countries at the present stage
Countries with effective (Rt) reproduction number less than 1 or/and small number of new diagnosed outbreaks (<1/100,000 inhabitants per day) or/and low or very low mortality from COVID-19 (<5-10/100,000 inhabitants) or/and classification of sporadic cases or clusters of cases according to the WHO or/and at least satisfactory laboratory testing (>3000 tests/100,000 inhabitants) are classified in this category:

EU member states: Austria, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland.

Schengen members: Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway

Third countries: Georgia, Japan, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand

Category B – Countries with possible low risk but more uncertainty compared to those of category A
Countries with effective (Rt) reproduction number greater than 1 or/and number of new diagnosed outbreaks >1/100,000 inhabitants per day or/and increased mortality COVID-19 (>10/100,000 inhabitants) or/and limited laboratory testing (<2000 tests/100,000 inhabitants) or lack of WHO classification are classified in this category:

EU member states: Belgium, France, Greece, Spain, Italy, Croatia, the Netherlands, Czech Republic

United Kingdom

Small countries: Andorra, Monaco, Vatican City, San Marino

Third countries: Australia, Ruanda, Tunisia, Uruguay, China

Category C – Countries with increased risk compared to categories A and B

Only specific groups of travellers from Group C countries are allowed to come to Cyprus

EU countries: Bulgaria, Portugal, Sweden, Luxembourg, Romania

Third countries: Algeria, Serbia, Morocco, Montenegro

Source: CNA

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Addressing a press conference at the Presidential Palace, Pilides, who is taking over this week as Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry from Yiorgos Lakkotrypis, said a public tender will be launched soon.

The goal, she said, is for the ferry connection to start in 2021.

The maximum cost of a ticket will be €50 for a single ticket, €80 for a return ticket, €80 per person in a cabin for one-way tickets and €120 per person in a cabin for return tickets. Children under 2 years of age will travel for free, while children under 12 years of age will pay a reduced price for their ticket. Vehicles of up to 5 metres will have to pay €75 for one-way and €150 for return tickets. Motorbikes will cost €50 for a single ticket and €100 for a return ticket.   Port fees which will not be included in the ticket price may indicatively range between €20 and €30.

The much longed for ferry connection between Cyprus and Greece “has had a positive outcome,” Pilides said, adding that the DG Competition has decided that the operation of the route is considered to be a service of general economic interest and can be funded by state funds.

“We are happy about this development. We have taken an important step towards implementing this project, since the European Commission’s approval is key and constitutes a condition for further actions,” she noted.

However, she added, there is still some way to go as the next step will be to have an open competition.

Pilides said that apart from the amount of €6 million annually which will be given as a state subsidy, the duration of the contract will be for three years with the possibility of renewal for another three. The government together with the successful bidder will agree when the route will start operating.

She added that ferries will depart from Limassol or Larnaca in Cyprus and Piraeus in Greece with the possibility of a stop in a Greek island port on the way to Piraeus.

The ferry route will operate once per week in the summer months, from May to September and once every two weeks from October to April.  The frequency of the route will be reviewed on the basis of the demand, she noted.

The ferry should have a capacity for at least 200 passengers and cabins for at least 140 people and it should not take over 16 hours to make the trip.

Pilides also spoke of the work the Deputy Ministry has done so far, pointing out that Cyprus shipping has been actively promoted and many steps forward have been taken. Pilides is the first Shipping Deputy Minister, since March 2018, she is being succeeded by Vassilis Demetriades, who is the national expert on maritime policy issues at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport.

She referred to the rebranding of Cyprus shipping that was completed noting that “Cyprus has a very strong image in shipping and this has been very helpful in meetings we had with companies across the world.” The Deputy Ministry has had meeting with over 300 companies in the last 2.5 years during many missions abroad, she added.

Speaking of the country`s competitiveness in shipping she said that the outcomes have been positive and referred in particular to the extension of the Tonnage Tax System until 2030.

Source: CNA

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Cyprus Airways announced a revised flight schedule for summer 2020, following the announcement by the Cypriot Government that Larnaca and Paphos airports will reopen on June 9 2020, based on a list of countries from which the government allows flights. The Cypriot airline is ready to resume operations by introducing various measures to ensure the health and safety of passengers and workers, always according to information and instructions from local health authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Organization. Air Safety (EASA).

Cyprus has been recognized as one of the safest destinations during COVID-19, as it has maintained the lowest rate of infection compared to other European countries. A New York Post article describes Cyprus as a place that offers “safe” shelter from the corona virus.

This summer, Cyprus Airways is planning flights to 5 airports in Greece: Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Rhodes and Skiathos. In Europe, Cyprus Airways lands in two cosmopolitan destinations in Switzerland (Zurich and Geneva) and in the Middle East while the company will continue its operations in Tel Aviv (Israel). Flights to Athens will start on June 9 and to other destinations, early July 2020.

Chief Operations Officer of Cyprus Airways, Mr. George Mavrokostas, stated “We are very excited that after 3 months of cessation of our work due to COVID-19, we will soon and gradually resume flights to various destinations. As a Cypriot company, we believe that it is our duty to support the government’s efforts to overcome the challenges of this difficult period, contributing to the rapid and sustainable recovery of the economy. The safety of everyone, passengers and staff, has always been our top priority, so we have adopted a number of security measures. “

The most important precautionary measures against COVID-19 applied by the Cypriot Airline are listed below:

• Implement the highest possible hygiene standards, which include disinfection of aircraft after each flight, including seats, seat cases, toilets, cabinin accordance with the recommendations of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the WHO.
• On the aircraft, the crew will wear face masks and gloves.
• The use of a face mask is mandatory for all passengers (excluding children under 2 years of age, people who have difficulty breathing and people who cannot remove the mask without help).
• During the check-in process, passengers are required to maintain a safe distance from other passengers.
• Limit the number of passengers on each bus during boarding and disembarking.
• The middle seat on the aircraft remains empty, where it is possible to limit contact and hazards

Cyprus Airways offers two categories of fares, Basic and Flex. The Flex category offers additional services such as 23kg luggage, 10 kg cabin luggage, seat selection, etc. The travel date change option is available for both categories, for Flex tickets free of charge and for Basic tickets with extra charge.

Passengers can book their tickets through www.cyprusairways.com , the Cyprus Airways call center (from Cyprus free of charge 8000 8111 or from abroad at +357 24000053) or through their travel agent.

The detailed flight schedule of all destinations offered by Cyprus Airways is posted on the website of the company www.cyprusairways.com.

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According to the press release, the official Project Developer has submitted to the ‘Connecting Europe Facility’ (CEF) for the implementation of the interconnection of Cyprus with Greece through Crete by December 2023.

EuroAsia Interconnector expresses particular gratitude to the President of the Republic of Cyprus and the Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, as well as the two competent ministers, Greece’s Energy and Environment Minister Kostis Hatzidakis and Cyprus Energy Minister Giorgos Lakkotrypis, for their full coordination and support to the electricity interconnection which ends the energy isolation of Cyprus, the last energy isolated European Union Member State.

EuroAsia Interconnector remains committed to the timely implementation of the 1208km subsea electricity interconnection that links the electricity grids of Israel, Cyprus and Greece through Crete by December 2023, the press release adds.

The EuroAsia Interconnector, as a leading European Project of Common Interest, is eligible for funding from the European Union’s ‘Connecting Europe Facility’ (CEF) financing resource of €8.7 bln., it concludes.

Source: CNA

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“The citizens’ safety is the first concern that guides our actions. Τhe reception of tourists in our country will be realized in a balanced way, based on the epidemiological data, the hygiene protocols and the developments as regards the rapid testing”, Theoharis says.

“We are closely monitoring events, we are recording all the available data, and we intend to proceed, in consultation with other countries, to the reception of tourists in a way that ensures the health of our citizens and visitors”, he stressed. 

In this context, the Greek Minister of Tourism explained that the prospect of concluding bilateral agreements with countries that managed successfully the containment of pandemic – such as Cyprus and Israel – is an option examined by the Greek government.

 “We are considering various scenarios, and we are making projections in order to proceed to the rebooting of tourism in the best way we can. The creation of the so-called “safety zone” between Greece, Cyprus and Israel, is a prospect that is on the table. However, there is still a significant number of variables to be clarified”, he explained.

“All issues are open, but we are positive towards this prospect and we consider that we will manage to find common ground, in alignment with the hygiene protocols and standards, and to reach a reciprocal agreement”, Theoharis said. As he explained, the issue of the bilateral agreements will be made more concrete in the coming period.

The Greek Minister of Tourism said that Greece was the first country that raised the issue of tourism in the agenda of European discussions. “The recent developments with the European Commission’s proposals are very important, as they create the framework for a coordinated exit from the crisis, while preserving the positive results that Greece succeeded as regards the containment of covid-19”, Theoharis said.

As regards the opening of a shipping line between Greece and Cyprus, Theoharis explained that it represents a project positively considered by the Greek government, the implementation of which will be examined in its details, after the settlement of the issues linked with Covid-19.

Source: CNA

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According to the press release, Sakellaropoulou was replying to a congratulatory letter of the Committee`s President Petros Kareklas on her election to the post of President.

Apart from her warm thanks, Greece`s President also expresses her “commitment to wholeheartedly support Cyprus` efforts to reach a just solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of international and European law and United Nations decisions.”

Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.

Source: CNA

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More specifically, in the draft conclusions obtained by CNA the EU27 state the following on the situation at the EU`s external borders:
“We express our concerns over the situation at the Greek-Turkish border and our full solidarity with Greece, as well as with Bulgaria and Cyprus and other Member States, which are similarly affected, including in efforts to manage the EU`s external borders”. Furthermore on enlargement, the EEU27 state: “We endorse the Council conclusions on enlargement and stabilisation and association process”.

Source: CNA

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