Cyprus will join Schengen by 2026. The old Larnaca airport is being refurbished. There will be a carnival in Paphos. Younger schoolchildren will be helped to decide on a profession. In Limassol, schools rent out their territory to private individuals. Problems of extending the work schedule of kindergartens.
Cyprus will join Schengen by mid-2026
Cyprus is “in the final stages” of preparations to join the Schengen zone, President Nikos Christodoulides said on January 18. He said that the government has set a goal for the country to be technically prepared to join Schengen by 2025. The accession itself, he said, is expected “during or before the first half of 2026,” when Cyprus will chair the Council of the European Union. On January 17, Foreign Minister Konstantinos Kombos said that “the leadership of the European Commission in the accession of Cyprus to the Schengen area remains key on this important issue.” Previously, the main obstacle to joining Schengen was the lack of a generally recognized northern border for the Republic of Cyprus.
Modernization of the old Larnaca airport
The government intends to invest in the old Larnaca airport and consider its further development. This statement was made by Transport Minister Alexis Vafiadis on January 18. The head of the Ministry of Transport said that the government is “very interested in developing this area to create business opportunities and more jobs in Larnaca, and improve the city’s business model.” “For us, this is an opportunity that we must take advantage of,” Vafiadis said. When asked whether private investors have shown interest in the old airport, he replied that such proposals are received from time to time, but so far there is nothing concrete.
Carnival in Paphos
The Paphos Municipality has opened applications for participation in the Carnival Grand Parade. You can submit data until February 10 using the link. The procession will take place on March 1, starting at 15:00.
Career guidance for junior schoolchildren
The Ministry of Education has launched pilot career guidance projects in primary schools. Children will be told about the possibilities of choosing a future profession. The goal is to “inform children in a timely manner to help them make the best and most appropriate choices based on their talents, skills and passions.”
The strange effect of renting in a Limassol school
At least two educational institutions in Limassol were equipped with tennis and padel courts, which were then rented out to private individuals. The landlord was the Limassol School Inspectorate. This was stated by MP from the AKEL party Irini Haralambidou. The land on which the sports infrastructure was equipped was intended for the expansion of educational institutions. Schoolchildren are not allowed to enter the courts. As a result, a situation has arisen where third parties are present on school grounds during school hours and use school land for their own purposes.
Problems of extending the working hours of kindergartens
The Association of Private Preschool Education criticized the government's decision to extend the opening hours of kindergartens until 19:30. The organization cited the emotional needs of children and the quality of work of educators as two main objections. The head of the association, Feodosia Masura, recalled that children “need stability and rest,” and they need to spend time with their parents. She also noted that it will be difficult for kindergartens to find staff for extended periods, and as a result, the quality of teaching may decline.
The text was prepared based on materials from Cyprus Mail and Phileleftheros.