Quick Read
- Michael Damianos appointed as Cyprus’s new Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry amid cabinet reshuffle.
- Cyprus will preside over the Council of the European Union starting January 2026, placing Damianos in a key leadership role.
- Hobart and William Smith Colleges launch a new Sophomore Global Scholars program in Nicosia for international students.
- Conservationists mourn the electrocution death of a rehabilitated griffon vulture, underscoring urgent threats to Cyprus’s wildlife.
- Calls intensify for national action to insulate power lines and combat poisoning to save endangered vultures.
New Leadership in Cyprus: A Strategic Shift
In December 2025, Cyprus finds itself at a critical juncture, propelled by fresh faces in government and mounting challenges that demand thoughtful solutions. The recent appointment of Michael Damianos as the new Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry stands out among a sweeping cabinet reshuffle under President Nikos Christodoulides. Five ministers were replaced, but all eyes are on Damianos as he inherits a portfolio with implications reaching far beyond Cyprus’s borders.
Damianos, who previously served as Minister of Health, now steps into a role that is central to the country’s economic and environmental future. With Cyprus set to assume the presidency of the Council of the European Union on January 1, 2026, his responsibilities multiply. For six months, Damianos will chair meetings of EU ministers overseeing energy and industry—at a time when Europe’s energy landscape is anything but stable.
In his first address, Damianos struck a tone of pragmatism and hope. “A careful and organized course is required to achieve the energy transition in Cyprus, support the industry and strengthen the economy, ensuring sustainable solutions for the country’s energy future,” he stated, pledging to set “realistic and measurable goals” for tangible results. His words are measured, but the stakes are high.
One of the most debated issues shadowing his tenure is the fate of the Great Sea Interconnector—a proposed subsea power link between Greece, Cyprus, and Israel. The project has been marred by cost overruns and geopolitical hurdles, particularly from Turkey. Damianos’s predecessor, George Papanastasiou, was a champion of the plan, and his departure has prompted speculation about whether Cyprus is recalibrating its position. As the country prepares for its EU presidency, the signals it sends on regional energy projects will be closely watched.
Damianos’s credentials reflect a blend of international perspective and local engagement. With degrees from the University of Southampton and the University of Cambridge, and professional experience in major London law firms, he brings legal acumen to the table. His political roots run deep as well—he’s been vice president of the Democratic Party (DIKO) since 2018, and previously served as a municipal councillor in Strovolos.
Expanding Horizons: Cyprus as a Global Education Hub
Even as government leaders navigate complex policy terrain, Cyprus is emerging as a beacon for international education. Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS) have announced the launch of a new Sophomore Global Scholars program in Nicosia, set to begin in Fall 2026. The initiative, in partnership with the University of Nicosia, offers sophomores from any major a chance to immerse themselves in Cypriot culture, history, and professional life at a formative stage in their academic journey.
The program is designed for students who are “curious, academically motivated and ready to test themselves in an international environment,” according to Kristen Welsh, HWS’s Dean for Global Education. The curriculum features a signature course led by Professor Chris Hatch—The Performing Arts of Cyprus: Myths, Masks, Movement and Music—which delves into the island’s rich performance traditions. Students will also choose from a wide array of courses at the University of Nicosia, with options for internships, research, or intensive Greek language study.
Beyond the classroom, the program promises a deep dive into Cypriot life. Students will live in apartment-style residences near campus and embark on excursions to Limassol, Famagusta, Ayia Napa, Paphos, Kyrenia, and the Troodos Mountains. These journeys offer more than scenic views—they’re an invitation to grapple with the complexity and beauty of Cypriot identity, from its divided cities to its ancient landscapes.
Safety is a key concern for families sending students abroad, and Cyprus offers reassurance: the World Health Organization recently named it the safest country in the world for those aged 15 to 29. The program also includes pre-departure workshops, post-return reflection sessions, and ongoing mentorship opportunities, ensuring students are supported at every step.
Applications open in late December, and the program is already generating buzz among students eager for a global perspective early in their college careers. The hope is that these scholars will return not only with new knowledge but with a sense of responsibility to engage with global challenges—perhaps even those facing Cyprus itself.
Wildlife at Risk: The Battle to Save Cyprus’s Vultures
Yet, not all is hopeful on the island. In December 2025, conservationists were left reeling after the tragic loss of a griffon vulture, electrocuted less than a day after being released back into the wild following six weeks of intensive rehabilitation. The bird, originally transferred from Spain, symbolized a fragile hope for a species whose numbers on the island can be counted in mere dozens.
“We are devastated by the loss of the vulture so soon after its release,” shared Kemal Basat, director of the Cyprus Wildlife Research Institute, in a statement to Cyprus Mail. The heartbreak is both personal and scientific. The vulture’s death is not an isolated incident—electrocution and poisoning are the leading causes of unnatural deaths among griffon vultures in Cyprus, and both threats are entirely preventable.
Basat’s message is urgent and clear: “If we are serious about saving vultures and other large birds of prey in Cyprus from extinction, insulating at least the high-risk 11 kV power lines needs to be an island-wide national priority.” Poisoning, though illegal, remains widespread due to lax enforcement. The loss of even a single bird is a blow to the species’ precarious recovery prospects.
At the heart of this crisis is a stark choice: Will Cyprus take meaningful action to preserve its natural heritage, or will it stand by as iconic species disappear one by one? The answer will shape not only the fate of the griffon vulture but the island’s environmental legacy for generations to come.
Cyprus’s Balancing Act: Looking Forward
Cyprus in 2025 is a study in contrasts. It is a nation poised to lead in the European arena, investing in its youth and opening its doors to the world, even as it grapples with the urgent need to protect its most vulnerable wildlife. The country’s new leaders and its young scholars will have to navigate a landscape where innovation, tradition, and responsibility are tightly intertwined.
In the coming months, the choices made—whether in ministerial offices, university classrooms, or conservation outposts—will send ripples far beyond the island’s shores.
Cyprus’s story in 2025 is defined by transition: a new minister’s vision for energy and industry, a bold educational experiment in global citizenship, and a pressing environmental crisis that demands action. The challenge lies in transforming rhetoric into results—ensuring that progress in one arena does not come at the cost of another. The decisions Cyprus makes now will reveal not only what kind of country it is, but what kind of future it is willing to fight for.