The fact that Cyprus is a small, partially occupied island nation and needs to be interconnected with Europe’s power grids is not in itself sufficient to justify the implementation of the electricity interconnection (GSI), noted AKEL Secretary-General Stefanos Stefanou, explaining that the following questions must also be answered: what the techno-economic costs are, what the operating costs will be, what this will mean for Cypriot consumers, and how the issues of ownership, control, and regulation of this entire sector will be addressed. Regarding these questions, “unfortunately,” said Mr. Stefanou, AKEL has not received any answers; on the contrary, “it has received conflicting answers from time to time, which raises serious questions about how seriously both this government and the previous one have worked on a project of such strategic importance.”
Speaking on the topic of the Cyprus-Greece electricity interconnection during his appearance on the Alpha News program, Mr. Stefanou also said that a very important issue is the question of ownership and who will have a say in the management of this project.
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“A cable that will play a significant role in the country’s energy sector could allow someone to exert control over a critically important sector such as energy. And the regulatory framework must be structured in such a way as to ensure that everything operates in a manner that does not harm economic interests, nor the interests of the economy, society, etc.”
The Secretary-General of AKEL also referred to one of the most recent sessions of the House of Representatives’ Trade Committee, during which, as he said, they were informed through the questions that had been submitted “that at this time, the regulatory authorities in Cyprus and Greece are unaware of the agreement reached regarding the entry of Meridian, which purchased a portion of the equity capital in the entire project.” Mr. Stefanou referred to a lack of awareness regarding “the facts or whether this development alters the regulatory framework.”
“I don’t know if they’ve received any answers, but they’ve sent a joint letter regarding these issues, which are very important.”
“There is no rational person who would not be in favor of interconnections, especially in the case of Cyprus, where we are a small island nation, partially occupied, and isolated; therefore, we must seek to connect to European energy systems. But that alone is not enough.”
The AKEL Secretary-General also addressed the issue of Turkey, stating that “the most important factor” concerns “whether the project can be implemented, starting first and foremost with Turkey’s stance.” Turkey, he added, “has so far blocked it.”
“Turkey’s overall behavior shows that it understands its geostrategic role in the region and that this role is tied to energy issues. Consequently, when it feels excluded from certain projects, it creates problems. We must address all of this, and the government must provide answers.”
Economy and Fuel Costs
Regarding the issue of rising fuel prices and the hardship this causes for households, Mr. Stefanou acknowledged that VAT issues are matters that require consultation with the EU. However, as he added, “You must first decide what you want and then go and demand it. Right now, there is a serious discussion underway in the EU regarding energy costs.”
“Instead of our government saying, ‘if new measures are needed’—measures are needed. So the government needs to sit down seriously to at least consider what we’re proposing and what other parties are proposing, and determine how to proceed—whether it will be the elimination of double taxation on fuel—which is the VAT on top of the excise tax—or whether we will reduce the VAT on fuel.”
All of this, Mr. Stefanou continued, “the government must lay out, document, and present to the EU to secure approval to implement these measures, and we have the arguments to support them”. “In Europe, when it comes to transportation, citizens have alternatives; in Cyprus, we do not. If a family doesn’t have at least two cars, it can’t get by,” he added.
Cyprus Issue
Regarding the Cyprus issue, the AKEL Secretary-General noted that “while expectations were raised by the renewed interest shown by the UN Secretary-General after March 2026, those expectations were ultimately not met. These expectations were based on the UN Secretary-General launching a new initiative to create the conditions for a new —even if only an informal—enlarged meeting to take place, at which the resumption of negotiations would be agreed upon. This did not happen.”
On the contrary, the AKEL Secretary-General noted, “we have the statement from the UN Secretary-General that he does not intend to convene either a trilateral or a quintilateral meeting, apparently because he does not see the conditions for such a meeting as being in place.”
“So far, the picture is disappointing,” he said emphatically, adding, however, that “this is not the time to talk about who is to blame.”
In any case, Mr. Stefanou noted, “because we want a solution—in the sense that Turkey is doing its part by maintaining the status quo, by continually sliding toward the creation of new facts on the ground resulting from the occupation, by entrenching a situation both on the ground and in people’s minds, which helps Turkey achieve its goal of gradually integrating the occupied territories. Therefore, regardless of the difficulties, must continue to undertake such initiatives and actions that will help us achieve our goal, namely the resumption of negotiations from the point where they were suspended.”
Within the framework of the National Council, AKEL, as he said, “had proposed to the President that ‘our side proceed with the drafting of a roadmap, in which we would include certain important issues, so as to help both the Secretary-General and the international community understand how they can achieve the goal of resuming negotiations.”
Presidential Elections
On the subject of the presidential elections, the Secretary-General of AKEL said that for the party, in all electoral campaigns—including this one— “there is a need for convergence on certain very substantive issues that determine the course of the country and its people. The Cyprus issue clearly takes center stage.”
“Our effort is to reach consensus, to launch joint initiatives, and to support a candidate with the greatest potential. Once we have established this framework—within which we will identify potential candidates— we will certainly seek a candidate who meets the key criteria for victory.”
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