The Cyprus Forum 2026 kicked off on September 28 at Landmark Nicosia, with the opening remarks taking place on September 29, bringing together the President of the Republic, European Commissioners, ministers, diplomats, Members of the European Parliament, academics, and civil society representatives in more than 20 sessions on the economy, security, migration, democracy, energy, technology, and the rule of law in Europe. The day concluded with the third annual Peace and Democracy Award, which honored former President George Vassiliou, as well as Kostas Gavriilidis with a special Lifetime Achievement Award for Human Rights.
Opening Remarks: Democracy as Something We Do
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
In welcoming the participants, Dr. Nicolas Kyriakides, Executive President of the Cyprus Forum, reiterated the idea at the heart of the Forum: the policies that shape our lives should not be decided behind closed doors.
“Democracy is not something we have, but something we do,” he stated. He defended dissent as part of democratic life, noting that a country where everyone agrees is not a democracy, but silence. Referring to the difficult events of recent days, he acknowledged that people whom the Forum deeply respects had decided not to attend and stated that their decision is respected.
In his opening remarks, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nicos Christodoulides, noted that, despite its problems, the Republic of Cyprus is not in decline, but is being put to the test: by challenges to its institutions, by citizens’ relationship with politics, and by new technologies. He presented measures to bring citizens closer to the decision-making process, including the citizens’ legislative initiative, automatic registration on the voter rolls, changes to the voting age, and an e-democracy platform.
“We consider you partners, fellow travelers in the process of change and the improvement of democratic institutions,” the President said at the Forum.
Europe’s Choices, from Cyprus’s Perspective
In the keynote address “Zeno of Citium,” former Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna presented the Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the EU as evidence of effective national governance: 181 days, 27 agreements with the European Parliament, 1,040 meetings in Brussels, and the first leaders’ summit hosted by Cyprus. “The challenge now is to transform six months of exceptional mobilization into a lasting culture of effective governance,” he said.
MEP Costas Mavrides supported the creation of a European Defense Union, emphasizing that “Europe’s security can no longer be entrusted to others.” Themis Christofidou, Director-General for Regional and Urban Policy at the European Commission, placed the right of residence at the center of cohesion policy, noting that nearly 150 million Europeans live in regions that have experienced population decline over the past two decades.
Three members of the European Commission addressed the Forum via a pre-recorded video message. Executive Vice President Raffaele Fitto highlighted the funding of nearly 1 billion euros from the cohesion policy for Cyprus and urged timely preparation of the national and regional partnership plans. Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica described Cyprus as a bridge between Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Gulf. Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans Dr. Costas Kadis referred to the European Pact for the Oceans and the new International Alliance for the Oceans, which Cyprus has joined.
Throughout the day
Parallel sessions in the Zeno and Aphrodite rooms translated these themes into specific policy questions for Cyprus.
- Economy and competitiveness. Speakers called for lower electricity prices, a shift in investment from real estate to technology and services, and a greater emphasis on talent. Michalis Sarris warned that rising inequality is one of the country’s most serious problems.
- Security and Geopolitics. The panels on neutrality and hybrid threats, EU enlargement, EU–U.S. relations, and a new concept of security agreed that resilience matters more than neutrality and that Europe must build a stronger pillar of its own within the transatlantic relationship.
- Migration. Deputy Minister Dr. Nicolas A. Ioannides, Caritas, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Cyprus discussed resettlement, returns, new legal pathways, and integration, with a shared emphasis on human dignity.
- Energy, water, and climate. The discussions covered the Great Sea Interconnector, the LNG terminal in Vasilikos, a national water strategy, and the fiscal costs of climate risk. The Department of Water Development noted that drinking water consumption has increased 3.3-fold over the past 35 years.
- Technology and Misinformation. Speakers from the French Embassy, the British High Commission, and Cypriot institutions addressed digital sovereignty, misinformation, and the biases of artificial intelligence, with Gender Equality Commissioner Josie Christodoulou clearly stating that “artificial intelligence has biases.”
- Democracy, institutions, and the rule of law. The Commissioner for Citizens’ Rights, the Commissioner for Transparency, the Commissioner for Legislation, the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Commissioner for Administration and the Protection of Human Rights discussed accountability, participation, public trust, and state reform.
Negotiator Menelaos Menelaou also participated in a fireside discussion with Dr. Kyriakides on the Cyprus issue, stating that the UN Secretary-General “will not give up on this effort.”
Peace and Democracy Award
Oxygen for Democracy presented the Peace and Democracy Award for the third consecutive year, honoring former President George Vassiliou. A Special Lifetime Achievement Award for Human Rights, presented only this year, was given to Costas Gavriilides, co-founder of Accept – LGBTQ Cyprus. Both awards were presented posthumously and were accepted by representatives of the honorees.
The award honors one Greek Cypriot and one Turkish Cypriot each year. This year, the family of the Turkish Cypriot honoree requested that the award not be presented at this time, and Oxygen for Democracy respects their wishes without reservation.
“We do not honor peace in an abstract sense,” said Dr. Kyriakides. “We honor people who have worked for peace in practice, often against the tide of their times and often at personal cost. Their example carries more weight today than any speech we could give on reconciliation.”
George Vassiliou (1931–2026), President of the Republic from 1988 to 1993, restarted the dialogue with the Turkish Cypriot side, founded the University of Cyprus, and, as chief negotiator, led Cyprus into the European Union. He is honored for a public life dedicated to seeking solutions rather than confrontation and for his unwavering belief that Cypriots from both communities share a common future.
Kostas Gavriilidis (1977–2026), co-founder and first president of Accept – LGBTQI Cyprus, organized the first Cyprus Pride in 2014 and served as Advisor to the President on issues of multiculturalism, acceptance, and diversity from 2018 to 2023. He is being honored because a democracy is judged by the way it treats marginalized people, and because he dedicated his life to narrowing that margin.
Referring to the events of the past few days, Dr. Kyriakides stated: “We will not enter into a debate about which side was right regarding the headline. We acknowledge, however, that the way we handled the matter undermined the trust of people with whom we have built relationships over many years. This is our responsibility, and we will make amends.”
