Cyprus updates: Parliament reviews LNG terminal status and victims of the 2013 bank crisis protest

The Cypriot parliamentary energy committee visited the Vassiliko LNG terminal site on September 15, 2026, to demand a definitive completion schedule and budget for the delayed energy project. Committee head Nikos Georgiou emphasized the terminal's critical importance for national energy security and electricity affordability. Simultaneously, the Laiki Bank depositors' association (SIKALA) has expressed deep frustration over the 2013 bank crisis compensation scheme. The group reports that no significant second payout is expected in 2026, with only residual funds from 2025 likely to be distributed, potentially resulting in as little as zero to 2.5% of losses covered for claimants.

In broader developments, the European Commission is drafting regulations to grant local authorities more control over short-term vacation rentals, such as Airbnb, to combat housing shortages. Meanwhile, on the Larnaca–Paralimni motorway, road maintenance work is scheduled to restrict the right lane daily from 08:30 to 14:00 through September 21. Additionally, Paphos is set to receive two firefighting aircraft with EU support, while local authorities have enforced a deadline for new cybersecurity compliance requirements under CySEC.