European Council President Antonio Costa marks Cyprus Independence Day

On October 1, 2026, the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, issued formal greetings to Cyprus in celebration of the country's Independence Day. Through a post on the social media platform X, Costa offered congratulations in both English and Greek, expressing warm wishes to the nation.

In conjunction with the anniversary, Eurostat released a statistical infographic highlighting Cyprus's position within the European Union. The data shows that Cyprus accounts for 0.2% of the EU population with 1.0 million residents and 0.2% of the total EU GDP, reporting a per capita GDP of 36,850 euros. Other notable comparative metrics include an employment rate of 81% for citizens aged 20-64, compared to the 76% EU average, and a high-speed internet access rate of 96% in domestic households, significantly higher than the 86% EU average. Additionally, the report indicated that Cyprus maintains a healthy life expectancy of 64 years at birth and boasts a 90% electronic waste recycling rate, surpassing the 82% average recorded across the European Union.

These celebrations reflect the diplomatic ties between the European Union institutions and the Republic of Cyprus on its national anniversary.