Cypriot parliamentary committee calls for increased support for military cadets in Greece

On October 22, 2026, the House Defence Committee in Cyprus held a session to discuss ways to increase the attractiveness of military academies for young people, following a notable decline in applicants during the 2024-2025 period. The discussion focused on the financial challenges faced by Cypriot cadets currently studying at military academies in Greece.

Currently, these students receive a monthly allowance of 152 euros, which is equivalent to the stipend provided to conscript soldiers. During the session, members of the committee noted that a previous request from the Ministry of Defence to grant a one-off payment of 250 euros for travel expenses was rejected by the Ministry of Finance. MP Christos Christou proposed raising the monthly allowance to 650 euros, aligning it with the amount received by Greek cadets, and suggested providing free air tickets for family visits.

Defence Ministry Permanent Secretary Stelios Kountouris stated that the ministry intends to revisit these financial proposals. However, he cautioned that any increase would require approval from the Ministry of Finance, noting that covering such costs from the existing budget would necessitate cuts to other areas, including armaments spending. The government is expected to continue reviewing these measures to address recruitment challenges.