Cyprus holds the presidency of the EU Council
Inhabited since the Bronze Age, this Mediterranean island has had a long and turbulent history. At the crossroads of cultures, once heavily influenced by ancient Greece, Rome and the Ottoman Empire, Cyprus declared its independence from Great Britain in 1960, whereas 44 years later, on 1 May 2004, it became a member of the European Union. On the first day of 2026, it takes over the Presidency of the EU Council, which it will hold until the end of June 2026.
For the older generations, the first association with Cyprus will very likely be the division into the Greek and Turkish parts, and consequently the existence of two official languages. However, according to the official EU website, the whole of Cyprus is in fact the territory of the European Union[1].
Tourists recognise it as a holiday destination, which is not surprising since it is characterised by an extremely mild climate with an average of only 40 rainy days a year. Apart from its excellent weather conditions, interesting gastronomy and rich historical and architectural heritage, Cyprus also likes to emphasise that it is an island of cats. In fact, it is assumed that there are more cats than residents. According to Eurostat estimates, on the first day of 2025, Cyprus had a population of just under a million, 982 966 inhabitants to be exact.
See below if Cypriots are also struggling with inflation, as well as what their employment rate and GDP per capita are.
It is not news that Cyprus is interesting to visit, but we would like to find out whether Cypriots visit Croatia, so we took a peek at tourism statistics. In just ten years, the number of nights spent by tourists from Cyprus in Croatia has increased almost fourfold - from 5 268 in 2015 to 19 166 in 2024!
At the end of this statistical review, let us also mention that the total value of exports to Cyprus amounted in 2024 to 26.8 million euro and the value of imports to 18.2 million euro.
Under various influences, which lasted for several thousand years, Cyprus today is a real mixture of cultures, traditions and languages. Therefore, with the motto of the European Union "United in diversity", we wish them good luck and success in their six-months long Presidency of the Council of the European Union!
[1] Cyprus - EU country | European Union
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