President Nicos Anastasiades of Cyprus has offered an olive branch to investors who have lost millions of euros in the bailout measures currently being implemented.

The president said foreign investors who held deposits prior to 15 March, and who lost at least 3 million euros would be eligible to apply for Cypriot citizenship.

The island’s “Citizenship for Investment” programme would also be reviewed; currently 10 million is required from investors to apply for citizenship, it’s thought this will be reduced to 3 million.

Previously, investors had to keep 15 million in Cypriot banks for five years; that requirement will also be dropped according to a talk given by Anastasiades at a conference held by Russian business people on the island.

Detail of the new programme have not yet been released.

AngloINFO World Blogs Exclusive “Interview with a Cyprus Expat”

Daniel Essex has been a full-time resident on Cyprus for five years. He is the Managing Director of Century Travel, an outbound travel agency specialising in tailor made holidays and cruises.

We asked David for his views on the EU bailout, how it affected his business and if his longterm residency plans had changed as a result of the financial crisis.

Q: Could you describe for me your feelings when you heard the initial plan to impose a 6.75 percent tax on savers with €100,000 and a 9.9 percent tax on savers with over €100,000?
A: I was actually in agreement of it. It would have been the most effective way of resolving the issue quickly. Let’s not forget that Cyprus is very tax efficient and to pay a one off levy of 6.75 percent or 9.9 percent would have still meant that in the year it happened taxation would be well below that of the UK. I am a realist, and at the end of the day although it may not be morally correct, it would have done the job.

Q: Recent news in the international press suggests that wealthy Russian investors knew about the impending crisis and many were able to transfer their money off the island when the crisis broke on 17 March. How aware of the impending crisis were you?
A: I was aware of the exposure the banks had to the Greek bonds and moved my personal and business accounts to a non-Cypriot bank in 2011. The crisis was a ticking time bomb that was obvious to see.

Q: How have the banking restrictions affected your day-to-day living? Have you been able to purchase every day supplies? Did shops impose ‘rations’ as stocks of goods ran low?
A: We have not experienced problems with any of the above. I have not seen any empty shelves and no rations have been imposed. The international news seems to love sensationalising and this is a fine example of fact versus fiction (news).

Q: Has the restriction on movement of money in and out of the island affected your business?
A: This is where we have had the greatest of problems. We have managed, but given that over 90 percent of our suppliers are off-island, we have had to change processes to make things work. Most suppliers have been very understanding.

Q: Do you think that the final bailout deal was the right one for the island as a whole? Or do you think, as President Anastasiades recently said, that Cyprus has been used as a “guinea pig” by the EU?
A: Who knows if this is the right deal for Cyprus. It was the only deal available at the time and yes Cyprus is the guinea pig for the rest of Europe.

Q: What is your opinion about whether Cyprus should cut its losses and leave the euro?
A: Leaving the Euro would be catastrophic for the economy. The Cypriot pound would be so de-valued that commercially it would be incredibly difficult to trade internationally and the cost of living, in my opinion would increase.

Q: Have the financial problems created any hostility between locals and expats?
A: Not that I have experienced.

Q: How do you think the bailout will affect property prices and sales, which were already falling pre-bailout?
A: The bailout will have a negative impact on property prices. If the banks are given the right to re-possess, they will want to sell cheap in order to re-coup their losses as quickly as possible.

Q: How has the banking crisis affected your plans to remain in Cyprus?
A: They remain unchanged. For the most part expats in Cyprus do not hold too much money on the island. We bring it over on a need basis.

Tomorrow, AngloINFO World – Expat Life interviews a Cypriot jeweller.

AngloINFO World Blogs – Cyprus Interview

AngloINFO World Blogs spoke to Andreas Evangelou a Cypriot national. Andreas lives full time on Cyprus. He has been a jeweller for the past 26 years and has run his own jewellery business for the last 12 years. We asked Andreas for his views on the bailout and how the financial crisis in his homeland has affected his business and day-to-day life.

Q: Could you describe your feelings when you heard the initial plan to impose a 6.75 percent tax on savers with €100,000 and a 9.9 percent tax on savers with over €100,000?
A:  A feeling of injustice, anger and eventually frustration. Legal terrorism.

Q: The latest news in the international press suggests that wealthy Russian investors knew about the impending crisis and many were able to transfer their money off the island when the crisis broke on 17 March. How aware of the approaching crisis were you?
A:  I was not aware to that extent. I knew the “finances” of the government/banking were getting out of hand.

Q: How have the banking restrictions affected your day-to-day living?
A: Day to day life is affected since everything is uncertain.

Q: Do you think that the final bailout deal was the right one for the island as a whole? Or do you think, as President Anastasiades said recently, that Cyprus has been used as a “guinea pig” by the EU?
A: Bailout is a realistic decision. It should have been applied though where it matters and imposed on the group of people who caused it. This was caused by the government over employment that has become too expensive to run; a non-productive institution that has become every Cypriots “chicken with the golden egg” dream.

I would like to use this example based on local everyday life to illustrate how I feel:
You are a parent (i.e. the Cypriot government) and your children (i.e. the Cypriot people), who you adore, are spoiled rotten. They never work or contribute to your home expenses. Your children are now in their 30s 40s or even 50s. You lend to them based on their cries of “Don’t you love me?”. When you cannot provide anymore you go to borrow from anywhere you can to keep the “love” going (your own parents; your children’s grandparents i.e. the Russians). Instead of you telling your children, “Please find a job to support yourself” you keep borrowing from your parents and lending to your children.

The EU, however, is a sensible “parent” who asks “his child”: “You want to borrow, but how will you pay back? What will be your contribution?”
The EU is not like a typical Cypriot parent or grandparent that has been milked for decades with no return.

When the EU said “this is the package” our President as an “authentic” spoiled child of this society declared, “I will resign. Either you ‘please’ me or I will not be your friend.”
EU: “Resign, its fine for us!”
CY President: “OK, I will take what I can from you and for the rest I will go to my grandparent (Russia) to get it.”

Now we declare in public that the EU used Cyprus as a “guinea pig”. It’s rather the opposite. Cypriots believed that the EU or Russia is a “quinea pig” that would support their attitudes.

Q: What is your opinion about whether Cyprus should cut its losses and leave the euro?
A: Cyprus has only one option but to stay in the Euro zone. Cyprus imports nearly 90 percent of its needs.

Q: Could you comment on whether the financial problems have created any hostility between locals and expats?
A: I feel the frustration of expats who lost part of their savings; however the average person is behaving sensibly.

Q: Germany has insisted that Cyprus reduce the size of its banking industry, if Cyprus manages to do that which sector do you think could take its place?
A: Tourism is a known avenue; however it has to be updated. It has been the foundation of the economy since 1974. Cyprus depends on foreign capital flowing via this sector.
Education can be another sector. Universities could be licenced to operate from here, serving people in the neighbouring countries especially.
Light industry, of the current century. Avenues should be explored to attract multinational companies to operate from Cyprus.
The suggested avenues are obtainable provided the “people of Cyprus” are willing to work and take baby steps forward.

Q: How has the banking crisis affected your plans to remain in Cyprus?
A: Good question. But where can you go when you as an expat or Cypriot citizen have built your life here? Difficult choice indeed.

Q: If you could wave a magic wand how would you use it to improve Cyprus’ image as seen by the worldwide community?
A: No magic wand can help Cyprus. You cannot change the “operating system” of a society that has operated in this fashion for decades.

Tomorrow (13 May), AngloINFO World Expat Life interviews Jeremy Fram, Director of Expat Financial Advice www.expatriatefinancialadvice.com

AngloINFO World Blogs Exclusive “Interview with a Cyprus Expat”

Jeremy Fram has been a full-time expat in Cyprus for almost nine years. He is the Director of Expat Financial Advice an “independent resource for anyone wishing to learn more about the offshore financial marketplace”. We asked Jeremy for his views on the bailout and if it affected his business and his longterm plans.

Q: Could you describe for me your feelings when you heard the initial plan to impose a 6.75 percent tax on savers with €100,000 and a 9.9 percent tax on savers with over €100,000?
A: I called it the great Cyprus bank robbery and I could not understand how anyone could be treated as unfairly as this whether by Cyprus or by Brussels. My feelings were made known on my facebook page for Expatriate Financial Advice and I had many people emailing me agreeing with my sentiments.

Q: The latest news in the international press suggests that wealthy Russian investors knew about the impending crisis and many were able to transfer their money off the island when the crisis broke on 17 March. How aware of the impending crisis were you?
A: It would seem that only people with “friends in high places” were aware of the impending announcements and decisions concerning the banking crisis, but in our role of advising the expatriate community regarding pensions, savings and other financial matters, we had recommended to our clients that they only keep the minimum amount required to live on for a couple of months in any Cyprus bank. This advice had been consistent for over three or four years as we believe that there has long been concerns regarding the Cypriot banking system.

Q: How have the banking restrictions affected your day-to-day living? Have you been able to purchase every day supplies? Did shops impose ‘rations’ as stocks of goods ran low?
A: The effect of the prolonged bank closures on day-to-day living was minimal at first but had an increasing influence as time went on. Cheques were not being cleared by the banks; people could not pay in money, invoices remained unpaid and suppliers of goods moved to cash only. It was a prime example of the saying “cash is king”. If you had cash, you could still buy most things you needed but the bank closures had a more detrimental effect on the economy which needed help and not more problems. I did not see any evidence of rationing, but some stocks were very low and not being replenished unless the buyers had cash to pay for them.

Q: How have the restrictions on movement of money in and out of the island affected your business?
A: As we do not directly handle clients’ money, the restrictions on the movement of money has been minimal, however our website, www.expatriatefinancialadvice.com was inundated with requests for help and information on what you could and could not do to try and get money in and out of Cyprus. The crisis has seriously dented the confidence in the Cypriot banks and to a certain extent the EU.

Q: Do you think that the final bailout deal was the right one for the island as a whole? Or do you think, as President Anastasiades recently said, that Cyprus has been used as a “guinea pig” by the EU?
A: My personal opinion is that Brussels (Merkel?) dictated to Cyprus their terms for help without any room for negotiation. I believe it was ‘take it or leave it’ and can’t help but wonder if the terms may not have been quite so onerous if it had not been near to elections in Germany.

Q: What is your opinion about whether Cyprus should cut its losses and leave the euro?
A: A very difficult question which can be answered in many ways. If Cyprus were to leave the Euro and fire up the Cyprus pound printing press, I would expect the value of the Cyprus pound to fall rapidly. This would be good for tourism and exports as Cyprus would become a ‘cheap’ destination again, but the value of everything else on the island such as property, cars, possessions etc. would also fall and this would not be popular with the average Cypriot voter!

Q: Could you comment on whether the financial problems have created any hostility between locals and expats?
A: None that I am aware of. The anger and hostility has been directed at Brussels and Germany, especially Angela Merkel and the people perceived to have dictated the bailout terms to Cyprus.

Q: Germany has insisted that Cyprus reduce the size of its banking industry, if Cyprus manages to do that which sector do you think could take its place?
A: Cyprus is hoping that the potential reserves of natural gas it has found off the coast of Cyprus will benefit the economy greatly, but I think it will be quite a few years before this will happen. Tourism will always be important and whilst the Brits are not here in the numbers that they used to be, the Russians certainly make up for it.

Q: How do you think the bailout will affect property prices and sales, which were already falling pre-bailout?
A: It will certainly not help but it could easily be argued that the prices were artificially inflated in the first place and that the current decreases are part of a much needed market correction.

Q: Now that the international press frenzy has moved on to another ‘story’ do you feel the plight of expats living on Cyprus has been abandoned?
A: I think that the word ‘plight’ means that everyone should feel sorry for the expats in Cyprus but I’m not sure why? Whilst I obviously feel sorry for anyone (expat or Cypriot) that will lose a proportion of their savings to help finance the bailout, I don’t see why expats are really any worse or better off than a while ago. Yes, the economic conditions are changing rapidly, but the affect that this will have on expats will depend on where their income is derived from to enable them to live in Cyprus. There are not many countries that are not experiencing financial difficulties so the ‘grass is not always greener’ elsewhere. Many expats have seen their purchasing power from their pensions decrease significantly over the last few years, but this is as a result of the strength of the Euro as opposed to the economic crisis in Cyprus. It may well be that a lowering of prices in Cyprus will be good for expats that live here and the economy as a whole.

Q: How has the banking crisis affected your plans to remain in Cyprus?
A: It has made little difference to be honest. As long as we can make enough money to enjoy our life in Cyprus, then here is as good as anywhere else and the sun makes everything look just that little bit better! There will be more challenges to face going forwards, but as long as you offer a good service for a reasonable price in a marketplace that people need, then you should be OK.

Q: If you could wave a magic wand how would you use it to improve Cyprus’ image as seen by the worldwide community?
A: It would be good to make the tourist industry much more competitive. At times people lose sight of the fact that Cyprus is probably not one of the world’s most sought after holiday destinations and so probably should not be more expensive than London or New York. Service with a smile might be nice too and a return to the more traditional Cypriot values of hospitality would bring people back to this beautiful island!

The first non-EU citizen to receive a residency visa to live permanently in Greece through the property-for-visa programme has been granted to a Chinese citizen, according to the Greek Reporter.

Jim Hong from Beijing invested €252,000 for a two-story home in East Attica, close to the Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport.

Greece offers the least expensive investment-for-residency incentive in Europe; a visa in Spain or Portugal requires an investment of €500,000 while Cyprus offers residency in exchange for a €300,000 investment.

Ticketed travellers are urged to call officially allocated company to reorganise flights.

Recourse for travellers who purchased tickets on Cyprus Airways is available for flights up to 10 Feb (Photo by: Tis Meyer)

Following the voluntary liquidation and suspension of flights by Cyprus Airways after the EU said it would have to pay back illegally obtained aid  from the Cypriot government, the company is advising anyone who holds tickets to take the following action:

1. For ticketed travel up to and including 9 February 2015, passengers should immediately contact the travel agency Top Kinisis Travel Public at the national telephone number 77 78 78 78, or if calling from overseas at (+357) 22 86 99 99, in order to arrange for the issuance of a new flight ticket. Phone operators speak English.
2. For ticketed travel from 10 February, 2015 onwards, passengers must wait for a new announcement expected to be made over the next few days by the Cyprus government.

Cyprus Airways wrote on its website:

“Cyprus Airways would like to warmly thank the millions of passengers who flew with the airline over the years, for their choice and support.  Special thanks are also expressed to the staff of the airline as well as its associates, whose professionalism and dedication were always at the service of the passengers.

“We are extremely honoured to have made a valuable contribution, over the last 68 years, to the development of the economy of Cyprus and its tourism industry in particular. We have flown the flag of our country worldwide with pride.”

New information about ticket refunds will be provided here on WorldBlogs as soon as it is available, or check the Foreign & Commonwealth Foreign travel advice page.

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NEWS UPDATE: 30 Jan, 2015:

Passengers with tickets for travel between 10 February and 25 October should contact any travel agency licensed by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) no later than 28 February to meet the deadline set by the Republic of Cyprus government.

CTO Head Offices Address
Leoforos Lemesou 19, Aglantzia Lefkosia 2112
Telephone: +357 22 691 100
Fax: +357 22 331 644, +357 22 334 696
Email: cytour@visitcyprus.com

Tensions between Cyprus and Turkey are easing, but hurdles remain as the two sides attempt to reach a historic agreement.

Presidents of both countries are set to meet this year in the crucial final phase of settlement negotiations. Optimism over a deal remains high from both sides and the international community. In recent months foreign ministers from the US, Britain, Germany and Russia have all visited Cyprus to proclaim that the “stars are aligned” for UN-backed talks to succeed.

The Christmas period saw the two sides moving closer together as Nicos Anastasiades for the Greeks and Mustafa Akinci for the Turkish Cypriots produced video messages where they expressed hope for reunification in 2016. On Thursday in Athens, British foreign minister, Phillip Hammond added to the sense of expectancy when he said: “I’ve made several visits to Cyprus over the last few months, meeting members of both communities, and I am optimistic that we may be on the brink of a breakthrough in resolving this dispute.”

Negotiators on both sides know that differences remain and that a resolution is by no means certain. One of the biggest obstacles in the way involves property. A compromise will have to be reached on how to compensate people who were forced to leave their houses and land behind and, 40 years on, are still looking for justice. 380,000 acres of land were abandoned by Greek Cypriots, and on the other side, 110,000 acres of Turkish Cypriot land is now in Greek-Cypriot hands.

It means billions of pounds’ worth of property is situated in ghost towns. Varosha, one of these towns which was once an exclusive beach resort has now been abandoned since 1974. The key battle involves balancing the rights of the dispossessed with those of the current occupiers. This could entail financial compensation, swapping like-for-like properties, and a few people who will have their properties returned. It will mean thousands of people will be uprooted, and will require a fund containing billions in international donations.

The last time a deal was put to the people, in 2004, 65% of the Turkish side voted in favour, but the Greek side voted 74% against. This time there is more optimism in the air. The opening of the “green line” over the past decade is one of the key reasons for hope. It has allowed 40 million crossings without incident. While the discovery of natural gas off Cyprus’s disputed coastline and the desire on both sides to boost economic growth are other key factors.

Are you an expat in Cyprus? Are you expecting a breakthrough in relations this year?

150 British Marines have set up base in Cyprus as a response to the threat of terrorism in Mediterranean tourist resorts.

The group, which will be under the command of the Director of Special Forces and the Chief of the Defence Staff, will act as “first responders” to any attack. The move comes after the tragic events of last year in Tunisia where 30 British tourists fell victim to a gun attack in a holiday resort.

The force is planned to be led by the Royal Marines but could also involve members of the SAS in the event of an attack. A British bases in Cyprus spokesperson explained what the force would be used for: “The special purpose task group is designed to organize an agile force of royal marine commandos and equipment into one ship for a range of military operations in support of UK interests.”

The unit will be based on the RFA ship Fort Victoria in Cyprus and will be supported by two helicopters. A source close to the Marines said they were aware of the terrorist threat: “We are aware of potential targets Islamic State could attack and we need to make sure that we have a contingency in place.”

Training operations are scheduled to go ahead in the region, including ship boarding exercises. Time will tell whether the measures will prove effective, but British holidaymakers will hope that the presence of military personnel will deter any would be terrorist from mounting an attack this Summer.

Are you based in Cyprus? What do you make of these latest developments…

The Eastern Mediterranean island recorded a 40% increase in tourist arrivals in March, laying the groundwork for a record year on the holiday island.

The figures suggest Cyprus may be about to start feeling the affects of an economic upturn in fortunes. Thanks to a cheaper Euro, tourist arrivals have already hit a 14 year high in 2015, reaching 2.65 million.

The rise in numbers has been so pronounced that the Cyprus Tourism Organisation stated that: “The large increase in March…shows at an early stage this year, if something unexpected does occur, will be the year with the highest number of arrivals in the history of Cyprus tourism. Already the first quarter recorded a strong increase of 32.4 % compared to the first quarter of 2015 with nearly all markets showing growth.”

Cyprus is said to be attracting more tourists this year despite the euro rising. This is because holidaymakers see the island as a safe destination for a break in a region that has been hit with terrorist attacks such as in Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia.

In March, tourist numbers visiting the island reached 137,013 compared to 97,479 in the same month last year, an increase of 40.6 per cent. This can largely be attributed to the large increase in the influx of British, German and Russian tourists. In fact tourists from Britain increased 44 per cent to 59,282, while German visitor numbers jumped 73 per cent (12,917) and Russians were up 63 per cent (12,835).

It marks an impressive turnaround for the island. Following a 10 billion euro rescue package to save the teetering economy and insolvent banks in March 2013, Cyprus returned to growth in 2015 after four years of harsh recession. Its bailout package finally ended in March, which brought a range of compliments from the international community.

The tourism income accounts for some 12 per cent of the island’s GDP and is given credit for making sure the country did not enter a double-digit recession as many had predicted.

Are you planning a trip to Cyprus this year? What do you make of these latest figures?

Cyprus and the Southern Mediterranean could be set for 50 degree temperatures by mid century according to a new study.

The study’s findings make alarming reading for North Africa and the Mediterranean, with as many as half a billion people facing the prospect of displacement. The research carried out by the Cyprus Institute and Max Planck Institute for Chemistry found the Middle East and North Africa could become so hot that human habitability is compromised.

Researchers found that the aim of limiting global warming to less than two degrees would not be enough to prevent this doomsday scenario. With summer temperatures expected to increase over two times faster compared to the global warming average, it will mean that by mid century, temperatures in the Southern Mediterranean could reach 46 degrees.

And during hot periods, temperatures will not fall below 30 degrees at night. Looking further into the future, the study concluded that midday temperatures on hot days could even climb to 50 degrees. These extremely hot days will also occur with far higher frequency, rising to 80 from 16 days presently. Jos Lelieveld, Proffesor at the Cyprus Institute and one of the researchers on the project, says he is convinced climate change will have a big impact on the environment and the health of people in these regions.

He explained: “Climate change will significantly worsen the living conditions in the Middle East and in North Africa. Prolonged heat waves and desert dust storms can render some regions uninhabitable, which will surely contribute to the pressure to migrate.”

Do you have any views on the impacts of global warming? Do get in touch, we would love to hear your thoughts…

Businesses in Cyprus are starting to fear a leave vote in the EU referendum, as concerns mount over the impact on tourism and other sectors of the country’s biggest trading partner.

With recent polls suggesting the leave vote inching ahead of remain, business leaders in Cyprus have started to raise their voices. Last week the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KEVE) released a press release warning of the dangers of Brexit. In it they said: “Any withdrawl of the UK from the European Union will not be in the interests of Cyprus. The UK is the second largest trading partner of Cyprus and a Brexit would have adverse effects on trade between the two countries, especially if the UK did not succeed in reaching a good trade agreement with the European Union.”

They also raised concerns over the absence of the UK from EU-decision making, particularly on issues affecting the economy of Cyprus along with the uncertain impact on the high number of Cypriot students who enjoy lower EU university fees.

The UK is a major export market for Cypriot businesses, with services exports reaching €1 billion in 2013 according to the most recent data from Eurostat. It means the UK was the second largest services market after Russia that year.

The tourist impact

In terms of tourists the UK is by far the largest market, accounting for almost 40% of arrivals in 2015. And last year, thanks to strong sterling, UK arrivals grew by 19.5%, however this year has been a different story as the UK currency has fallen by more than 14% against the Euro on the back of Brexit fears. Despite the falling pound, arrivals from the UK have still been strong, with a 25% rise in the first four months of 2016. There does however remain a worry for how things will play out in the rest of the year.

Vice-President of Top Kinisis Travel, Elena Tanou explained the likely impact of a weaker pound: “There is no sign of an impact yet but it will definitely make packages more expensive. The fear is especially for British tourists who tend to come for long stays in the winter months.”

The EU referendum is just weeks away. Find out how a Brexit will impact on Brits with EU property on the Angloinfo worldwide blog.

Brussels officials are receiving hundreds of requests for Belgian citizenship following the Brexit vote.

Some 24,000 Brits live in Belgium, with around a third living in Brussels, where many work in for EU institutions and NATO. After the surprise leave vote queues have formed throughout the capital as expats seek to shield themselves from future potential changes to residency rules.

Requests have been received in a wide range of areas including the suburb of Ixelles and the upmarket areas of Uccle and Woluwe Saint Lambert. A spokesman for the suburbs said: “Normally, we rarely have anybody requesting information about citizenship. Since Friday there has been an explosion.”

Eligibility for Belgian citizenship is dependent on whether they have lived and worked in the country for more than five years. Belgium officials also require that citizenship seekers can show at least a basic knowledge of one of the country’s three official languages. While those who have not worked need to have lived in the country for more than ten years and also need to prove they have integrated into Belgium society.

At present expats will not see a change to their residency status and this will not change for the forseeable future. However according to EU officials “Everything is on the table” when the negotiations start, so expats should be aware that things may change.

One expat resident in a Brussels suburb has decided to err on the side of caution by applying for citizenship for himself, his wife and their four children. He expressed concern at the Brexit outcome and said: “I believe that the consequences of Brexit on Britain will be catastrophic in both the short and long term and I do not want to condemn my children to belong solely to a nation that is on the road to ruin. “

Brits seek Irish citizenship

Belgium isn’t the only country where Brits are seeking citizenship, as Irish officials report a spike in Irish passport applications. Ireland is a country with deep links to the UK, making it easier for many to gain a passport. Anyone with a parent born in Ireland is eligible for a passport no matter where they live now. And people with an Irish born grandparent or parent who had Irish nationality at the time of their birth may also qualify.

Other countries in Europe have also seen a surge in interest in citizenship. In France applicants need to have lived in the country for five years and have no criminal record. While for those who are keen to retain visa free travel across Europe, Malta has been offering passports for sale at a substantial cost. For a price of €650,000 and a €115,000 property or government bond investment, foreigners can travel easily throughout the EU. A similar scheme is also available in Cyprus at the higher price of €5 million.

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 Find out all you need to know about residency at our How To pages:

• Residency in Spain: Visit Angloinfo Spain’s residency information.
• Residency in France: Visit Angloinfo France’s residency information.
• Residency in Germany: Visit Angloinfo Germany’s residency information.
• Residency in the UK: Visit Angloinfo UK’s residency information.
• Residency in Ireland: The situation in Ireland appears more complex; it seems that you cannot apply for long-term residence in Ireland if you are an EU or EEA citizen (EU member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein & Norway). So until the UK’s situation and conditions are decided on, an application would be ineligible at this point. Go to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service for more information about residency in Ireland.

Read more about other Brexit news on Angloinfo World Blogs:

• British expats – what next?
• “Oh Britain, what have we done?”
• What does ‘Leave’ mean for EU expats in the UK?
• Brits vote to Leave the EU
• How do I get a second passport?
• Should expats be panicked about the UK’s decision to Brexit from the EU?
• The Brexit glossary

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With an improving economy and terrorism fears affecting other countries, Cyprus announced that 413,114 tourists arrived last month.

The Cyprus Tourism Organisation said the figure represented a new record for June. They said: “It is the best June in terms of arrivals in the history of Cyprus tourism. Moreover, these are the second best monthly figures ever after July 2015. Not only were the figures impressive for June, but Cyprus also set other records for the year, with the best six month performance ever recorded.

The CTO said that “for the first time in tourist history, arrivals during the quarter April-June surpassed the one million mark”.  In fact in June there was a 22.6 per cent rise in tourist arrivals compared to the same month in 2015. And figures from Britain were particularly impressive with numbers jumping 21.1% to 148,812, while in the second last market of Russia, numbers increased 41.6 per cent to 127,244.

Experts in the industry expect this year to beat the 14 year high figure of 2015, where 2.65 million visitors arrived on the island. People in the industry feel this year will see more than three million visitor arrivals to the island.

Feeling the benefit from unrest in neighbouring Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia, Cyprus recorded a 4.4 per cent rise in tourism revenue in 2015, the sector’s best earnings since 2001.

The country has now recovered from a near banking collapse. After a 10 billion euro international rescue package was agreed, Cyprus returned to growth in 2015 after nearly four years of recession. It has now exited the bailout programme, with high praise from lenders for the turnaround. Income from the tourism sector now accounts for 12 per cent of Cyprus’s GDP.

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Find out more about the relative safety of holiday destinations on Angloinfo world blogs

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If you’re a culture vulture, there’s nothing more enticing than a European Capital of Culture to get your pulse racing and your hand ready to book a flight. The year-long event includes theatre, dance, art, music and much more…read on to find out why this year could be very different…

2017 is the turn of Pafos, or Paphos, in Cyprus and Aarhus in Denmark to be European Capitals of Culture. The initiative, which started in 1985, is designed to do four things – all of which will resonate with expats who live in Europe:

1. Highlight the richness and diversity of cultures in Europe
2. Celebrate the cultural features Europeans share
3. Increase European citizens’ sense of belonging to a common cultural area
4. Foster the contribution of culture to the development of cities

More than a year

Over the last 30 years, 56 cities have benefited in many other ways, with their increased international profile has come regeneration, a boost to tourism and an improvement in local people’s attitudes towards their own city’s culture.

“Capitals of Culture highlight the richness of Europe’s cultural diversity and take a fresh look at its shared history and heritage. They promote mutual understanding and show how the universal language of creativity opens Europe to cultures from across the world,” say the event’s organisers.

Every year, two cities and a theme is chosen. This year “Rethink” is the central theme for both cities, with Aarhus showing how arts, culture and the creative sector can help us to “rethink and shape our basic social, urban, cultural and economic patterns of behaviour and find new solutions to common challenges”. While Pafos will “embrace its experiences of multiculturalism and the city’s geographical proximity to the Middle East and North Africa to strengthen relations between countries and cultures.”

It’s a highly topically theme for Cyprus given the peace talks in Geneva this week between the Greek Cypriot leader Nicos Anastasiades and the Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci, who have both been reported saying that they really want to reach an agreement that will bring an end to the division between the northern and southern sides of the island.

UN envoy Espen Barth Eide told the BBC the two leaders still had some obstacles, but had “demonstrated a degree of will and leadership that we haven’t seen for a very, very long time in Cyprus. The neighbours including Greece and Turkey seems to be willing to be helpful, maybe even more this time than before”.

Resources:

• Discover more about the programme of events in Aarhus and in Pafos.
• Read more about living in and visiting Cyprus at Angloinfo Cyprus.
• Read more about living in and visiting Denmark at Angloinfo Denmark.
• You can download a beautifully illustrated free brochure on the 30 years of European Capitals of Culture from the EU Bookshop here.

This month, we’re sharing the expat love vibe – aka ‘Lovepat’ – with expats far and wide. Today it’s the turn of Jenny Fram, expat and businesswoman in Cyprus, on why this beautiful island makes her feel weak at the knees!

1. Sunshine

You can never say you don’t see enough of the sun in Cyprus! It shines all day almost every day. Everything looks so much better in the sun, and the temperature isn’t too bad either!

2. Mountains

There aren’t many places where you can be on the beach in the morning and high in the mountains less than an hour later. Whatever the time of year, Troodos is beautiful. Whether it’s lush and green or snow covered.

3. Food

There are so many things to love about food in Cyprus. Whether it’s a simple souvla or a delicious pastitsio. Favourites for me are souvlaki with tzatziki, koupes from the bakery and dolmades, while my Dad on a visit heads straight for the cheese pies!

4. People

Cyprus is a big melting pot of people. On a daily basis you meet and greet so many nationalities. Cypriots, Greeks, Russians, Chinese, Scandinavians. I know people from so many countries now and it’s taught me a lot. Life is not just about ‘little Britain’.

5. Beaches

Now people do say that Cyprus doesn’t have the greatest beaches, and it’s true (certainly in Limassol) that they are not the most picturesque. But they are clean and they are safe and they are SO close. What can be better than jumping in the car and being on the beach in 10 minutes? (Beautiful landscape near of Nissi beach and Cavo Greco in Ayia Napa, Cyprus island, Mediterranean Sea. Amazing blue green sea and sunny day.)

6. Lifestyle

“Siga Siga” – everyone will hear that phrase within 2 days of arriving in Cyprus and it certainly does ring true. It’s hard to get used to a more laid back pace of life but if you let yourself relax and embrace ‘slowly slowly’ it’s a much more relaxed way to live.

7. Safety

Cyprus is consistently rated one of the safest places in the world to live. Not so long ago people left their doors and windows open when they went out. It’s not quite that safe anymore, but there is still a strong sense of security being in Cyprus. Especially when you have small children.

8. Friends

I have made some of the best friends I will ever have in Cyprus; people I will be friends with forever. The kind of friend that when they move away to another part of the world you always keep in touch with. The kind that it doesn’t matter how much times passes, you pick up again where you left off. The thing I love the most about Cyprus!

Find out all you need to know about Cyprus, whether you’re thinking about moving or need help settling in (and every stage in between).