Agriculture Minister Maria Panayiotou highlighted the growing importance of minerals in Europe’s green and digital transition during a business forum in Larnaca. She emphasized that minerals are essential not only for industrial inputs but also for achieving EU climate goals and economic resilience.

Panayiotou pointed to Cyprus’s rich mining history, especially its copper deposits, as a strategic asset in this evolving landscape. She stressed the government’s commitment to environmentally responsible development aligned with sustainability and circular economy principles.

The minister also referenced the EU Critical Raw Materials Act, designed to secure sustainable supply chains through enhanced extraction, processing, and recycling targets. She underscored the role of innovation in reducing environmental impacts and improving supply security, presenting new opportunities for Cyprus to contribute to Europe’s wider green ambitions.