President Nikos Christodoulides has announced a plan for Cyprus. He says 2026 will be an important year for the country. The plan has many parts. It will help the economy and make government work better. It also aims to be more open and improve people's lives. The president wants Cyprus to be stronger internationally. He also wants better defence and to join the Schengen area.
Since starting his job, the president has had clear goals. The next few years will see over 100 new digital services. This will make the public sector work more smoothly. A key part is using new technology. There will be an artificial intelligence plan. Cyprus might get an "AI Factory" with a big American company. This shows they want to use new ideas.
The economy plan focuses on being strong. It also looks at energy resources. An important goal is to agree with Israel about the Aphrodite gas field. They want to plan this by 2026. This could make Cyprus a key energy place in the area. The government also wants to stop corruption. This will help the country grow well.
For foreign policy, the president wants Cyprus to look outwards. It will work closely with Europe and Western countries. Cyprus wants to make ties stronger in the EU. It also wants better relations with other important countries. The president is ready to talk again about Cyprus reuniting. He wants talks to start from the 2017 plan. This shows they still want peace.
A main goal is to join the Schengen Zone. Work on this is already happening. Cyprus is working with the European Commission. They are changing border systems. Joining Schengen will make travel easier. It will also improve security for citizens. The government believes in social liberalism. This means helping individuals and working together. A €1.2 billion investment in defence shows they care about security.