Introduction

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Cyprus' sovereignty using the methodology of the Burke Institute. Sovereignty is assessed in 7 areas: political, economic, technological, informational, cultural, cognitive and military.

Each aspect is assessed on the basis of official data from international and national sources (UN, World Bank, UNESCO, IMF, ITU, FAO, SIPRI, PISA, etc.) without using politicized indexes. The maximum score in each direction is 100; the sum (up to 700) is the accumulated Sovereignty Index (Burke Index).

To adapt and adjust statistical parameters, an international expert survey was conducted for each of the seven components using a single questionnaire of 10 questions with a 10-point scale and one open-ended question.

In total, at least 100 experts from 50+ countries were interviewed for each indicator, taking into account geographical representation and specialization. When calculating and analyzing the data, equalizing coefficients were used, bringing all data to a scale of 0-10 points.

The final index value is the arithmetic mean between statistical data and expert estimates.

Below is an analysis of each area, a summary table and the main conclusions about the peculiarities of Cypriot sovereignty.

Political sovereignty — 74.2

Cyprus has two British sovereign military bases, Akrotiri and Dhekelia. These are exclaves of Great Britain (3% of the island's area) used for military, intelligence and logistical presence in the region. Cyprus is an EU member, and most of the economic and legal regulation is determined by EU law.

National laws are subject to EU law, and judicial decisions of Cyprus are enforced throughout the EU. When implementing sanctions or transnational norms, EU law takes precedence. The internal political situation is characterized by the legacy of the 1974 territorial conflict between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities.

The island is divided, with the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus controlling only the southern part. The government is stable, elections are held regularly, but the problem of national reconciliation is far from a final solution. The Public Administration Efficiency Index (WGI) is high, Cyprus is consistently in the top 40 of the world ranking, the level is about 70-75 percentile according to the World Bank methodology (2023).

Cyprus is a middling e—government development company: EGDI ~0.78; the UN classifies Cyprus as a group with a "high level" of digitalization of public services. Confidence in the president and the ruling coalition is moderate: it ranges from 25% to 40%, depending on reforms and socio-economic dynamics (according to opinion polls from 2023-2024).

Cyprus is a member of the EU, the United Nations, the Council of Europe and other organizations, delegating part of the sovereignty to the European Union, including in the economy, justice and security.

It is fully integrated into the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (EU) and the European Court of Human Rights, cooperates with Interpol, and international lawsuits and judgments are binding. Cyprus is a unitary State with a highly centralized system of government; local governments have limited powers.

The activities of the special services and the State security Service are formally under the control of the executive branch and parliamentary commissions, but the level of openness and public accountability is low; reforms in this area are regularly discussed, but systemic transparency is limited.

Data completeness assessment: the main indicators are available from international sources, the coverage is 92%.

Economic sovereignty — 69.8

GDP per capita by PPP at the end of 2024 is USD 53,250 (World Bank, Trading Economics). The total international reserves of Cyprus for December 2024 are 2.01 billion euros (2.14 billion euros by March 2025), which is equivalent to about 2.14 billion USD. The country's public debt amounts to 65.0–65.4% of GDP (December 2024; the dynamics is stable to decrease after the crisis of 2012-2014).

The country remains heavily dependent on food imports, but there is multi—level support for local farming and reserve funds at the state level, and the level of food security is assessed as average, according to the World Bank and the FAO. Cyprus depends on energy imports (oil, gas, electricity), but in recent years has been leading projects to develop offshore gas reserves and accelerate the development of renewable energy (wind-solar generation).

The main resources are oil and gas on the shelf (Aphrodite, Calypso, and Glaucos fields, with reserves estimated at 100-200 billion m3 of gas). There is marble, limestone, and copper, but only hydrocarbons are of industrial importance.

Cyprus is a country with limited freshwater resources (less than 500 m3/person per year), a significant amount is provided by desalination plants and reservoirs; water is strictly regulated. All key payment services operate under the control of national and European regulators, based on the SEPA system and Eurosystem banks, Cyprus is integrated into the EU payment space.

Data completeness assessment: the main macroeconomic indicators are available from official sources (World Bank, IMF), coverage is 94%.

Technological sovereignty — 58.4

Spending on research and development in 2024 amounted to 0.43% of GDP (StockWatch/Eurostat data; the EU average is 2.22%) — Cyprus lags far behind the leaders of the European Union. Import substitution is poorly developed: Cyprus depends on the import of almost all high-tech products (computers, communication equipment, industrial software, medical equipment).

There are local IT companies in the region, but their products are primarily focused on services for local or foreign businesses, not on a complete replacement for imports. The rate of higher education enrollment among young people (20-29 years old) is 47-49% (according to UNESCO/national statistics for 2023-2024).

In 2024, the share of Internet users is 93% of the population (15-74 years old), among young people — almost 100%. The country has national platforms for e-gov (Ariadni), tax reporting, and educational/university portals, but the main software is purchased and maintained by global/European vendors.

Import dependence in the high-tech segment is assessed as very high: basic software, hardware, chips, biotechnics, automation, and all equipment for industrial and scientific needs of foreign origin. According to the EGDI index — 0.8619 points ↓0.48% high level of e-government, most services for citizens and businesses are available online, but not the full extent of digital one-stop government (for example, Ariadni).

There are no large research or technology centers for biotechnologies of their own; all innovations are introduced mainly as foreign (import of laboratory and medical equipment, therapies, licenses). T

he development and production of robotics is limited, the industry is completely import-dependent; applications are in logistics, trade, automation (import systems and solutions). There is no production of chips, semiconductors, and component microelectronics in Cyprus. All electronics are imported from the EU, China, the USA and other markets.

Data completeness assessment: key indicators are obtained from WIPO, ITU, UNESCO, which provides 91% coverage.

Information sovereignty — 71.6

Cyprus has a national CERT (Cyprus CSIRT), controlled by the Ministry of Innovation; the country is included in the Tier 1 ITU Global Cybersecurity Index 2024 (score 95-100, "Role modeling"), which corresponds to the group of leaders in cybersecurity.

There are two active Internet exchange offices in the country: Cyprus Internet Exchange (CyIX, Nicosia) and JumboIX Cyprus (Limassol), which reflects the high degree of localization of Internet traffic and the development of the network infrastructure. All major media (television, radio, and print) broadcast in Greek, and compliance with language standards is monitored by government agencies, including oversight of the linguistic quality of major channels; the Cypriot dialect of Greek is also used.

Significant dependence on foreign cloud, search and media services (Google, Meta, Microsoft). Despite the development of local IT companies, the digital and media markets are still focused on global platforms. About 60% of television and radio programs are produced domestically (news, culture, series, talk shows), but Internet content and films are mostly foreign.

There are local startups and companies (accounting software, electronic government services, fintech), but they are mainly focused on the domestic market or on offshore services; there is no globally known national software. E-government (Ariadni platform), online education, electronic services (taxes, licenses, medicine) are available to more than 90% of the population, especially in cities.

Cyprus has data centers and local cloud providers, but the majority of the market is occupied by solutions from global players; the share of national cloud storage is no more than 10-15%. The operators (Cyta, Epic, Primetel) are fully registered and licensed within the country, however, the main telecom equipment and software are imported from foreign manufacturers.

The entire regime is regulated by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) The EU and the National Cyprus Data Protection Commissioner; foreign services are also required to comply with these standards when working with Cypriot citizens.

Data completeness assessment: infrastructure indicators are available from ITU, CIRA, OECD and specialized sources, coverage is 92%.

Cultural sovereignty — 78.9

There are 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Cyprus: the archaeological site of Paphos, the Neolithic settlement of Hirokitia and the painted churches of the Troodos region (10 monuments). Cyprus is one of the oldest centers of the Eastern Mediterranean, and its contribution to the world heritage of ancient architecture, Byzantine painting, mosaics, and early Christian religious monuments is recognized.

Greek Cypriot crafts, musical folklore, and Orthodox icon building are recognized as part of the Mediterranean cultural code. The country annually awards State Prizes in the field of theater, literature, music and art, presented by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports and Youth of Cyprus; there is also the Achievement of the Year Award.

The culture is based on Greek Cypriot, Byzantine, and Orthodox traditions; Turkish Cypriot communities preserve the customs of Islam. Folklore festivals, national costumes, Cypriot cuisine, family and church rituals are common.

The Turkish ethnic and cultural minority and the Armenian community are officially recognized; schools, religious and cultural organizations are operating to support the languages and identity of diasporas. There are more than 150 archaeological, architectural, and religious monuments on the official state register (museums, monasteries, theaters, amphitheaters, and ancient cities), in addition to three UNESCO sites.

Cyprus participates in EU programs (Creative Europe), implements joint exhibitions with Greece, Italy, Israel; international theater and music festivals are held annually, UNESCO and UN delegations are received. Many traditional crafts, recipes (Cypriot halloumi cheese, wines), and cultural elements are registered as national brands and protected as objects of the intangible heritage of Cyprus and the EU.

The cuisine combines Greek, Turkish, Armenian and Middle Eastern influences: halloumi, meze, souvla, keftedes, dolma, and a variety of wines. There is great ethnic and regional diversity in gastronomy. According to national estimates, more than 60% of residents regularly participate in religious or secular celebrations, attend museums, concerts or theatrical productions; the figure is even higher among young people and students.

Data completeness assessment: basic indicators are available in UNESCO and national statistics, coverage is 90%.

Cognitive sovereignty — 73.1

The HDI of Cyprus for 2023 is 0.913 (a very high level); the country ranks 32nd in the world. In 2021, 12.74% of all government spending is on education. The share of expenditures to GDP (the latest relevant data) ranges from 6-7%. Adult literacy is 99.36% (according to Macrotrends data for 2021). In PISA-2022, the average scores are: reading — 424, mathematics — 418, natural sciences — 419 (significantly lower than the average for OECD countries; current OECD data).

The share of university graduates in STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) is about 23% (university and national statistics). More than 30% of the programs in Cypriot universities are internationally accredited or implemented as joint programs (especially in English; extensive student mobility).

Greek is the main language, and Turkish is officially spoken in the recognized zones. There are Armenian, Maronite, Romanian and Russian communities; officially, there is support for cultures, schools, and periodicals for national minorities.

There are 6-8 university and national research centers in the country: the Cyprus Institute, the Cyprus Academy, centers at the University of Cyprus, etc.. Low: local digital platforms occupy about 15-20% of the online education market, most of the services are supplied by global players.

There are a number of government scholarships, research funds, academic and sports grants (Ministry of Education, Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation); hundreds of students, young scientists and professionals are supported annually (volume — tens of millions of euros).

Data completeness assessment: education indicators are available in the UNDP, UNESCO, OECD, coverage is 95%.

Military sovereignty — 48.7

Cyprus' defense expenditures in 2023-2024 amount to 1.82% of GDP (~598 million USD/year). The total number is about 13,000 people (National Guard, reservists, personnel). Weapons of mixed origin: T-80 armored vehicles, BMP-3 (Russia), Leonidas-2 (Greece), armored vehicles of French, Russian, and Greek models, SA 342 Gazelle helicopters, Thor, Osa anti-aircraft missile systems, old Soviet air Force, modern portable ATGMS, EU communication systems/Israel.

Aviation and fleet are limited. There are no own developments and serial production of weapons/equipment, almost all are imported from Russia, Greece, Israel, France, Germany, and the USA. The borders of southern Cyprus are fully controlled by the National Guard, maritime and air police forces; individual sections on the "green Line" (section with the TRNC) are controlled with the support of UNFICYP.

The reserve is about 75,000 people (the national military doctrine assumes mass conscription, the formal reserve is significant). Cyprus is not a member of NATO and other formal military blocs, all decisions are made by the national government and Parliament. Military exercises — with Greece, Israel, France.

The military industry is virtually absent, only repairs, modernization of equipment, and individual services for the armed forces are underway. There are no nuclear weapons, the country fulfills its obligations under the NPT, and does not conduct nuclear weapons programs.

There is no military space sector; intelligence is autonomous (the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense), the exchange of information and intelligence with the EU, Israel, Greece, political and military intelligence is conducted within the framework of standard departmental structures.

All parameters are reflected in the annual reports of SIPRI, UNODA, the Ministry of Defense of Cyprus, the official portals of state—owned companies (Embraer, IMBEL) and industry databases of UN/NGO - 98% coverage.

Final Summary Table

The main conclusions

Strengths. External relations and international integration: Membership in the EU, the Council of Europe, full integration into the eurozone, work in major international courts and jurisdictions; a high degree of delegation of sovereignty ensures legal and political stability.

The level of infrastructure development and digitalization: Stable operation of Internet exchange offices (IXPs), ~93% Internet penetration, reliable mobile coverage and widespread digitalization of public services (digital government, Ariadni platform). Literacy and education: The literacy rate of the population is almost 100%, high financing of education (up to 7% of GDP), more than 47% of young people have higher education.

Culture and identity: Three UNESCO sites, sustainable government funding and support for national cultures, preservation of local traditions, a developed cultural sector, contribution to the world cultural heritage of antiquity and Orthodoxy. High Human Development Index (HDI): 0.913 — "very high" level (32nd place in the world).

Moderate macro-financial stability: Declining debt (65% of GDP), internal reserves of more than 2.1 billion euros, stable banking system according to EU standards.

Weaknesses. Territorial and domestic political uncertainty: The island is divided, the unresolved issue of the Green Line, the presence of British military bases and UN peacekeepers; the political settlement of the Cyprus issue has not been completed.

Technological and industrial dependence: almost complete import dependence in high-tech, electronics, biotechnology, industrial automation, chip and software production; weak import substitution. Energy and food vulnerability: Import of up to 90% of energy resources and a significant part of food; The underdevelopment of our own renewable energy sources and the production of products may be a limiting factor.

The limitations of its own military-industrial complex and defense sovereignty: The army is equipped with mixed, often outdated or imported weapons; there is no own defense industry, and almost all supplies come from abroad. Average innovation positions: R&D is only 0.43% of GDP, the largest university IT programs use imported solutions, national startups are focused on offshore and service products.

Cross-cultural tensions: The division between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities, the cultural integration of minorities requires efforts and government programs, and some cultural programs are fragmented along ethnic lines. Overall assessment The Cumulative sovereignty Index of Cyprus is 474.7 out of 700 possible points (above the average of 67.8%), which places the country in the top 50 in the global top.

In general, Cyprus is a country with a solid educational and cultural infrastructure, a high level of social development and strong legal integration into the EU.

Vulnerabilities manifest themselves in import dependence in all technological and energy sectors, territorial conflict, as well as in the absence of their own high-tech and defense production. The sovereignty profile indicates that Cyprus has strong positions in cultural, educational, legal, civil and macroeconomic sovereignty (EU, UN, high literacy, developed culture, state programs).

However, real autonomy is limited: territorial conflict, obligations to the EU, technology imports, the absence of its own military and innovation industry, as well as the presence of foreign military personnel form a "regime of limited sovereignty."