Cyprus appoints new shipping deputy minister

Prior to Mr Demetriades’ appointment he served as a policy officer in the Directorate General of Mobility and Transport of the European Commission, co-ordinating the EU maritime transport strategy and EU’s external maritime transport relations for five years.

Mr Demetriades previously promoted EU sustainable shipping initiatives through the European Sustainable Shipping Forum and has also served as a Member of Cabinet of Commissioner Vassiliou, responsible for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth.

He also served the Cyprus Public Administration in various positions including Head of EU Affairs at the Cypriot Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works formulating Cyprus’s national position to the EU transport, telecommunications, integrated maritime and space policies as well as co-ordinating Cyprus’ Presidency to the EU pertaining to these areas and as trainer-lecturer on EU Affairs at the Cyprus Academy of Public Administration (2009-2013); Counsellor for Maritime Affairs at the Permanent Representation of Cyprus to the EU (2004-2008); and Maritime Affairs Officer at the Cyprus Maritime Administration (1998-2004).

The outgoing deputy minister of shipping Ms Pilides was the first to be appointed to the position and is widely regarded as having produced a string of positive results. With the incumbent minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry stepping down, she is now promoted to that full minister position.

At the time of her appointment in 2018, Ms Pilides, speaking exclusively to Tanker Shipping & Trade, laid out the reason for the creation of the deputy ministry. “This is the first time shipping has a cabinet position of its own in the Cypriot Government and taking this important step will afford us the dedicated and focused resource to drive multiple initiatives that will increase the functionality, effectiveness and flexibility of our public shipping administration,” she said.

Mr Demetriades issued a statement on leaving the European Commission and looked forward to his new role, “Meeting EU and global shipping challenges needs close co-operation, determination and collaboration between regulators and industry,” he said.