Filenews 22 February 2021
Above the European average is the absorption of European funds by Cyprus, while for the years 2018 and 2019 the country received more than it contributed to the European Union budget.
This is mentioned in the annual report of the European Court of Auditors for the financial year 2019 presented on Monday before the Parliamentary Committees on Finance, Foreign Affairs and Control by the member of Lazarus Lazarus.
According to official figures from the G.D. Budget for the year 2019, Cyprus has made a contribution to the EU budget of €209.3 million and received €266.4 million. For 2018 Cyprus had a contribution to the EU budget of €203.4 million and received €263.9 million.
According to the Commission's preliminary data, €1.8 trillion will be allocated for the 2021-2027 programming period. Euro. Cyprus receives €2.704 billion from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and in particular for the Cohesion Funds €959 million. €333 million from the Agricultural Guarantee Fund. €172 million, the Rural Development Fund and €1240 million from NextGeneration.
The absorption of European funds for the 2014-2020 programming period is at 27% at the end of 2018, 40% at the end of 2019 and 55% at the end of 2020. Cyprus has absorbed, according to the payments made, 35% of the funds available from the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) by the end of 2018, 48% by the end of 2019 and 57% by the end of 2020. Compared to other countries, Cyprus is above average.
In the payments of the European Regional Development Fund, which is the largest, Cyprus, at the end of 2020 is in the top positions with 59% against 50% of the average.
Mr Lazarou said that in view of the new financial framework for the next seven years and the recovery fund, Member States bear a huge responsibility for the sound and sustainable management of EU finances for the benefit of the interests of EU citizens.
"This year's report highlights the need for further efforts, by all involved, to make the best possible use of the European financial resources that will shape the future of the EU," he said.
Checks in Cyprus for the preparation of special reports
According to the Report, a group of ECA auditors visited Cyprus in February 2020 in preparation for the special report "Exchange of tax information". The report is expected to be published in February 2021.
As part of a random audit of operations in Cyprus for compliance control for 2019, nine operations were sampled.
Seven operations from the Operational Programme "Competitiveness and Sustainable Development". These concerned the Information Centre - Library "Stelios Ioannou" with the beneficiary of the University of Cyprus, the road of Primary Importance connecting the new Limassol Port with the Limassol - Paphos Motorway - Vertical Road - Phase II, with the beneficiary of the Department of Public Works, the redevelopment of Freedom Square and the Surrounding Area - Phase B with the beneficiary of the Nicosia Municipality, the construction of 5 parallel break breakers No. 26a, 27, 28, 29 and 30 in Germasogeia with the beneficiary of the Department of Public Works, investments in machinery, equipment, buildings, etc. with a beneficiary private company, the development of a network of Green Points in the province of Limassol and in the Alhambra Community with the beneficiary of the Ministry of Interior, and Investments in Machinery, Equipment, Buildings, etc. with a beneficiary private company.
From the operational programme 'Employment, Human Resources and Social Cohesion', the operation 'Technical implementation support - European Social Fund' was audited, with the beneficiary being the Ministry of Labour, Welfare and Social Insurance.
From the Migration and Integration Asylum Fund (IOM) the act 'Information and support centre for voluntary returns' entitled to the office of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Cyprus.
The audits revealed findings in two acts. For the project 'Information and support centre for voluntary returns' with the beneficiary of the IOM office in Cyprus, an error of 2.83% in the amount checked. The error relates to provisions for future compensation of officials who have not been paid. The beneficiary fully adopts the error and will take the necessary measures to avoid such an error in the future.
For the project Information Centre – library 'Stelios Ioannou' with the beneficiary of the University of Cyprus, error of 6.44% in the amount checked. The error concerns the absence of necessary supporting documents for part of the amount declared.
IN a statement after the session, DISY MP Onufrios Koulas expressed particular satisfaction with Cyprus' annual report, which found, as he said, proper and lawful compliance with EU rules in the management of European resources. He also said that Cyprus is high in the ranking in the absorption of European funds and that since its accession to the EU until now Cyprus has had an absorption of 100%.
He expressed confidence that the same should be done with the new 2021-27 programming period where together Cohesion Funds and the Recovery and Resilience Fund create the prospect of leveraging investments of more than 3 billion. In areas such as environmental protection, eGovernment, digital transformation, strengthening competitiveness, research and innovation and much more.
DISY MP Marios Mavridis said Cyprus has managed to absorb more money in recent years than it has contributed. He also said that the absorption rate for European funds is higher for Cyprus than the European average.
Meeting with the Speaker of the House
Moreover, earlier today, the Speaker of the House of Representatives Adamos Adamou welcomed Mr Lazarou, who presented him with the Court's Annual Report for 2019.
Eyenews/AFP
