Cyprus Mail 6 March 2021 - by Andrew Rosenbaum
| 21CY01 | Technical Support for capacity building and methodological support for the effective preparation and implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan | 130,000 | |
| 21CY06 | Preparation and implementation of green taxation reform in Cyprus | 280,000 | |
| 21CY11 | Technical support for strengthening the capacity of the Health Commissioner’s Office | 500,000 | |
| 21CY13 | Creation of a National Promotion Agency | 350,000 | |
| 21CY15 | Promoting Projects proposed by Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans of Limassol and Larnaca | 400,000 | |
| 21CY16 | Support for the modernization and restructuring of the Social Insurance System | 300,000 | |
| 21CY21 | Structuring and operating the Broadband Competence Office | 450,000 | |
| 21CY22 | Data Driven Supervision | 500,000 | |
| 21CY26 | Support for the preparation of a National Customs Single Window | 300,000 | |
| 21CY28 | Update of Cyprus Energy and Climate policies | 310,000 | |
| 21CY30 | Digitalisation of insolvency and creation of specialised courts to handle insolvency cases in Cyprus | 230,000 | |
| 21CY31 | Improve implementation of policies to address school dropout – Phase 2 | 250,000 | |
| 21CY32 | Improve the Digital Skills of Adults in Cyprus | 400,000 | |
The Cyprus finance ministry is currently involved in close discussions with the European Commission about €1 billion Recovery fund projects that, if completed, will remake the island If the “National Recovery and Resilience Plans” (Recovery fund) projects are completed as planned, they will improve conditions in every area from education to job creation.
But we have been able to learn about a few of the projects. Sources at the finance ministry have shared with the Cyprus Mail information about those projects which are linked to 10 of the 13 Technical Support Instruments (TSI). These is additional funding (previously referred to as Structural Funds) intended to facilitate the Recovery fund projects.
A total of €4.4 million is allocated to Cyprus for these TSI projects. Of the 13 listed above, 10 are linked to Recovery Fund projects:
- Preparation and implementation of green taxation reform in Cyprus
- Technical support for strengthening the capacity of the Health Commissioner’s Office
- Creation of a National Promotion Agency
- Promoting Projects proposed by Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans of Limassol and Larnaca
- Support for the modernisation and restructuring of the Social Insurance System
- Structuring and operating the Broadband Competence Office
- Support for the preparation of a National Customs Single Window
- Update of Cyprus Energy and Climate policies
- Digitalisation of insolvency and creation of specialised courts to handle insolvency cases in Cyprus
- Improve implementation of policies to address school dropout – Phase 2
Through our sources at the Commission, we have been able to obtain details of some of the projects. These are not inclusive, but do shed some light on what we have to expect.
Details on Energy, Climate, Insolvency and Education
Update of Cyprus Energy and Climate policies
Through its Technical Support Instrument, the European Commission (DG REFORM) will provide technical support to the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry in order to ensure clean and affordable energy supply for the country.
Support measures aim to update the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) as well as the national targets, polices and measures for energy and climate through mitigation and adaptation strategies, assessments of schemes and policies, implementation of specific aspects of the Directive (EU) 2019/944, and a calculation methodology. Support is expected to contribute to redefine the national NECP as well as the national targets, polices and measures for energy and climate and adjust the national legislative framework accordingly.
Digitalisation of insolvency and creation of specialised courts to handle insolvency cases in Cyprus
Through its Technical Support Instrument, the European Commission (DG REFORM) will provide technical support to the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry & Supreme Court of Cyprus in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the framework governing insolvency.
Support measures aim to improve the current IT infrastructure to handle insolvency cases electronically and analyse the convenience to set up specialised chambers or courts to handle insolvency cases. Support is expected to contribute to providing the Department of Insolvency, as well as the Judiciary, with the appropriate infrastructure in terms of digitalisation (automation of procedures and use of suitable IT systems) and strengthen the specialisation and the skills of judges and courts in the field of Insolvency.
Improve implementation of policies to address school dropout – Phase 2
Through its Technical Support Instrument, the European Commission (DG REFORM) will provide technical support to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sport and Youth to tackle the issue of early school leaving in Cyprus.
Envisaged support measures aim to implement policy measures to address school dropout which have been proposed under the Structural Reform Support Programme (SRSP) project on school disengagement and school dropout. Support is expected to assist the Cypriot authorities on providing differentiable and equitable educational opportunities to students struggling at schools and to those who already dropped out. It the longer-term, it would contribute to reducing numbers of early school leavers in Cyprus.
How this process works
“The technical Support Instruments will assist Member States to design and carry out structural reforms as part of their efforts to support the job creation and sustainable growth objectives enshrined in the National Recovery and Resilience Plans (Recovery fund)” explained Antigoni Pafiti, a lawyer with Elias Neocleous & Co. in Brussels.
To understand the process: Back in January 2020, discussions began among the relevant EU entities and the Cyprus government ministries to determine which projects should be financed to move Cyprus forward economically and socially.
The projects selected are called “Country-Specific Recommendations.” They can be found here: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1591720698631&uri=CELEX%3A52020DC0513 .
These recommendations were then taken up by the government ministries, each of which has elaborated projects for proposal, and these were brought together in an overall Plan for Cyprus collocated by the finance ministry and sent to Brussels in January.
“Plans are based on the challenges identified in the country’s specific recommendations on the way to a stronger recovery after and beyond the Covid-19 pandemic. TSI would cover the overall support while a network of consultants and experts will be sent to provide implementation assistance on the ground. This support to Member States for implementing their institutional, administrative, and growth-enhancing reforms will facilitate the rapid disbursement of EU funding from the Recovery and Resilience Facility,” Pafiti continues.
Support may be provided directly through the Commission’s in-house expertise or with other providers of technical support. Experts from EU Member States’ national administrations (TAIEX) – is an instrument managed by EC to implement part of the TSI of DG REFORM. The instrument allows experts from national administrations to exchange expertise through expert missions, study visits and workshops. The instrument is only available for projects selected under the TSI.
There will also be support from international organisations, private firms and consultancies, and individual experts from the private sector.
