Filenews 8 July 2021
The good news from the Commission will be conveyed today by President President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to the President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades. The President is expected to hand the President the approval of the National Recovery Plan, through which Cyprus will draw up to €1.2 billion from the Recovery Fund. The ceremony of delivery of the approval of the Cypriot project is expected to take place at the University Library and then Von der Leyen and Anastasiades will make statements.
With the adoption of the National Recovery Plan, Cyprus is expected to receive the first advance of its European funds. In particular, in July it will receive 13% of the money, equivalent to €130m.
For Cyprus to disburse the remaining money, it will have to implement 58 reforms, 76 development investments by 2026 and 51 pieces of legislation approved by parliament. Already, Finance Minister Konstantinos Petridis has sent the House a list of the 23 bills that will have to be adopted by the end of the year, as well as a list of the remaining 28 pieces of legislation that will have to be passed by Parliament by the end of 2025. It is recalled that the Cyprus Recovery Plan consists of five policy axis, namely public health and civil protection – lessons learned from the pandemic, the rapid transition to a green economy, the strengthening of the resilience and competitiveness of the economy, the digital age, the labour market, education and human capital. Of these, at least 37% should be allocated to actions to address climate challenges and at least 20% to actions for the digital transition.
It is worth noting, on the basis of the official programme, that during today's visit of the European official to the Campus there will be a brief presentation of four projects of the Intelligent Systems and Networks Research Centre. There will also be a public consultation with the participation of students of the University, during which President Anastasiades and Mrs von der Leyen will answer questions. Later, the President of the Republic and Mrs von der Leyen will go to the 3rd floor of the Library building, from where one can view occupied Nicosia.
