Filenews 7 July 2022
The funds from the Cohesion Fund for the programming period 2021 - 2027, amounting to €1 billion, will give a new impetus for a sustainable development in Cyprus and its independence from fossil fuels, said the European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, who praised Cyprus' performance in using EU funds.
Ms Ferreira is in Nicosia for the official announcement of the approval of the cohesion policy partnership agreement, as well as the approval of the country's operational programme and just transition plan. Cyprus is the first country to achieve the approval of its design (THALIA Programme) for the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Social Fund. European funds amounting to €1 billion are also accompanied by national resources of €800 million, bringing the total programme to €1.8 billion by 2027.
Cyprus has a very good performance in relation to the utilization of these funds and we believe that the new period will again give Cyprus a good impetus to further decarbonization, to have growth based more on the use of digital technology and innovation and in fact to make better use of these funds for an ongoing, sustainable development for the Republic of Cyprus", said Ms. Pereira in statements to journalists after her meeting with the President of the Republic Nicos Anastasiades, in the presence of the Minister of Finance Konstantinos Petrides.
When asked about the amount of funds that will be allocated to Cyprus during this period, Ms. Ferreira said that from the Cohesion Fund the funds amount to about €1 billion, which are allocated to areas such as infrastructure, biodiversity, support for small businesses, digitalization, renewable energy sources "from which you can make huge progress in decarbonizing and this will be beneficial for everyone".
Saying that Cyprus was one of the most efficient users of cohesion fund funds, Ms. Ferreira noted that during the pandemic Cyprus took advantage of the flexibility of EU programs, channelling support to businesses, the health system and workers. "And we are pleased that we have opened a new period of support for sustainable development in Cyprus," he concluded.
