Filenews 6 August 2023 - by Eleftheria Paizanou
Fifty projects in local authorities are being promoted through the National Recovery Plan, which should be implemented by the end of 2026. They concern projects relating to sustainable territorial development strategies.
Cyprus, despite the diversification of the Plan, is expected to receive an amount of €1.2 billion, of which €120 million. will be allocated to municipalities and communities. At the same time, another 14 projects are in progress, funded through the Cohesion Policy Programme "THALEIA 2021-2027", while nine more projects have been added to them, at a cost of €50 million.
The National Recovery Plan includes 133 projects, of which 58 concern reforms and another 75 investments and are spread across the five policy axes. The five policy pillars concern public health and civil protection, a rapid transition to a green economy, strengthening the economy's resilience and competitiveness, digital reform, as well as employment, education and people.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Elikkos Elias, in response to a question submitted by AKEL MP George Loukaidis, stressed that in addition to the projects that will be funded and implemented in specific local authorities, such as the creation of child care centers in the Municipalities of Paralimni, Ayia Napa, Germasogeia, Agios Athanasios, as well as the construction of flood protection works in the Municipality of Livadia, The implementation of horizontal investments within the policy axes is expected to bring results and benefits to all local authorities in Cyprus.
The competent authority for coordinating and monitoring the implementation of the plan has been designated as the Recovery Directorate of the General Directorate of the Ministry of Finance. The Council of Ministers has approved an amount of €120 million for local authorities, resulting from the seven sustainable spatial development strategies submitted to the Ministry of Interior for evaluation. At the same time, a list of projects carried over from the 2014-2023 programming period is included.
Works by "THALEIA"»
According to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, last March the General Directorate for Development, as managing authority of the cohesion policy program "THALEIA 2021-2027", informed the European Funds Unit of the ministry that it assumes the role of intermediary body for the projects to be implemented by local authorities, in the context of their strategies for integrated territorial development. as well as nine additional projects with a budget of €50 million. So far, according to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, the implementation of 14 projects is in progress, which by the end of the year will be included in the THALIA Plan.
At the same time, Mr. Elias emphasizes that in July last year, the Directorate General for Development, after positively evaluating the seven sustainable spatial development strategies, informed the interested local authorities that an amount of €120 million will be allocated to them. for the implementation of the specific actions related to the National Recovery Plan. At the same time, the local authorities involved were asked to focus on the maturation of specific projects, which were defined by the Directorate-General for Development in consultation with local authorities.
As the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior points out, the amounts corresponding to each municipality and community within the same strategy, the amounts allocated between the actions, will be re-evaluated at regular intervals, depending on the maturity progress achieved and the dates of announcement of construction contracts.
How will the €120 million be allocated?
The €120 million budget related to integrated territorial development strategies will be distributed as follows:
- The Nicosia district will receive an amount of €31 million. Specifically, an amount of €6.6 million will be granted to Nicosia Municipality an amount of €3.2 million in the Municipality of Strovolos, €1.6 million. in the Municipality of Lakatamia, €1.95 million to the Municipality of Aglantzia, an amount of €1.9 million in the Municipality of Engomi and €1.5 million in the Municipality of Agios Dometios. In addition, an amount of €10.2 million will be provided in the municipalities of Nicosia, Strovolos and Lakatamia. Funds of €4 million will also be provided for the implementation of horizontal projects.
- Funds of €28 million are expected to be allocated to the Limassol district, of which €10.8 million will be given to the Limassol Municipality. From €2.1 million will receive the municipalities of Ypsonas, Kato Polemidia and Germasoyia. Also, funds of €4.3 million will be given to the Municipalities of Agios Athanasios and Mesa Geitonia, while an amount of €6.2 million will be given to be allocated to the implementation of other horizontal projects in areas of the province.
- The district of Pafos represents projects of €21 million, of which projects of €16.5 million correspond to the Municipality of Pafos and €4.5 million in the Municipality of Geroskipou.
- The integrated territorial development strategy in the free area of Famagusta is intended for projects of €15 million. €5 million projects planned. in the Municipality of Paralimni, €2 million in the Municipality of Deryneia, €1.8 million in the Municipality of Ayia Napa, €3 million; in the Municipality of Sotira, €1.5 million in the community of Avgorou, €1.2 million in Achna and €500,000 in the community of Acheritos.
- In the network of the municipalities of Latsia and Geri, projects of €3 million are planned.
Within the framework of the integrated territorial development strategy of the network of local authorities, which includes the municipalities of Dali, Tseri and the communities of Pera Chorio, Nisou, Lympia, Alhambra, Agia Varvara and Potamia, a horizontal project worth €2 million has been planned.
The main projects promoted
According to the indicative list of candidate co-financed projects, among those promoted are the first phase of the renovation of the inner perimeter arch, the maintenance and expansion of the Municipal Market of the Old Town Hall and the renovation of the creative business district, all in Nicosia.
Also, the construction of a kindergarten in Lakatamia, the upgrading of the historic core of Strovolos, the regeneration of the river Pedieos, the improvement and creation of linear parks in municipalities of the Limassol district and the revitalization of the urban environment in districts of Limassol are promoted.
In Larnaka district, the formation of Salina Park, the creation of a recreation area in Tsiakkilero, the remodelling of the Pattichion Park, the redevelopment of the Acropolis Square and the new municipal retirement home are being promoted.
In the Pafos district, among others, the renovation of the traditional core of Anavargos, the construction of premises of the School of Tourism Management and the formation of parallel coastal pedestrian streets are being promoted.
Finally, in the free area of Famagusta, the creation of a cultural hall in Deryneia, an urban multifunctional park and a multipurpose centre in Ayia Napa, an open-air amphitheatre in Avgorou, as well as various types of parks in various communities of the area, will be promoted.
This is what Larnaka will get
For the sustainable urban development strategy for the city and the wider area of Larnaka, an amount of €20 million will be allocated. For Larnaka Municipality projects of €9.7 million are promoted, for Aradippou Municipality projects of €3.5 million are being promoted, in the Municipality of Dromolaxia-Medeo projects of €1.7 million will be implemented. and the Municipality of Livadia €1.4 million. Other projects of €470 thousand are also planned. in the municipalities of Larnaka and Meneou and horizontal projects of €3.1 million throughout the province.
