in-cyprus 21 October 2024 - by Angelos Nicolaou
Cyprus has developed a national programme to comply with the EU Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive, following pressure from the European Commission.
The original deadline for Cyprus to meet its obligations was December 31, 2012. Nearly 12 years later, implementation remains incomplete, with 28 non-compliant settlements expected to achieve compliance by late 2030.
Sources indicate that delays in initiating several projects have pushed back interim compliance dates for most of the 28 settlements beyond the binding dates Cyprus had committed to Brussels.
If the Commission deems these delays unjustified, it may refer Cyprus to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) for sanctions.
The Ministry of Finance will closely examine the liquidity of project implementation bodies in five municipalities (Aradippou, Livadia, Ypsonas, Dali, and Polis Chrysochous) during the project implementation period.
The state contribution to cover the funding deficit for these municipalities is estimated at €207.4 million, with a required cash flow of €323.2 million during project execution.
Total state contribution required for implementing sewerage projects between 2024-2030 amounts to €512.1 million.
For the 28 settlements still needing to comply with the Directive, the total capital expenditure is €691.6 million, with a total state contribution of €518.6 million. Of this, €60.3 million has already been paid, leaving a remaining state contribution of €458.3 million.
Cyprus’s non-compliance by 2012 for 31 of 57 settlements in the implementation programme led to an ECJ ruling on March 5, 2020.
This authorised authorities to provide six-monthly updates to the Commission on sewerage project progress and additional measures taken to execute the ECJ decision.
On April 19, 2023, the Commission sent a second warning letter under Article 260 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
It stated that Cyprus had not yet taken all necessary measures for 29 of the 31 settlements to comply with the ECJ’s March 2020 decision.
Two settlements, Paliometocho and Kokkinotrimithia, have already fulfilled their obligations.
In their June 16, 2023 response to the second warning letter, authorities included completion dates for construction works and settlement compliance.
Cyprus has set medium and long-term goals to ensure state commitment to the Commission while attempting to minimise additional delays in completing the directive’s implementation programme.
