Filenews 20 May 2025
In his opening remarks before the start of the Council of Ministers, the President of the Republic referred to the major reform concerning the evaluation of teachers, the Government's campaign for the repatriation of talent to Cyprus, as well as the continued development of the Cypriot economy.
Addressing the members of the Council of Ministers, the President of the Republic said that "the Commission's spring forecasts that we saw yesterday are particularly important, at this juncture. It is very important that the forecasts confirm both the resilience and stability, the positive dynamics of the economy that it reflects and our responsible policy with which we will continue in order to be able to make a targeted social policy, to invest in the sectors of Education and Health.
It is important that an increase in the growth rate of 3% for 2025, 2.5% for 2026 is projected, it is significantly higher than the average for the eurozone, but comparing it with strong EU member states in a period of international instability, uncertainty, two wars are continuing.
We need to invest even more, and it was positive that exports continue, strengthen, increase. We have a significant reduction in inflation, we have a significant fiscal surplus that allows us to pursue social policy. The reduction of public debt below 60% is a historical record for our country, compared to other countries that have a three-digit number of public debt. Unemployment has been at a historically low (percentage) since 2008, we will continue with the same responsibility in order to be able to make targeted social policy. Whatever some people say, we are entering an election period, we will hear a lot that is both inexpensive and without being based on the basis of real data, we continue with the same responsibility because we are not involved in the election campaign and in general our policy is also responsible on the basis of real data, thinking about the future of our country.
Today we will approve the general action plan that we will publish tomorrow in London, in the first campaign we are doing for the return of talent, the repatriation of talent to our country, an event that is taking place in collaboration with the CCCI and Invest Cyprus.
I would like to thank everyone involved in trying to have this action plan with very specific criteria, which we will announce tomorrow. Our country is now in the happy position to be able to repatriate talent, we need people, we need scientific staff and our goal through this great effort is to repatriate talent to Cyprus. I am glad that we exceeded 750 people, unfortunately we were forced to say no to more participations, so the whole event will be broadcast online so that as many as possible have the opportunity to attend it.
Today, too, we have an emblematic reform. As we promised during the election campaign, as society expects from us. We are moving forward with the reform of the new teachers' evaluation system. I will start by saying, and in response to some comments that I see in the media, there has been a public consultation for a long time, we cannot discuss indefinitely, we must have results. It is a model that was outdated, there have never been serious changes in the evaluation system, everyone must be evaluated and the most important thing is that they are properly evaluated and it is something that is also in the interest of teachers, for the benefit of our students, for the benefit of the education offered, with transparent procedures. There are multiple sources of evaluation, there are measurable pedagogical criteria, it is divided into three phases: before a teacher's tenure, after tenure, before promotion and after promotion. I hope, we are sending it to the Parliament, that soon there will be a vote by the Parliament so that we can move forward.
The last issue I want to mention is the marina and the port of Larnaca. Do you remember that an extended meeting was held with all the local bodies of the city of Larnaca? Today, we authorize the Minister of Transport to proceed with the signing of a relevant Agreement with HRADF of Greece in relation to the optimal way to develop and upgrade the marina and the port of Larnaca. The role of the port is crucial and we are proceeding today with this decision as we had agreed with the local bodies and the local authorities of Larnaca".
