Pafos Live 25 June 2025
A meeting with the Presidents of the five Provincial Local Government Organizations (EDCs) was chaired today by the President of the Republic, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides, in the presence of the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Konstantinos Ioannou and the Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Mr. Nikodimos Damianos. During the meeting, the progress of the implementation of the Local Government reform was reviewed, especially with regard to the operation of the EDCs.
In statements after the meeting, the Minister of the Interior said that several of the issues raised have already been resolved, "whether they related to licensing issues or individual issues". As Mr. Ioannou noted, "the EDCs are a part of the reform that touches the everyday life of citizens and, therefore, we as the State, as the Government, have assured the EDCs that we will support them in their efforts".
According to the Minister, in the context of the discussion, "the water issue and the Government's efforts to support the issues of water, water supply and water losses were specifically mentioned. €8 million has already been given for this year. and the Government's effort is to subsidize them with additional money in the coming years".
In addition, sewerage issues were discussed, especially licensing issues that affect the everyday life of citizens. Enumerating the Government's actions to support the NEAs, mainly in the field of licensing, Mr. Ioannou underlined that "as the Government, we supported the EDAs during the transitional period that we had recognized from the beginning that it would exist, due to the fact that 46 Licensing Authorities were merged into five. We recognised the fact that there were problems in the transitional stage. We have supported these efforts by transferring either experienced personnel, or with the issue of expedited licensing, which accounts for about 50% of licensing. At the same time, we have implemented 22 measures to simplify the licensing process. We have approved the budgets and positions in a timely manner when they were submitted to us."
Nevertheless, the Minister of the Interior continued, "we see that the response that exists is not at the same level and due to the incomplete preparation that has been done. That is why the exhortations and the effort made on the part of the Government are as the EDAs should present a more substantial increase in productivity, in the rate of examination of applications".
Asked whether the EDCs will participate in the Town Planning Council, the Minister of the Interior said that at this stage they do not participate in the Town Council, noting that it is an issue that will be examined, as well as the participation of the Organizations in other bodies. He reminded that the Urban Planning Council has already begun the examination of the four Local Plans and, therefore, any change in its composition will also affect the Local Plans, in which a representative of the Associations of Municipalities and Communities, four people appointed by the Government and the General Directors of six Ministries participate.
On his part, speaking on behalf of the five EDCs, the President of the Nicosia District Self-Government Organization, Mr. Konstantinos Yiorkadzis, referring to the meeting, said that the President of the Republic placed particular emphasis on the problems faced in the water sector, due to water scarcity. According to Mr. Yiorkadzis, President Christodoulides "gave orders to accelerate the absorption of €8 million. which concerns the correction and reduction of leaks, which is an approved fund, in order to proceed with the various corrective actions to reduce leaks in the network. He gave a directive and asked for the coordination of Provincial Local Government Organizations and for all the needs arising from the outdated water supply network throughout Cyprus to be recorded".
In addition, Mr. Yiorkadzis said that issues related to the sewerage sector were discussed, especially in the Famagusta region. Information was also requested on the progress and timelines for the completion of the wastewater treatment plant in Solia. Finally, the President of the Nicosia EDA referred to the issue of rainwater and the projects that will proceed to be financed by the central State in relation to the flood protection efforts being made to shield the Communities from disasters, in cooperation with the competent Ministry.
