The period given by the Commission to the member states to implement the prerequisites of the Recovery Fund ends tomorrow, as the Plan will be completed at the end of the year.
Cyprus, out of the 221 prerequisites included in the Cyprus plan, has completed 220 and one partially, which concerns the green transition.
Cyprus did not implement the prerequisite for the carbon tax, known as the green tax, and the landfill fees, resulting in a loss of €28 million in European funds. Due to the incomplete implementation of the green transition milestone, the country will receive a total of €992 million instead of €1.02 billion.
Through the Recovery Plan, it has proceeded with reforms, investments, actions, infrastructure projects, as well as sponsorship schemes. The most important reforms completed through the Cyprus plan are:
∙ Education: Extension of free compulsory pre-school education from the age of four. Adoption of a new system for the evaluation of educational work and teachers.
∙ Health: Introduction of a quality-based reimbursement model in primary and nursing care. Reform of the health care system, through the preparation of clinical protocols related to medical care.
∙ Work: Introduction of flexible forms of work in the form of teleworking.
∙ Energy: Independence of the Transmission System Operator from the Electricity Authority of Cyprus, to facilitate the opening of the electricity market to competition and the promotion of renewable energy sources (RES).
∙ Environment: Legislation for the phasing out of the most polluting vehicles, especially in urban areas with high levels of pollution.
∙ Improvement of the legislative and institutional framework for the fight against corruption – Establishment of an Anti-Corruption Authority.
∙ Reform of local government.
∙ Legislation to facilitate strategic investments.
∙ Strengthening the national regulatory authority (OCRB), in order to facilitate broadband connectivity in Cyprus.
∙ Facilitating the deployment of very high capacity network infrastructure.
∙ Reform of public administration, improvement of its procedures and operation for better policy-making and implementation.
As part of the implementation of the Recovery Plan, €600 million worth of infrastructure projects have been completed. Some of the projects are:
∙ In the field of health, in addition to the construction and strengthening of building infrastructure and equipment in state hospitals and hospitals throughout Cyprus, other targeted projects stand out, such as the upgrading of the Paphos General Hospital with a new dialysis unit, the strengthening of interventional radiology at the Nicosia General Hospital, as well as the creation of new structures, such as the Mental Health Center, the Pancyprian Blood Center and other regional Health Centers.
∙ Digital transformation: Digitization of public administration services and development of modern information systems, such as, for example, the Department of Road Transport, the Deputy Ministry of Shipping, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ports Authority, the National eHealth Authority for the development of cross-border e-health services, the Ministry of Health on epidemiological issues, the Legal Service and the General Accounting Office on public procurement issues.
∙ Projects of energy upgrade, sustainable transport and smart solutions for water and energy management. Important projects completed include the installation of photovoltaic/thermal insulation systems in 405 schools, the implementation of flood protection projects, the creation of water tanks, the development of "smart" water and electricity meter systems and the implementation of Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans in Limassol and Larnaca.
∙ Projects for the modernization of the educational system and social cohesion, such as the creation of Multipurpose Centers for children, the creation of two model special education schools and the creation of 775 new places in public kindergartens for preschool children.
∙ Projects to strengthen civil protection, with the implementation of the "CY ALERT" early warning system.
∙ Creation of student dormitories in walled Nicosia and creation of the route of Aphrodite to Ineia.
All 40 sponsorship schemes, with a total budget of €420 million, gave a boost to the economy. The projects helped to support businesses, households, local authorities, as well as other actors. Among other things, targeted projects were implemented for employment, youth support and care for children and people in long-term care.
