The Plenum of the Parliament approved during its session today, the budgets of the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission, the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Agency, the Cyprus Human Resources Development Authority and the Centre for the Vocational Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities for 2022.
Securities and Exchange Commission
The budget of the Securities and Exchange Commission of €13,184,361 was approved with 48 votes in favour and 1 abstention.
In his statement, AKEL MP Christos Christofides referred to the €31 million fines imposed by the authority, stating that €20.5 million remain unpaid. About half of the amount, he said, is owed by the Bank of Cyprus, bank board members, senior officials and so on.
DIKO MP Christiana Erotokritou said that explanations were given to the Finance Committee that these unpaid fines are in the process of being challenged before the courts. However, she said the matter is being followed up.
The MP for the Ecologist Movement - Citizens' Co-operation Stavros Papadouris, said that these fines will be settled through settlements, while the Commission made it clear that no amount will be lost.
DPA-Cooperation MP Alekos Tryfonidis, noted that the Securities and Exchange Commission is starting procedures for the supervision of cryptocurrencies.
Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation (CAP).
AKEL MP Andreas Kavkalias pointed out the need to simplify the procedures followed by the Agency, with less bureaucracy and faster payments. He also said that while in 2020 the CIO had 700 thousand euros in interest income, in 2021 it paid 190 thousand in interest and 99 thousand in bank fees. He mentioned that money provided for farmers ends up in fees and bank charges. He also asked for a plan to be formulated by the Government to assist in lending to farmers from banks.
DPA MP Alekos Tryfonidis pointed out the need to reduce delays and bureaucracy and welcomed the creation of a regional office of the CMP in Polis Chrysochous and called for the expedited creation of an office in the Solia area. He also called for strong incentives to be given to farmers to produce sheep and goat milk for halloumi and an incentive for expatriates to cultivate farms in the countryside so that they are not abandoned.
DIKO MP Chrysanthos Savvidis welcomed the creation of a regional office in Polis Chrysochous, while he said that the COAG is lagging behind in the field of enlightenment so that people are aware of the programmes announced.
ELAM MP Linos Papagiannis spoke of a huge gap in informing farmers and producers. He also said that they should collectively look at the farmers' insurance system to change it immediately.
DISY MP Marios Mavridis said he would like to see the CMOA open electronic offices on the internet to serve the whole of Cyprus with reduced costs and better services.
DISY MP Haralambos Pazaros said that under the Common Agricultural Policy of 2023-27 there will be digital reform and all procedures will be simplified.
Also the Parliament also voted unanimously with 50 votes in favour of the Human Resources Development Authority's budget of €40,531,000.
Centre for Vocational Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities
With 50 votes in favour and one abstention, Parliament approved the Special Fund of the Centre for Vocational Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities in the amount of €148,900.
DIKO MP Christiana Erotokritou said that they voted in favour of the budget, which is however too small to meet the needs, noting that the process of the medical council needed is time-consuming.
AKEL MP Andreas Kavkalias said that this fund was in danger of disappearing and that the funds included were an insult to us as a state. The issue, he said, will be thoroughly discussed in the Labour Committee.
PPP MP Alekos Tryfonidis spoke of an extremely meagre fund and said that incentives should be given for the professional rehabilitation of these people without difficult procedures.
Source: KYPE
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