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It is with great pleasure that I participate in tonight's symbolic event of the Union of Cyprus Communities. I wanted to participate in tonight's event, I came from Brussels today to be present at tonight's event in recognition and appreciation of the very important work that is being done.
Just a few days after the elections and the election of local leaders and a few days before the implementation of the long-awaited Local Government Reform, I would like to take the opportunity of my presence here tonight to congratulate the Board of Directors of the Union of Cyprus Communities for taking the initiative to honour the 63 Communities that are now transformed into municipalities. Despite all the benefits that their incorporation into municipalities will have for these Communities - I am sure that there will be multiple benefits - the very important contribution they have made over the years both to the Union of Cyprus Communities and to Cypriot society in general cannot be overlooked - and there should be no feelings of regret, at the end of the day we are human beings, we have feelings - their very important contribution over the years both to the Union of Cyprus Communities and to Cypriot society in general.
By joining with municipalities we expect to make your Communities even more efficient, more beneficial for the citizens, which is the main objective. At the same time, your administrative and economic development will bring added value at multiple levels for the well-being of your fellow citizens, and will also enable the services offered to be upgraded, in the context of a new, more modern and more efficient model of self-government. Something we were discussing earlier is the big challenge we have this summer with the fires and at this point I think that the amalgamation, the clusters, will help us to become more effective in dealing with such challenges as well.
At the same time, I would also like to address tonight the representatives of the 286 Communities, which in the new environment make up the 30 Service Delivery Clusters. As a Government, we strongly believe that the streamlining and cost-cutting ensured by the operation of the Clusters will have beneficial outcomes for local communities, reducing many of the challenges that they face from time to time, which to some extent, in most cases, are also due to a lack of specialist knowledge and an outdated operating model.
In this context, the organizational structure and the staffing of the Clusters with scientific staff, supporting the work and competences of the Presidents and Community Councils, will significantly strengthen you, contribute to full transparency and good governance, and ensure the great objective of serving citizens more efficiently. With the proper utilization of the qualified staff that will be recruited in the Clusters, you will also be able to participate in European programmes and bid for grants to develop infrastructure and services in the Communities, implement landscaping projects, regenerate historic cores in our beautiful communities, integrate technological tools into your daily lives and much more that you have not had the opportunity to bid for in the past.
The Local Government Reform is forming strong Clusters, where Communities will operate collectively on the one hand, and on the other hand, maintain their identity, historicity and heritage. Among the objectives is, within the Cluster, for the Communities to complement each other for their common good, to develop as a whole and as units, creating such dynamics that are able not only to retain the existing population but also to attract new population, which for us is a priority, along with the strengthening of business activity, which will lead to further economic growth.
It is precisely in this context that the Ministry of Interior recently announced the revision of the Clusters We deemed it necessary - after an assessment in the Ministry of Interior, after a very serious work that was done - to update these plans, since we found certain weaknesses that, yes, were unfair to some groups of citizens and excluded them from participating in the programs. The improvement of several provisions is clearly in the right direction and in the interest of citizens, and we are here to constantly evaluate them and if the need arises, to proceed with new changes.
At the same time, with the updating of the National Strategy for the Development of Mountain Communities-another major objective that involves all the Ministries, has a horizontal dimension with many policies, as well as our promoted actions for the construction of education, health and other infrastructures; for the issues of education and health in terms of I really believe that it is an achievable goal, a gamble for this Government, which I am sure we will achieve.
I would like to take this opportunity to mention that I have been very pleased to be informed by the Minister of Interior that since 3 June, when the new Plans were implemented, there has been a great deal of interest from citizens and the submission of applications is expected to begin officially in the next few months. And I want to tell you, as a Government, that if the plans are exhausted financially we will have to find resources from other state benefits so that we can give the opportunity to more of our compatriots to participate.
By the way, my friend Andrew, I would like to convey my thanks, the thanks of the Government, of the Ministry of Interior for your catalytic contribution to the formulation of these Plans and beyond. As you are well aware, the Government maintains open channels of communication with you and I can assure you that any further input from you, we will be very happy to receive it, to evaluate it. On many of the issues you clearly know better than we do and it is through cooperation alone that we will achieve our common goals.
I know - and we have discussed this in our recent meeting at the Presidential Office - that you are concerned, quite rightly, about the first transitional period after the start of the reform of local government, and in particular about the financial aspect, the economic dimension. It was in this context that we already decided that the Government would bear the initial cost of EUR 3 million for the recruitment of the necessary qualified staff to staff the Clusters, and it is in the same spirit that our decision a few weeks ago to support the 286 Communities with the additional amount of EUR 4.5 million.
I want to assure you that I personally, the Home Secretary and the Government as a whole remain at your side to address any challenges that may arise in implementing such a major reform. There will certainly be challenges and problems, particularly in the early stages. We expect that we will all need time to adjust to the new circumstances and we will need to be patient and persistent and give credit for time, while at the same time responding to society's expectations. In any case, please take our support for granted. After all, this is a joint, collective effort, with mutual benefits for the central State and the Local Authorities, but above all for the citizens, for all those to whom we are accountable as the final recipients of this great project and as those for whom we must work with the sole aim of improving their daily lives.
In closing, allow me to express my sincere thanks to the community leaders who are leaving the Union of Communities and their communities are now joining the new municipalities as municipal wards. Some of you have contested and been elected to the position of Deputy Mayor. Congratulations, I am sure that you will continue to produce work and make demands for your fellow citizens, as you have done all these years.
I especially congratulate today's honored community leaders Kato Lefkara Mr. Louis Koumenidis, Kition Mr. Mr. Savas Tanti, Mr. Damianos Michael of Skarinos, Mr. Panagi Michael of Avgoros and Mr. Michael Kaounas of Acheritos, who served on the Board of Directors of the Union of Cyprus Communities with dedication and love, always for the benefit of the local communities. I wish you well for the future.
Finally, I congratulate for their commitment those who did not stand for re-election and those who contested but were not re-elected, wishing you well in your new challenges.
(PM/EAth/GC)
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