It is with great pleasure that we welcome Commissioner Kyriakidou and the other representatives of the European Commission on a very important day for Cyprus.
And it is particularly important, as with the achievement of the first fourteen milestones of the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the subsequent disbursement of €85 million, the design of the National Plan "Cyprus - Tomorrow" is now being put into practice.
A Plan that is the product of intensive work and consultations at national level with the parliamentary parties, social partners and scientific advisors, but also of highly productive cooperation with the President of the Commission and the Services of the European Union.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The National Plan "Cyprus - Tomorrow" is an ambitious yet realistic plan for achieving a sustainable model of long-term development and strengthening the country's potential for economic, social and environmental sustainability.
In this context, five relevant policy pillars have been identified which relate to.
(d) Digital transformation.
(e) Employment and social protection, as well as education and skills development of human resources.
To achieve the above, the Plan includes a package of 133 measures, of which 58 are reforms and 75 are investment actions. A package of measures that constitute the largest reform and development intervention since the establishment of the Republic of Cyprus.
At the same time, taking into account the funds of the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the Cohesion Policy Fund, as well as the additional private investments that will result from the implementation of the supported projects, the economic impact of the Plan 'Cyprus - Tomorrow', excluding the expenditure of the annual budgets, which will also be adjusted in line with the national plan, amounts to 4.4 billion euros.
It is also worth noting that according to the economic impact study, as a result of the implementation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan alone, in addition to the projected increase in the Gross Domestic Product, an additional 7% will be added, while the implementation of the Plan's resources will create more than 11 thousand new, well-paid jobs.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I have mentioned, the disbursement of funds to Cyprus was made possible following the achievement of specific milestones and targets relating to.
(b) Investments and grant schemes related to the green transition, such as the promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy investments in small and medium-sized enterprises, municipalities, communities, the wider public sector, as well as in housing; and
(c) Confirmation of the adequacy of monitoring and control procedures to ensure the optimal use of European funds.
I should point out at this point that a detailed analysis by theme will be followed by the Ministers responsible in each case.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
For the successful completion of the first of the ten payment requests, I must express my sincere thanks to the competent Ministries and their officials, the European Commission and the parliamentary parties who have shown responsibility and voted for the necessary reform proposals.
Reform regulations which, as we know, are a prerequisite for the disbursement of the resources of the Recovery and Resilience Plan, which makes it imperative for all the country's institutions to work together, with the Government, the legislature, the Civil Service and the social partners at the forefront.
I realize that we are in the midst of an election period, and as is to be expected or even possible, it makes it difficult for the parties at this time to adopt any new reforms.
What I wanted to stress once again, however, is that the benefits of the adoption of the reforms and the implementation of the investment measures will not be reaped by the outgoing government of Anastasiades, but will be credited to all political forces, for the benefit of society and, of course, the citizens.
This is because, as I mentioned in the presentation of the National Plan "Cyprus - Tomorrow" on May 17, 2021:
"....I have no doubt that no matter what differences separate us, what unites us is the vision and the duty to create the Cyprus of tomorrow. The Cyprus that must embody and fulfill the expectations and demands of its citizens.
Because the Recovery Plan can and must change the course of Cyprus. It is our country's great opportunity. It is the new national effort, it is our biggest common bet and we all have to win it together. This is the only way to ensure a secure perspective for the new generations".
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The pandemic may have temporarily halted the course of economic growth and progress of our country, but with the dynamism, skills, professionalism and diligence of the human resources available in Cyprus, as well as the determination of the Government through its fiscal policy, it is clear once again that we can once again turn the crisis into an opportunity.
Having met the first 14 milestones, efforts are now focused on achieving what is required for the second payment request for an amount of €85 million concerning 7 reforms and 11 investments, the majority of which have already been implemented or are in the process of being implemented.
I have no doubt that with determination, proper planning, consistency, but also the cooperation of the Executive and Legislative Authorities and stakeholders, the timely implementation of these targets and milestones will again be achieved.
For the Cyprus of tomorrow, the new version of the country. This is our legacy to those who will succeed us.
(PM/EP/NG/SX)
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Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
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