The presentation of the "Defence Armour" chapter of the Ministry of Defence's budget for 2023 to the Defence Committee has just been completed.
First of all, I would like to thank the Defence Committee and, by extension, the political parties for their cooperation throughout the whole period. I believe that any discussion or disagreement was not politically motivated but solely driven by the good of our country. Special thanks to the chairman of the committee, Marinos Sizopoulos. In this effort we had the support of the Ministry of Finance, which satisfied our every wish. As this is my last presence in Parliament as a member of the current government, I would like to emphasize the substantial contribution of the President of the Republic, Mr. Nicos Anastasiades, to the great effort to strengthen our deterrent power, both in the arms upgrade and in the strengthening of defence diplomacy.
As the Ministry of Defence, we have set objectives aimed at strengthening the defence and security of the country, as well as strengthening the functioning of the Ministry's structures, through the most rational use of the resources at our disposal. Our strategic objectives are based on 6 pillars. Allow me not to elaborate. It is certainly up to the new government to continue planning.
- In the second pillar, the strengthening of defence cooperation relations with other states, I would like to highlight the bilateral, trilateral and quadrilateral cooperation with more than 15 countries, participation in multinational activities and exercises that give prestige to the Republic of Cyprus and are beneficial to the personnel.
We have upgraded cooperation with the United States. We achieved the complete lifting of the embargo, which I personally consider a great diplomatic success, and we are continuously participating in the International Military Training (IMET) programmes. We concluded a Bilateral Service and Logistics Agreement (ACSA) and wheeled the National Guard into an SPP (State Partnership Program) with the State of New Jersey.
An important step was the signing of a bilateral cooperation program with Germany and the appointment of a Defense Attaché for the first time. We are in the process of negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The Search and Rescue Coordination Center in the last 2 years has organized 41 Exercises of which 11 were multinational. It has investigated 375 cases and carried out 118 operations resulting in the rescue of 679 people. Through its work it has become a hub for the provision of humanitarian services in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- In the 3rd pillar, which concerns our actions and plans for the implementation of innovative and reform actions, we support financially and administratively the participation of Cypriot entities in 17 programmes of the European Defence Industrial Development Programme (EDIDP) and the European Defence Fund (EDF). In addition, in cooperation with the Research and Innovation Foundation (RTI), we have recently launched new research and development projects in dual-use technologies, drawing a total of EUR 3 million from the Recovery and Resilience Fund.
We are implementing reform actions related to e-recruitment services such as electronic enlistment, declaration of details of male conscripts reaching the age of 16, application for recruitment of SYOPs, issuance of Type A certificate and interface with KEP - KEPO, Land Registry Department and Government Hub. The interconnection with the Cyprus Police Force has definitively solved the problem concerning the identification and conscription of unregistered reservists. Since the start of the system for locating reservists, a total of 10600 FAPs have been served.
- In the 4th pillar, which concerns the simplification and improvement of the Legislative and Regulatory Framework to combat desertion (down to 1.8%), the COA is now given the opportunity, through legislation, to check whether an athlete meets the necessary recruitment criteria and then issue a health card.
Legislation was enacted to regulate the working hours of members of the Army of the Republic and the NF and amendments were passed to the Regulations on the Army of the Republic concerning Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of the Army, in order to fill identified gaps. Further amendments are being prepared for 2023.
An additional 3 Brigadier, 6 Colonels, 14 Lieutenant Colonels, 9 Majors were granted, covering administrative needs. We upgraded the graduates of the Higher Military Schools of Non-Commissioned Officers of three years' standing who will now be placed in the A5 (2nd grade) and A6(ii) grades. The Ministry of Finance has made an improved proposal for a final resolution of the Contracted Non-Commissioned Officers' pension issue. I have today tabled a Bill which enhances the viability of the institution of CCOs. Specifically, they are allowed to remain in service until they reach the age of 42.
- Under Pillar 5, enhancing the efficiency of financial resources and the Budget, the efficient management of financial resources is evident from the absorption rate of the Budget by increasing it from 94% to 96%.
- In the 6th pillar, the Ministry's Environmental and Energy Policy, efforts are being made to reduce the National Guard's operating costs by utilizing renewable energy sources. In 2022, 2200 lighting fixtures were replaced, and by 2023 another 4400 energy-intensive fixtures in National Guard camps will be replaced with LED fixtures. For the energy saving programme, funding of €19 million has been secured from the European Structural Funds, in particular the Thaleia Programme, for the installation of photovoltaic systems with a total capacity of approximately 12 MW.
I have tried as briefly as possible to convey to you the most important of the actions of the Ministry of Defence and our strategic objectives that are linked to the Budget that we have submitted.
Thank you very much.
(MB/EXP)
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