-
.
- Ελληνικά
The President of the Republic Mr.Nicos Christodoulides chaired a meeting of the Council of Ministers at the Presidential Palace today. Constantinos Letibiotis told reporters the following. This new incident highlights once again in the most dramatic way that migration remains a serious problem that requires a coherent European approach and policy.
There is a very dark aspect of migration. Depraved criminal and trafficking rings exploit the human drama of our fellow human beings. Our thoughts are with the two girls who are hospitalized."
Referring to today's Cabinet decisions, the Spokesman said: "The new grants scheme to encourage the use of renewable energy and energy saving in homes 2024-2025 was approved, which includes the Photovoltaics For All category.
This category was added as part of the package of targeted measures to tackle poverty decided by the Government in October 2023, enabling the installation of a photovoltaic system up to 4kW by citizens who do not have the initial capital.
With a maximum repayment amount of €4,000 (€1,000 per kW), beneficiaries will also receive a €1,000 grant.
Following today's approval by the Council of Ministers, the registration of interested installers on the list of "Participating Traders" is expected to start in the coming days.
This will make it easier for the applicants to submit the application, while ensuring for their benefit a seven-year commercial guarantee, which enhances the viability of the investment.
A new special category B2: Roof insulation for vulnerable households with increased subsidy has also been added to the new Plan.
At the same time, the amount of subsidy for residences, where vulnerable electricity consumers reside, is increased from €1,000 to €1,250 per installed kW of photovoltaic, with a maximum subsidy amount of €6,250 instead of the previous €5,000. The sponsorship amount has been roughly calculated based on historical data to approximate 100% sponsorship.
Applications are expected to start by the end of February 2024.
All beneficiaries will receive pre-approval, and the implementation and application process has been modified to reduce bureaucracy for applicants and speed up the time to pay the sponsorship - the entire application process and processing will be conducted electronically."
The Spokesperson also said, "On Monday, January 29, at 8pm, the President will present the Government's planning for 2024. The Policies of our Programme for Institutional Reforms that contribute to the restructuring of the State include the annual presentation by the President of the Republic of the legislative programme that the Executive intends to advance.
This is being transformed into an institution that will further strengthen accountability to society and will be a catalyst for transparent and timely communication of what the Government is planning and putting on track for implementation.
Members of the Legislative Power, representatives of the Judiciary, representatives of Local Government, members of the Boards of Directors of the Semi-State Organizations that are executive arms of government policy, independent officials, the productive groups of our country and social partners have been invited to attend. The presentation will be broadcast live on RIK2."
Asked about the issue of the upsurge in fan violence and whether measures were decided today at the Council of Ministers, the Spokesman said: "The unacceptable incidents, the unacceptable incident and last night's unacceptable incident have been thoroughly discussed in the Cabinet."
There has been a very detailed exchange of views between the members of the Cabinet and the President of the Republic. We have been informed that an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee of the CMP has been convened tomorrow, at which the sole topic of discussion will be violence on the pitch.
The Minister of Justice and Public Order will attend before the Executive Committee discussion begins to set out the Government's views and concerns. Once we are informed of the decisions of the Executive Committee, the Minister of Justice and Public Order in coordination with the President of the Republic will consider further possible concrete measures that can be taken.
What is the view and position of the Government is that the safety of citizens, the safety of the venues, the protection of fans is non-negotiable. Such unacceptable incidents with the risk of human lives, as we saw last night when even young children were endangered on the pitches, cannot be accepted or tolerated."
He added that "various additional measures that can be taken are being considered."
Asked to comment on statements made today by the Minister of Justice and whether their content constituted an indictment of the Police, the Spokesman said: "What is inferred and what we need to know is that there was a strong police presence yesterday. At the same time, we must understand that it cannot and cannot be possible for the Police to have a strong presence at all the venues. Playing fields are not battlefields. Incidents had started outside the pitch and it was one of the reasons why the police officer in charge of the pitch informed the referee of the match, in consultation with the Minister of Justice, that in those circumstances there could not be sufficient policing.
What should be stressed and what should be recalled is that it is not possible that there should be such a heavy police presence to avoid incidents of flare throwing or injuries to fans.
What we need to bring back into the conversation and what we need to bring back into our lives is that the playing field is a place where each and every one of us, along with our children, can watch and enjoy the game without risking our lives. This for the Government is non-negotiable. Any decisions taken will be guided primarily and solely by this parameter."
Asked if there was a political decision not to start yesterday's match, the Spokesman said: "The decision was taken in accordance with the law. What happened last night, after the riots started, is that the President was informed and contacted the Minister of Justice and Public Order, who dutifully contacted the police officer in charge at the venue. He was informed by the police officer in charge of the playing field that the way the events were being conducted at the time, there could not be adequate policing of the field. The Minister of Justice and Public Order then, in coordination with the President of the Republic, told the police officer to inform the match referee and the match referee, just as the law provides, decided not to hold the match."
Asked if this was an override of the Chief of Police, the Spokesman said: "Apparently it was after consultation with the Chief of Police that the Minister of Justice and Public Order contacted the police officer in charge."
Asked about the Government's measures for Turkish Cypriots and asked whether the issue of granting citizenship to children from mixed marriages also touches on the issue of settlers, the Spokesman said: "The package has been prepared, has been assessed and is ready for the moment when the President of the Republic chooses to announce it, to publish it. The measures take into account all data and legal arrangements, all legal parameters and other data. They are measures that aim to have an immediate impact, to improve the daily life of our Turkish Cypriot compatriots. And in view of the arrival, the arrival of Mrs. Olgin in our country, where a meeting with the President of the Republic will take place on Tuesday, January 30, we are entering a new period, a period of mobility in the Cyprus problem, which is what we have sought from the very first moment. This is an important development and we are entering this new period with sincere political will, so that we can make a catalytic contribution to creating the conditions for the resumption of negotiations from the point where they were interrupted in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions".
(PM/NZ/GC)
Contents of this article including associated images are owned by PIO
Views & opinions expressed are those of the author and/or PIO
Source
