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- Ελληνικά
Fellow countrymen and women,
Dear friends,
As we complete our first year of governance, I stand before you to present what we have achieved. After all, the transparency and accountability I promised are at the core of our philosophy. Our design for the Cyprus we want, our political orientation is based on specific and targeted priorities:
- Improving the daily lives of every citizen,
- building a strong and resilient economy,
- laying the foundation for a better tomorrow by investing in education and health,
- accelerating the green transition,
- modernizing and reorganizing our state, and
- strengthening our position as a strong partner in the European Union and the wider region.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
At the heart of our priorities remains, of course, our national issue. In the coming days, the Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General will return to Cyprus for contacts. The appointment of Ms. Holguin and the beginning of a new effort to resume talks was the result of our own persistent efforts and initiatives.
Our mobilization towards the United Nations, the European Union and all major international actors, always in cooperation with the Greek Government, is yielding results. Everyone recognizes our readiness and our political will to come to the negotiating table with sincerity and determination, with the sole objective of resolving the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Bi-zonal Bicommunal Federation, building on the negotiating acquis to date.
Our pursuit is clear and sincere. We seek the liberation and reunification of our homeland through a solution that guarantees basic human rights for all legitimate citizens of our country, free of occupying troops and invasive rights.
Without ignoring the difficulties and challenges as a result of the Turkish stance, we approach Ms. Holguin's mission with the utmost seriousness and as a window of opportunity to resume meaningful talks. It is in this context that we are seeking a more active involvement of the European Union, taking into account the full range of Euro-Turkish relations. Such a development can, yes, lead us, through the resolution of the Cyprus problem, to a mutually beneficial state of affairs.
Friends,
Beyond the Cyprus problem, which is a vital issue that touches the future of our country, ensuring a strong and resilient economy is non-negotiable for our government.
As soon as we took over, we were called upon to manage a critically unpleasant development with the sanctions from the United States and Britain. From the outset, we made clear the importance we attach to our country's reputation and credibility, demonstrating a determination in practice for zero tolerance. In this context, I did not hesitate to ask foreign authorities to assist the investigations in order to complete the relevant procedures as quickly as possible. At the same time, we are resolutely proceeding with the establishment of a National Sanctions Enforcement Team, but also with the very important reform to establish a Single Supervisory Authority for administrative service providers.
We want to ensure that we put the practices that have exposed our country behind us once and for all. ONLY in this way will we get rid of any shadow that affects the credibility of our Cyprus and that is, among other things, an obstacle to attracting quality investment and creating new jobs.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Cypriot economy is on a steady course with positive growth prospects, despite the complex challenges it faces due to the unstable geopolitical environment. According to the latest European Union estimates, the Cypriot economy is expected to record the second highest growth rate for 2024. The upgrade of our economy to investment grade by all the rating agencies is a vote of confidence and a reward for the prudent policies we are pursuing and is based on the triple bottom line: Fiscal Responsibility, a stable financial system and continuous reforms.
During the first year of our governance, we achieved important milestones, such as. [*]The adoption of an improved legislative framework on divestments pending since 2017, as well as the extension of the powers of the Financial Commissioner, thereby strengthening the protection net for vulnerable borrowers. [*]The implementation of the Rent versus Rent Scheme. [*]We have financially reinforced the Solidarity Fund for Savings Depositors by EUR 50 million and activated, as promised, the platform for the submission of online claims for compensation. [*]Through intensive negotiations with the EU, the reduction of VAT on first homes was passed. [*]We set up a special Equity Fund to finance start-up companies to boost innovation. [*]We have updated the Investment and Talent Attraction Strategy with important new incentives for housing, education and mobility within the EU. [*]We have accelerated the processing of applications to employ foreigners from third countries. [*]We laid the foundations for the country's Tax Transformation, with a view to enhancing business competitiveness and achieving the strategic goals for green and digital transition. [/LIST]
Our first surplus budget is another important milestone and confirms our determination to achieve the goal of a strong and resilient economy.
Fellow citizens,
Economic accountability of governance is a prerequisite for the implementation of a targeted social policy, thereby also addressing punctuality. A few days ago we announced a second package of support for households and businesses, amounting to EUR 60 million, following on from the measures that came into force last October, amounting to EUR 196 million. Far from populist approaches that jeopardise the fiscal stability of our country, in this first year of our government, we have acted responsibly and, in addition to the two support packages, we have implemented other important policies that benefit, in particular, the middle class and businesses.
In particular, we have moved forward with determination:
- Increasing maternity leave to 22 weeks,
- paying the statutory pension from the first month,
- imposing a reduced or even zero VAT rate on basic products,
- increasing the rent allowance for displaced persons and victims,
- the payment of care allowance to relatives of fallen and missing persons,
- the increase of the honorary mother's allowance,
- the rationalisation of the Minimum Guaranteed Income,
- the 5% increase of the minimum pension,
- the faster approval of applications for the payment of public benefits, and
- the adoption of legislation on e-Kalathi.
At the same time, as part of the dialogue with the social partners:
- We increased the national minimum wage to 1,000 euros, and
- we reached the agreement on ATA, which benefits 180,000 workers in the private and public sectors.
Friends,
With determination and commitment to improve the daily lives of citizens, we have made important interventions. These interventions include our decision on the new housing policy for affordable housing, the most substantial ever announced, which aspires to offer solutions to hundreds of our fellow citizens, especially the younger generation, through specific incentives such as. [*]The grants to young couples and young people to purchase their first home. [*]The Interest Rate Subsidy Scheme for the purchase and construction of a first home. [*]The Family Land Allocation Scheme. [*]The Revised Planning Incentives for Affordable Housing. [*]The extension and upgrading of the Planning Incentive Scheme for business recovery. [/LIST]
At the same time, we decided to implement a series of measures to reduce bureaucracy, particularly in the area of licensing of residential developments.
In relation to the refugee world, one of our first actions was to promote solutions in relation to unsuitable refugee blocks of flats through the €110 million KTIZO Plan. In our refugee policy also of particular importance were the decisions to streamline and make fully transparent the management of Turkish Cypriot property, as well as the significant improvement and enrichment of the plans of the Central Entity for Equal Burden Sharing, which I announced a few days ago.
Important actions implemented to improve the daily life of citizens also include. [*]The operation of the 1450 call centre for services related to benefits. [*]The filing of a bill to establish rules for the management and operation of apartment buildings. [*]The Pame Express for traffic mitigation, which resulted in the removal of about 400 vehicles a day from the Nicosia road network. [/LIST]
At the same time, of paramount importance during the first year of our government was dealing with the issue of migration, with the aim of our country ceasing to be considered an attractive destination. In this context and as we had promised, among other things. [*]We have substantially strengthened the Immigration and Asylum Service. [*]We have more than doubled the number of asylum examiners. [*]We drastically reduced the processing time of applications to just 3 months. [*]We increased the rate of deportations by 200%. [*] We interconnected the computerised systems of the Ministries of Interior and Labour, succeeding in identifying irregular migrants who were working. [/LIST]
As a result of our work, for the first time, asylum seekers and non-beneficiaries leaving our country have increased by 66% and are clearly outnumbered by those coming in. The figures speak for themselves.
Friends,
Green Transition and environmental protection play an important role in improving everyday life and are a key component of the political orientation of our governance. In this context, we have, among other things, proceeded with. [*]Virtual net metering scheme. to enable the use of renewable energy by households and businesses. [*]Project for the first time for energy upgrading of large enterprises. [*]Enhanced Electric Vehicle Market Subsidy Schemes. [/LIST]
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As I have pointed out, an important dimension in laying the foundation for the better tomorrow we want is the upgrading of education and the provision of quality health services. These are two policy areas that touch, almost daily, each and every one of us, and are areas of paramount importance for our governance. I mention very briefly that in the first year we proceeded with:
- The new student evaluation system,
- the modernization of afternoon and evening programs and the change in work schedules,
- the completion of the installation of photovoltaic panels in 405 schools and the beginning of the implementation of our decision to install air conditioners in all schools,
- the extension of full-day schooling in secondary and primary education,
- the start of the process of updating the curricula of all levels of education,
- the completion of a proposal and the submission of a bill on free compulsory education from the age of 4,
- the Youth Culture Card,
- the operation of first aid in private hospitals and the improvement of the CICU at Nicosia General Hospital,
- the placement of nurses in schools in remote areas, and
- the equipment subsidy and accreditation schemes for hospitals.
Friends,
The modernization of the State, and particularly of its institutions, is a cornerstone of our policies. In this context, continuous institutional reforms are a key component of our government's programme. We are working methodically for the successful implementation of the three flagship reforms concerning Local Government, Justice and the Civil Service. In changes of this magnitude, challenges are expected and to a large extent, I would say, inevitable. Where structural distortions prove to exist, the government, in cooperation with the social partners and Parliament, will take corrective action.
In the context of the institutional modernization of the State and the need to regain citizens' trust in the institutions, one of the important reforms we have implemented concerns the selection process of members of the Boards of Directors of semi-governmental organizations. The establishment and operation of the Advisory Council is a very important step towards strengthening equality, which at the same time allows, for the first time, hundreds of our fellow citizens to apply for appointment.
- In the same framework of the institutional modernization of our State, we regulated for the first time by law the recruitment and employment status of advisors and associates of the President and members of the Council of Ministers, while
- In order to ensure the effective implementation of the decisions taken by the Government, we established the Secretariat for Coordination and Support of Government Work in the Presidency of the Republic.
At the same time, as I mentioned above, our approach to corruption and corruption phenomena is clear and absolute. Apart from the practical zero tolerance to such phenomena that damage the reputation and credibility of our country, we have taken other important actions that demonstrate in practice our unquestionable political will. I mention, for example, the substantial support for the Independent Authority against Corruption, the establishment of a Committee to follow up the recommendations of the Greco Group, the creation of an internal audit unit at the Presidential Office and the strengthening of the Ethics and Sports Protection Committee.
Friends,
The policies and actions that we have decided, implemented or launched, always through a people-centred approach, will be made public in detail and in greater detail, so that citizens have full knowledge, while at the same time, within the framework of continuous accountability, the Ministers and Deputy Ministers will present in press conferences, in the next few days, the work they have done.
Tonight I have referred very briefly to the most important of the policies that we have promoted and implemented in the first year of our administration. I certainly do not claim that in these first twelve months we have not avoided mistakes. But I can confidently claim that we have laid the foundations to achieve the better Cyprus that we all envision.
Thank you very much.
(PM/EAth/EL)
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