The Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment is expected to implement Projects amounting to €160 million on environmental protection, for the period 2014-2020 with allocations from European funds. The projects concern the management of solid and liquid waste.
Agriculture Minister Nicos Kouyialis had Thursday a meeting with European Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu, with whom he discussed both the progress of projects for the programming period 2007-2013 and the framework for cooperation on projects for 2014-2020.
“We want to work in the best possible way to implement projects of €160 million worth, allocated under the pillar of environment and we hope that with these projects we will be able to protect the environment, to improve the living conditions in Cyprus, to create regional development and jobs, and at the same time to achieve our goals over the Europe 2020 strategy,” said Kouyialis after the meeting.
On her part, Creţu congratulated the Minister for the work done in major projects concerning the environment and waste management in cooperation with the European funds and said she hopes that this cooperation will continue. She also said that his year is very decisive, because the programme for the period 2007 -2013 will be finished and in the same time, the new programming period will start. She also said the Commission will assist the Cypriot authorities in everything it takes in order to fully absorb the funds.
“We are ready to assist Cyprus to exit the crisis and establish a new growth strategy which can generate more jobs and improve the life of the people”, she said.
Creţu hailed the improvement of the climate between the two communities in Cyprus and said she hopes that the reunification of the island will follow soon, pointing out that the EU is ready to assist with programmes on peace and reconciliation.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. UN-led talks, aiming to reunite the island under a federal roof, resumed on May 15, this year.