The account of Nikos Christodoulidis – Cyprus, Financial system, Inner Governance – He developed the work of his Authorities through the first 12 months – “I actually don’t declare that in these first twelve months we didn’t keep away from errors. However I can confidently say that we’ve laid the muse to realize the higher Cyprus that all of us envision” mentioned the President – Highlights from his opening remarks on the cross-channel convention
Account of 1 12 months of presidency by the President of the Republic, with the Cyprus subject on the middle.
In his opening assertion and earlier than accepting the questions of the journalists/information administrators of the channels, President Christodoulidis talked about the priorities on which the orientation of his Authorities is predicated.
• To enhance the each day life of each citizen, • To construct a powerful and resilient financial system, • To determine a greater tomorrow, investing in training and well being, • To speed up the inexperienced transition, • To modernize and restructure the state, and • To strengthen of our place as a powerful associate within the European Union and the broader area.
Afterwards, he developed points in regards to the Cyprus subject, beginning with the appointment of Mrs. Holgin, who’s returning to Cyprus for contacts.
“Our mobilization within the route of the United Nations, the European Union and all essential worldwide actors, at all times in cooperation with the Greek Authorities, brings outcomes. Everybody acknowledges our readiness and political will to come back to the negotiation desk, with sincerity and dedication with the only real purpose of resolving the Cyprus downside on the premise of the Bizonal Bi-communal Federation, making use of the negotiation acquis so far. Our pursuit is evident and honest. We demand the liberation and reunification of our homeland, by an answer that ensures primary human rights for all authorized residents of our nation, with out occupying troops and invasive rights. With out ignoring the difficulties and challenges on account of the Turkish angle, we method Ms. Holgin's mission with the utmost seriousness and as a window of alternative to renew significant talks,” the President mentioned.
After which he referred to his efforts for extra lively involvement of the EU. “Inside this context, our effort for extra lively involvement of the European Union is included, taking into consideration the total vary of Euro-Turkish relations. Such a improvement can lead us, by the decision of the Cyprus subject, to a mutually helpful state of affairs” as he mentioned.
He then referred to financial points, talking of the nation's steady course with constructive progress prospects. He referred to the problem of sanctions that his Authorities was requested to handle upon assuming energy and the institution of a Nationwide Sanctions Implementation Unit in addition to the essential reform for the institution of a Single Supervisory Authority for administrative service suppliers, which the Authorities is continuing with.
Because the President mentioned “Throughout the first 12 months of our administration, we achieved essential milestones, resembling”:• The completion of the conditions for the 2nd and third cost request of the Restoration and Resilience Plan, with the absorption of funds amounting to 152 million euros,• The passing an improved legislative framework for gross sales pending since 2017 in addition to increasing the powers of the monetary commissioner, strengthening the safety web for weak debtors,• The implementation of the “Hire Towards Installment” Plan,• We financially strengthened the Fund by 50 million euros Solidarity for bereaved depositors and we activated, as we promised, the platform for submitting on-line claims for compensation,• By means of intensive negotiations with the EU, the VAT discount for the primary residence was voted in,• We arrange a particular Fairness Participation Fund to finance start-up corporations to spice up innovation,• We have now up to date the Technique for Attracting Funding and Expertise with essential new incentives, associated to housing, training and mobility inside the EU,• We have now sped up the examination of employment purposes of foreigners from third international locations,• We have now laid the foundations for the Tax Transformation of the nation, with the purpose of strengthening the competitiveness of companies and reaching the strategic objectives for inexperienced and digital transition.
He then referred to the problem of accuracy and the help packages introduced by the Authorities.
“Extra particularly, with dedication, we proceeded: • To extend the maternity depart to 22 weeks, • To pay from the primary month of the statutory pension, • To impose a decreased and even zero VAT fee on primary merchandise, • To extend the hire allowance for displaced individuals and victims,• The cost of care allowance to kin of fallen and lacking individuals,• The rise of the honorary mom's allowance,• The rationalization of the Minimal Assured Earnings,• The 5% enhance of the minimal pension,• The quicker approval of purposes for cost of public allowances,• In passing e-kalathi laws.
On the similar time, within the context of the dialogue with the social companions:• We elevated the nationwide minimal wage to 1,000 euros, and• We achieved the settlement on the ATA, which advantages 180 thousand employees within the personal and public sector” he mentioned.
Afterwards, the President referred to actions to enhance the each day lifetime of residents.
• The “Renovate – Hire” Scheme,• The “Construct to Hire” Scheme on personal land to supply housing at an reasonably priced hire,• Sponsorships for younger {couples} and younger individuals to accumulate a primary residence,• The Curiosity Subsidy Scheme for the acquisition and development of a primary residence ,• The Scheme for the Allocation of Plots to Households,• The Revised City Growth Incentives for providing housing at an reasonably priced value, and• The growth and improve of the City Growth Incentives Scheme for the restoration of enterprise exercise. On the similar time, we determined to implement a collection of measures to scale back forms , specifically within the area of residential improvement licensing.
In relation to the refugee world, one in all our first actions was the promotion of options in relation to unsuitable refugee house buildings, by the 110 million euro Housing Plan. Additionally, in our refugee coverage, the selections for rationalization and full transparency within the administration of Turkish Cypriot belongings, in addition to the numerous enchancment and enrichment of the plans of the Central Company for Equal Burden Distribution, which I introduced a number of days in the past, have been of specific significance.
Essential actions applied to enhance the each day lifetime of residents additionally embrace: • The Neighborhood Social Employee, bringing the social companies of the state nearer to the citizen, • The operation of the phone middle 1450 for companies associated to allowances, • The submitting of a invoice for institution of guidelines for the administration and operation of house buildings, • Pame Specific for visitors mitigation which resulted within the elimination of roughly 400 autos per day from the Nicosia street community.
Particular point out from the President to Immigration, noting that asylum seekers and ineligibles leaving our nation have elevated by 66% and are greater than these coming. “The proof speaks for itself” he mentioned and referred to the actions.
• Since June, we’ve submitted the invoice for the institution of the Deputy Ministry of Immigration and Asylum, which was handed a number of days in the past,• We have now considerably strengthened the Foreigners and Immigration Service,• We have now greater than doubled the variety of examiners of asylum purposes,• We have now drastically decreased the time for inspecting purposes to three months ,• We elevated the speed of deportations by 200%, and• We linked the pc programs of the Departments of Dwelling Affairs and Labor, succeeding in figuring out unlawful immigrants who have been working.
References to the Inexperienced Transition adopted.
• Enhanced plans for renewable power sources for households, with crucial being the “Photovoltaics for All” Plan,• Plan for Digital Web Metering, to allow the utilization of renewable power sources by households and companies,• Plan for first time for power upgrading of enormous corporations, and • Enhanced Subsidy Plans for the Buy of Electrical Autos.
Following his assertion, the President referred to the problems of Schooling and Well being.
“As I’ve identified, an essential dimension for the muse of the higher tomorrow we need is the upgrading of Schooling and the availability of high quality Well being companies. These are two areas of coverage that contact, nearly day by day, each one in all us, and are for our authorities, areas of utmost significance. I point out very briefly that within the first 12 months, we proceeded with: • The brand new scholar analysis system ,• The modernization of afternoon and night packages and the change of labor regime,• The completion of the set up of photovoltaics in 405 faculties and the beginning of implementation of our determination to put in air conditioners in all Colleges,• The extension of All-Day College to center and elementary training ,• The beginning of the method of updating the syllabi of the programs in any respect ranges,• The completion of a proposal and the submission of a related invoice free of charge obligatory education from 4 years,• The Youth Tradition Card,• The Operation of First Assist in personal hospitals and the development of the TAEP on the Normal Hospital of Nicosia, • The position of Nurses in faculties in distant areas, and • The Plans for subsidizing gear and accreditation of hospitals”.
Earlier than concluding his preliminary assertion, the President referred to the modernization of the state and establishments, referring to “steady reforms” characterizing three of them as emblematic. Native Authorities, Justice and Public Service.
“In adjustments of this magnitude, challenges are anticipated and largely unavoidable. The place it’s confirmed that there are structural distortions, the federal government, in cooperation with the social companions and the Parliament, will make corrective interventions. Within the context of the institutional modernization of the State in addition to the necessity to restore residents' belief within the establishments, one of many essential reforms we applied considerations the method of choosing members to the Boards of Administrators of Semi-Governmental Organizations. The formation and functioning of the Advisory Council is a vital step in direction of the strengthening of equality, which permits, on the similar time, for the primary time lots of of our fellow residents to say appointment.
• In the identical context of the institutional modernization of the State, we regulated for the primary time legislatively the recruitment and employment regime of advisers and associates of the President and members of the Council of Ministers, whereas• With the purpose of successfully implementing the selections taken by the federal government, we established the Coordination Secretariat and Authorities Mission Help on the Presidency of the Republic. On the similar time, as I discussed above, our method to corruption and entanglement is evident and absolute. Along with the sensible zero tolerance for this type of phenomenon that harms the popularity and credibility of our nation, we additionally proceeded with different essential actions that show our indeniable political will. I point out the important help of the Impartial Anti-Corruption Authority, the institution of a Committee to Monitor the Suggestions of the Greco Group, the institution of an inner management unit on the Presidential Workplace and the strengthening of the Sports activities Ethics and Safety Committee,” he mentioned.
Because the President mentioned, the Ministers and Deputy Ministers will current in press conferences the work they’ve carried out, within the context of steady accountability.
And it closed with an admission of wrongdoing.
“Tonight, I referred very briefly to crucial of the insurance policies that we promoted and applied within the first 12 months of our administration. I actually don’t declare that in these first twelve months we didn’t keep away from errors. However I can confidently say that we’ve laid the groundwork to realize the perfect Cyprus that all of us envision,” he mentioned.
