30/01/2024 09:14
President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulides announced on Monday more than 80 political actions that the government will promote in 2024, to improve the everyday life of citizens as well as legislative and other initiatives for the modernisation of the state and the institutions.
The presentation of the "Cyprus in Focus-Annual Programme 2024" took place at the Presidential Palace in the presence of members of the House of Representatives, leaders or representatives of parliamentary parties, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, the leadership of the Judiciary, independent officials and institutions of the state, representatives of social partners, organised groups, professional associations, and personalities from the fields of economy, politics, education, foreign diplomatic missions and civil society.
"The government's strategic orientation for 2024 and beyond is based on a set of targeted priorities and modernising reforms: first, to improve the daily life of citizens by tackling bureaucracy, promoting digital transformation, and addressing chronic problems such as migration and traffic, second, to ensure a strong and resilient economy, third, the need to lay the foundations for a better tomorrow with education and health at the centre of our efforts, fourth, on green transition, fifth, the modernisation and restructuring of the state through the strengthening of institutions and sixth, to make Cyprus a strong partner both in the EU and in the wider region," the President said.
He underlined that "the cornerstone of all our policies and actions is, of course, none other than the resolution of the Cyprus problem and the reunification of our country, which will also be a catalyst for the full exploitation of the country's potential".
"The appointment of the UN Secretary General's personal envoy, who is already in our country, as a result of our own intense and sincere efforts, opens a window of opportunity after several years, in conjunction with the more active involvement of the European factor. I look forward to our first meeting tomorrow so that we can work together towards a solution to the Cyprus problem," he said.
He recalled that in 2024 Cyprus will assume the Presidency of the 9 Mediterranean Member States of the EU, host the 2nd Intergovernmental Meeting between Greece and Cyprus and intensify preparations for the Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026.
Other priorities for 2024 include advancing Cyprus' membership of the Visa Waiver Program for the United States, intensifying efforts to join Schengen, and moving forward with the establishment of Diplomatic Missions in Armenia and Kazakhstan, he added.
Referring to migration, he said that the policy implemented for the last 11 months, so that Cyprus is no longer considered an attractive destination, is already paying off.
In 2024, he said, they will focus on examining applications within 30 days, strengthening the human resources of the returns sector, immediate cut-off of allowances - there and where the application has been rejected, the establishment of the Deputy Ministry of Immigration and Asylum, further tightening of penalties for offences of migrant smuggling.
Referring to the economy, he noted that a strong primary surplus for the period 2024-2026, significantly higher than the medium-term primary surplus target of 3% of GDP, is an important tool for the implementation of the policies and is fully in line with the new EU fiscal rules.
As regards public debt, the target for 2024, he added, is to reduce it to 72.5% of GDP with a key target of 60% in 2026 and referred to the Recovery and Resilience Plan projects.
The President said that they will proceed with the appointment of a Financial Ombudsman, with expanded responsibilities, strengthening the protection of vulnerable borrowers and the effort to reduce non-performing loans.
"As part of our ambitious reforms, we are prioritising tax reform. In 2024, we are presenting, as a first step, our proposals for green taxation, which will be fiscally neutral," he said.
He noted that by April 2024, they will present a roadmap for the establishment of a National Enterprise Development Agency that will finance the general needs of SMEs.
"In 2024, we are moving to enrich the successful Strategy for Attracting Investment and Talent, by introducing the Blue Card to attract skilled scientific personnel in areas where shortages are identified, as well as implementing legislation to facilitate strategic investments. In 2024, new concrete major investments are expected to be announced in the energy, technology, tourism and education sectors," he stressed.
With the aim of increasing the contribution of the primary sector from the current 1.8% of GDP, we are updating the National Strategy for the Primary Sector and announcing specific actions, he continued.
An important priority for 2024, he added, " is implementing a comprehensive employment policy, including the rapid and timely processing of applications. At the same time, we are negotiating with specific countries to secure the necessary workforce through bilateral agreements expected to be signed in 2024".
The President said that in order to improve citizens' daily lives, the government will create the Digital Citizen application, promote a bill to increase maternity leave, launch the Subsidy Scheme for Fees Seniors' Care Homes, implement following its adoption, the legislation on hate speech on the internet and new affordable housing policy, reduce the education syllabus with emphasis on essential knowledge, regulate the professional status of the Artist and begin dialogue to lower the age limit to 17 years for voting.
In addition, he said that "in March 2024, we are also submitting to the Parliament a new legislative framework to enhance transparency, equality and meritocracy in relation to the management of Turkish Cypriot properties, which will include, among other things, new procedures through the use of a point system and auctions".
Regarding the health sector, he said that the key priorities for 2024 are to manage the autonomy of public hospitals and advance important bills, including the operation of university hospitals for tertiary education purposes, the establishment and operation of recovery and rehabilitation centres and palliative care.
Referring to Green Transition, he said that the government is supporting through a number of schemes, the energy upgrade of households and businesses, expanding and digitizing electricity grids, promoting energy storage from renewable energy sources.
The President underlined that "our clear will for zero tolerance of practices that expose Cyprus internationally is proven. The reputation and credibility of our country is above all".
We are moving forward, he said, with improving the regulatory framework for the supervision of administrative services companies, including through consultation with stakeholders, and we are submitting a proposal for a Single Supervisory Authority in 2024.
"At the same time, we are strengthening the competent agencies dealing with financial crime, and expediting, with the assistance of foreign experts, the rapid and full investigation of cases before the competent authorities. At the same time, we are implementing a comprehensive international campaign to restore our country's reputation".
"I have absolutely no doubt that we can achieve this through collective effort. After all, this great effort needs all of us who share a common vision; nothing less than to take our country forward for the benefit of all Cypriot people, those to whom we are accountable on a daily basis," he concluded.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.