Cyprus to apply for €250m via the "Thalia" Programme co-funded by the EU

Finance Minister Makis Keravnos has reiterated the government’s political will to absorb the highest possible amount of EU funds, as they constitute a source of funding for growth.

Keravnos met with the Director-General for the EU Regional and Urban Policy, Themis Christophidou who said she was very pleased with Cyprus’ excellent EU funds absorption capacity.

The meeting focused on the implementation of EU Cohesion Policy co-financed projects, Cyprus’ €1.8-billion “Thalia 2021-2027” Programme as well as ways of cooperation.

Keravnos and Christophidou focused on the initiation of the “Thalia” Programme, as Cyprus, within 2024, will submit to the European Commission an application for a payment of €250 million.

They also discussed the absorption of EU funds for the programme period of 2014 – 2020, with Cyprus by end-2023 expected to absorb all available funds amounting to €878 million.

The Cypriot Minster and the EU technocrat also acknowledged the importance of cooperation both between national authorities and the EU Commission and between other stakeholders, including the central government, local authorities, businesses and civil society.

Christophidou said she was very pleased with Cyprus' excellent performance both over the absorption of EU funds as well as the low rate of faults, adding she was sure of the successful implementation of the "Thalia" Programme.

On his part, Keravnos highlighted the importance of the Cohesion Policy both for Cyprus and the EU as a whole. Expressing satisfaction over Cyprus’ positive results, he thanked the EU Commission for their long-standing collaboration.

He also underlined the government’s will to utilised the highest possible amount of EU funds which, he said, constitute a significant source of development capital which could further contribute to the island’s progress and tackling the effects of the global uncertainty.

(Source: CNA)