EU to give Cyprus technical support on spatial planning, electricity distribution, defence industry and water

Technical assistance to create an island-wide spatial development plan, to create a green and smart electricity distribution system, develop a defence industry strategy, deal with the loss of drinking waste, and take steps to address the decline of basic skills among students, are included among 14 projects for Cyprus, out of a total 135 across the EU which will be supported through the Technical Support Instrument of the EU.

According to a recent press release, the Commission has approved a new round of 135 projects under the Technical Support Instrument (TSI), to support Member States to prepare, design and implement a total of 390 reforms in 2025.

The selected projects will help the Member States address reforms in key priority areas to strengthen the Union's resilience and competitiveness and to improve citizens' lives across the EU. Two-third of the projects are linked 15 flagship projects aimed at addressing common reform needs in the EU, such as improving the quality of public administration, provide a better business environment for SMEs, or to make energy systems fit for the green and digital transition.

The TSI provides tailor-made expertise to Member States' authorities who apply for support on an annual basis. It does not come in the form of financial support but consists of the provision of high-quality and tailored expertise and knowledge and can take the form of strategic or technical advice, studies assessing reform needs, training, or in-country missions by experts.

So far, Cyprus has received technical support in 96 reform projects, across 11 policy areas including public administration, better regulation, public spending, financial literacy, healthcare and education. Particular focus has been on digitalisation in both private and public sectors.

Projects approved for Cyprus

The 14 projects connected Cyprus include five that are meant to support reforms in Cyprus, and another nine that are connected to multi-country projects.

The five projects in Cyprus which the EU will support through the TSI are:

- The development of an Island Spatial Plan for Cyprus,

- Technical support for a green and smart electricity distribution system in Cyprus

- Supporting a National Defence Industry Strategy for the Republic of Cyprus,

- Water losses reduction and compliance with the Drinking Water Directive and

- Support to specify factors and effectively implement policy measures to address decline in basic skills of secondary education students in Cyprus.

The nine multi-country projects which include Cyprus and are supported by the TSI are:

- Technical support in joining the Public Procurement Data Space to build an EU level analytics scoreboard for below threshold public procurement, to increase market competitivity and foster the rule of law,

- Evidence-informed policy making for green and digital transitions,

- Implementing effective green budgeting practices in Cyprus,

- Improving capacity in Member States to effectively implement global rules for minimum corporate taxation for multinationals (Pillar 2 Directive),

- Comprehensive housing policy review and strategic reform for sustainable and affordable housing in Cyprus

- Participation to the second edition of the EU Supervisory Digital Finance Academy (EU-SDFA) for 2025-2028 (the programme supports Member States’ financial supervisory authorities in their effort to strengthen their capacity in the area of digital finance),

- PACE - Maritime Security (according to Regulation (EC) 725/2004 and Directive 2005/65/EC) Cyprus,

- PACE - Strategic Workforce Planning and

- Participation in one of TSI’s “flagship projects” for 2025, regarding participation in EU-SDFA.

(Source: CNA)