The new twelve

The new Member States continue their trip across -the-borders to present social and economic developments following adhesion. After Slovakia, heart of Eastern Europe, it’s the turn of Cyprus, divided and wounded since 1974, the furthest East- Mediterranean border. Sir Europa interviewed two personalities known for their activity aimed at improving relations between the Northern and the Southern part of the island, and between Cyprus and Brussels, promoting the most appropriate ways of using community funding. These are Spyros Elenodorou, President of the Voroklini Community, President of the Municipality of the Larnaca District, member of the EU Regions Committee and President of Larnaca’s development agency; and Michalis Zanos, chairman of Larnaca’s Development Agency (www.anetel.com), Cyprus’ first public-private board for the management of rural, urban and social development projects co-financed by the EU budget and major Community partner. How would you best describe the impact of Cyprus’ adhesion to the European Union on the economic and social reality of the Country? “Despite only four years have passed since EU adhesion – Michalis Zanos explained- we may say that the adhesion is already greatly influencing daily social and economic life both through structural funding and thanks to competitive and horizontal programs. We’re firmly convinced that the planning period under way (2007-2013) will allow us to face and solve a large number of social and economic problems of the island”. In which sectors does Cyprus aim at improving its performance and which are the expectations for further domestic development? “We believe – continues Michalis Zanos – that Cyprus should aim at improving the following sectors: research and development policy development, innovation and diffusion of information technology; modernization of basic infrastructures; further development of human capital; consolidation of the necessary conditions for social cohesion. And, not last, ensuring environmental sustainability”. To the light of the recent election of the new president of the Republic, Dimitris Christofias, what are the perspectives envisaging a solution to the domestic crisis and for the possible re-unification of the island? “In my opinion – claimed Spyros Elenodorou – the new president of Cyprus will commit himself for the reunification of the island. Despite his election took place only recently, the positive attitude of the International Community and of the counterpart on the resumption of a new consultancy phase is already perceivable”. Description sheet The Republic of Cyprus has been independent since 1960. As a consequence of the Turkish invasion followed by an attempted coup d’ètat supported by Greek military forces, since 1974 the island is divided in two: the Northern part is the so-called Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, not recognized at international level, while the rest of the island corresponds to the Republic of Cyprus, which entered the EU in 2004. The Republic’s inhabitants – divided into 4 main districts with Nicosia as capital city – are slightly under 800 thousand, almost all of Greek Catholic rite. Some 200 thousand people, Sunni Muslims, live in the Northern part of the Country. Cyprus is the recipient of 640 million euro granted for the period 2007-2013 by the EU structural Funds. Since January 1st 2008 euro currency has replaced the Cypriot lira. Cyprus is represented by 6 MEPs (three in the Popular party, two United Left, one in the liberal-democrats) and by Commissioner Androula Vassiliou, delegate to health division, who recently replaced her compatriot Markos Kyprianou, who was appointed Foreign Minister of the government of Nicosia. The Development Agency of LarnacaThe Agency of Larnaca is a non-profit organization created in 2003 representing the four municipalities of the district in addition to a series of local financial bodies. It provides support to local authorities and to productive and professional trade. Its main institutional tasks include: supplying information and know-how on EU-related issues; supporting the development of local bodies; following-up community funding granted at local level; promoting education, social-economic and cultural projects, on domestic cohesion, environmental protection, tourism. Promoting relations between Cyprus’ government and other EU nations, the Mediterranean, the Middle-East and the Balkans.