As noted, since 2006, loans under the EU aid program to the Turkish Cypriot community have totaled € 292 million.
The program is implemented by the European Commission either directly or in cooperation with international organizations. The Council Regulation establishing a financial support instrument to promote the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community (No 389/2006) entered into force on 10 March 2006.
The program aims to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community. In particular, it focuses on the island's economic integration, improving contacts between the two communities and with the EU, as well as preparations for the transition to EU law and order.
The activities funded through the program cover the whole range, from infrastructure projects, such as the construction of an experimental solar power plant and the replacement of asbestos water pipes, to measures that promote confidence building and reconciliation, such as the demining of the neutral zone, the construction of new Green Line crossing points, preservation of cultural heritage and support for the bi-communal missing persons committee.
Support is offered to students and teaching staff for stays of up to one year abroad, as well as grants to civil society organizations, farmers, schools, villages and small and medium-sized enterprises. The European Commission is committed to continuing this work, which is making a better impact on the daily lives of Turkish Cypriots and helping to prepare for reunification on the island.
The announcement lists some examples of successful projects after 2006. These are:
The replacement of broken asbestos pipes in various cities was completed in 2011 and resulted in a significant improvement in the water supply of these cities. In the northern part of Nicosia there was a substantial reduction in water loss and the total water supply in the northern part of Nicosia decreased from 0,67 to 0,40 m3 / day / consumption meter.
In the field of energy, the experimental solar power unit has entered the operation phase. This is the first unit of this scale in Cyprus.
In collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), public spaces and squares were upgraded in various traditional villages of "Northern Cyprus" (eg Kalivakia / Kalavac, Kampili / Hisarkoy, Louroukina / Akincilar, Kormakitis / Kormacit, Erdli) ).
An emblematic work in terms of cultural heritage is the restoration of Agios Nikolaos (Bedestan) and its return to new use as a cultural center in the northern part of the walled part of Nicosia. This project was inaugurated in 2004 and completed in 2009.
It is also stated that a politically important element of the aid program is support for measures that promote reconciliation, confidence-building and bi-communal cooperation. This marks the opening of two crossing points, Limnitis / Yesilirmak (October 2010) and Ledra / Lokmaci Street (April 2008) funded by the aid program.
The aid program was also the main source of funding for the Demining Center, which is implementing the multiannual mine clearance project in the neutral zone. The project was completed before the scheduled date in 2011 (except for the clearance of four minefields).
The EU is also the sole largest donor to the activities of the Committee on Missing Persons, with a total contribution of € 6,5 million. Bi-communal groups of Cypriot scientists are excavating and anthropologically analyzing relics from various burial sites of people from both communities throughout the island.
In addition, the EU is co-financing the construction of a new bi-communal urban wastewater treatment plant in Nicosia which is expected to be completed in the second half of 2012 and will serve both communities in Nicosia. The construction of a bi-communal urban wastewater treatment plant is an important confidence-building measure that strengthens cooperation between the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.
Finally, the scholarship program enables Turkish Cypriot students and teaching staff to participate in undergraduate or postgraduate programs at universities in other Member States for up to one academic year. Since the scholarship program began in 2007, about 500 scholarships have been awarded, according to the announcement.
Source: typos.com.cy