The Recovery and Resilience Fund is the "positive memorandum" of the Republic of Cyprus and must be approached in the same successful way as the 2013 Memorandum was approached by the previous Government, said the President of the Republic Nikos Christodoulidis, receiving the report of the European Court of Auditors (ECA ) for 2022 by the Representative of Cyprus to the EAC Lefteris Christoforou.
Mr. Christoforou handed over to the President the report for 2022 concerning the revenues and expenditures of the European budget as well as the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism.
"As you know, the European Court of Auditors ensures the interests of European citizens and we make sure that the last euro is used in the best possible way and we are particularly happy because our country responds positively", said Mr. Christoforou.
Receiving the Report, the President of the Republic stated that he and Mr. Christoforou share a strong belief in the special importance of the presence and strong representation of the Republic of Cyprus in the EU institutions. He noted the important role of the Court of Auditors and declared that he was proud of the fact that Cyprus is among the top four EU countries in the absorption of funds. He assured that the Government will do everything possible to continue and further strengthen this positive trend.
He also referred to previous meetings he had with Mr. Christoforou in which there was an extensive exchange of views, especially regarding the Recovery and Resilience Fund of which, as he said, everyone knows the importance. He noted that this Fund was a decisive intervention of the EU in a difficult period for the member states and the CD is doing everything possible to take advantage of the funds and opportunities offered through it.
He added that the Court of Auditors also has a say in this important vision of the EU which, on the one hand, helps member states in a difficult situation and, on the other hand, is a guide for the country to achieve the green transition and digital transformation which are priorities.
The President said that speaking to the Council of Ministers recently, he told the Ministers that the Recovery and Resilience Fund "is the positive memorandum of the Republic of Cyprus" and should be approached in the way the 2013 memorandum was approached and implemented, by the Republic of Cyprus and the previous Government, which as he said, was a very correct approach. He particularly noted the role of the then Minister of Finance "of his friend Haris Georgiadis".
"Just as the Government then felt that it was its own program, we are doing the same today for the Recovery fund," he said.
In addition, President Christodoulidis said that the exchange of views they had on this particular issue, helped a lot in the discussions they had internally in the Government in order to submit some changes that must be implemented, so that not a single cent is lost.
He assured Mr. Christoforou that the CD will continue to have a strong presence in the EU and noted that the accession of Cyprus to the EU in 2004 was the most important success of the CD since its establishment.
Mr. Christoforou expressed satisfaction for the Government's determination to utilize this powerful weapon which in the coming years amounts to €3.093.000.000. He added that it is important that this money be channeled into society and the economy and expressed the certainty that Cyprus will continue to absorb the funds at this rate and also utilize them for the benefit of society through the correct fiscal rules set by the EU .
Source: KYPE