On Monday evening, President Nikos Christodoulides unveiled over 80 policies and actions dedicated to enhancing citizen welfare and advancing state and institutional modernization. This announcement was part of the 2024 Governance Programming presentation.

Addressing a distinguished gathering at the Presidential Palace, President Christodoulides detailed his expansive plan, encompassing more than 80 initiatives. The audience included House of Representatives members, political party leaders, ministers, judicial leaders, state officials, and representatives from various sectors like economy, politics, education, foreign diplomatic missions, and civil society.

These actions revolve around key areas such as improving the daily life of citizens, ensuring a strong economy, substantive upgrading of education, improving healthcare quality, transitioning to green energy, rationalizing benefits for state officials, modernizing institutions, and strengthening Cyprus's role in the EU. Furthermore, the plan includes resuming talks on the Cyprus issue from where they stopped in Crans-Montana.

According to the President, a pivotal development in 2024 is the creation of a mobile application that will serve as a central reference point for citizens, progressively encompassing the full spectrum of state digital services.

He explained the initial steps involving the Electronic Signature and Electronic Identity. By 2024, these technologies will allow for electronic signing of applications for benefits and official document issuance, which will be transmitted electronically to relevant services, eliminating the need for physical presence. Furthermore, documents like driving licenses and biometric IDs will be digitized and accessible via the Digital Citizen application.

The "HIPPODAMUS" digital system of the Department of Town Planning and Housing is also being expanded to cover the entire spectrum of licensing, reforming the urban planning permission system. As President Christodoulidis noted, 22 specific actions are underway, targeted to be completed by June 2024. This includes securing planning and building permits for small-scale residential developments more efficiently.

The President also mentioned that social security benefits, starting with maternity grants, aim to be disbursed within 30 days, and applications for European Economic Area benefits processed within 60 days.

He announced immediate legislative action to increase maternity leave from 18 to 22 weeks, and the consideration of extending parental leave. A Housing Subsidy Scheme for Elderly Care Homes was also announced. By 2024, new legislation for people with disabilities will be completed, addressing issues of social inclusion, rehabilitation, and participation, as well as social benefits and services. He also referred to the implementation of laws against hate speech on the internet and announced the expansion of the successful "Neighborhood Social Worker" program nationwide.

Other initiatives include modernizing adoption and foster care processes, completing the National Mental Health Center's first phase, a new policy for affordable housing with actions amounting to €77 million, and a new legislative framework to enhance transparency, equality, and meritocracy in managing Turkish Cypriot properties.

Furthermore, the President referred to the €196 million government package for immediate and medium-term measures to support Cypriot society and announced further targeted measures and actions in 2024. The e-kalathi platform is being implemented this year, alongside a bill setting maximum prices for specific products.

A robust primary surplus for 2024-2026, significantly higher than the medium-term primary surplus target of 3% of GDP, is a key tool for policy implementation, aligned with the new EU fiscal rules. The goal for 2024 is to reduce public debt to 72.5% of GDP, aiming for 60% by 2026. The President noted the intention to submit the 4th and 5th requests for payment to the EU following the completion of prerequisites, securing €200 million from the Recovery and Resilience Plan.

By 2024, the processing of electronic applications for compensation from the National Solidarity Fund for affected depositors will be completed, and the appointment of a Financial Commissioner is imminent. Proposals for green taxation are forthcoming, and a roadmap for establishing a National Business Development Organization will be presented by April 2024, with announcements of significant new investments in energy, technology, tourism, and education sectors.

A high priority for 2024 is the implementation of a comprehensive employment policy, including prompt and timely processing of employment applications for foreign workers, particularly in key economic sectors like tourism, construction, and commerce.

Nikos Christodoulides also announced a significant increase in funds utilized through the Renewable Energy Sources Fund, from €90 million to €135 million, implementing the "Photovoltaics for All" project. The penetration of renewable energy projects is being promoted through terrestrial and maritime spatial planning, simplifying licensing processes with a comprehensive digital platform. Major business energy upgrades are subsidized, and circular economy principles are put into practice.

He also referred to the reinforcement of electromobility with €36 million, reintroducing an improved incentive scheme for purchasing electric vehicles, with increased grants for people with disabilities, large families, and taxi owners. The scheme also supports the withdrawal of old polluting vehicles and the installation of 650 recharging points.

The Government is advancing the establishment of an enhanced Civil Protection service and upgrading the emergency line 112.

Moreoever, the President declared it time for bold institutional reforms. In 2024, in collaboration with the legislative authority and independent institutions, the Government will submit legislative proposals to regulate retirement age limits and rationalize benefits for state officials, optimize existing legislative frameworks regarding professional conflicts of interest, and address issues related to the operation of the Legal Service and the Audit Service.

He reiterated the zero-tolerance policy for practices that internationally expose Cyprus and announced that the Government will improve the regulatory framework for supervising service companies, including establishing a Unified Supervisory Authority.

Additionally, there will be reinforcement of services dealing with Economic Crime, acceleration of investigations by foreign experts, an international campaign to restore the country's reputation, and citizen security enhancement through police reorganization and a new policing plan.