Cyprus’ recovery and resilience – Supported projects: Nation-wide investment scheme

Disclaimer: This page exclusively serves information purposes and is not an exhaustive database of projects funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility.  Notably, the map provides a snapshot of projects based on the current status of their implementation. It does not reflect the distribution of the projects funded by the Recovery and Resilience Facility across the different areas within Cyprus. The map will be regularly updated to include additional projects and information. The showcase of the projects in this page is without prejudice to any future assessment by the Commission in the context of the verification of the satisfactory fulfilment of milestones and targets pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2021/241 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Recovery and Resilience Facility.

The measure references mentioned below are those contained in the Annex to the Council Implementing Decision approving the Cypriot Recovery and Resilience Plan and allow for easy identification of the measures.

For more info on the projects, please contact the Commission’s representation in Cyprus: Christos Paschalides, christos [dot] paschalidesec [dot] europa [dot] eu (christos[dot]paschalides[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu).

Promote widespread use of less polluting vehicles and creation of EV infrastructure

(reference C2.2.I3 and C2.2I2 in the Cypriot Recovery and Resilience Plan, respectively)

The objectives of these measures are to create the necessary electro-mobility charging infrastructure, and to promote the widespread use of less polluting vehicles, both by the end of 2025. The measure budgets EUR 45 million to subsidize the purchase of 5,750 electric vehicles and bicycles, while simultaneously promoting the removal of at least 3,150 older polluting vehicles from circulation. Also, the measure budgets EUR 6 million to subsidize the installation of at least 1,200 charging points in public buildings, local authorities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and/or private households. Of these, 1,000 will be installed in publicly accessible points. The charging points in households will be supported through the subsidization of photovoltaic systems for this. By the end of January 2023, there have been the first calls for these four schemes, with 774 applications already approved for the purchase of electric vehicles, 398 approved applications for scrapping of polluting vehicles, 84 applications for the publicly accessible charging points for electric vehicles, and 36 applications from households for photovoltaic systems for charging of electric vehicles.

This package of measures is expected to help Cyprus towards its national target for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as Transport is responsible for 49% of non-ETS (Emissions Trading System) sectors GHG emissions, contributing significantly to increased environmental and public health impacts relating to air and noise pollution.

More information on the schemes for the purchase of electric vehicles, 398 approved applications for scrapping of polluting vehicles could be found www.ev.gov.cy.

More information on the scheme for the creation of 1000 publicly accessible charging points for Electric Vehicles (“EV1000”) can be found here, the announcement for the call with the latest deadline for submission of applications can be found here, while here is the call of the grant scheme issued.

More information on the scheme for households to install photovoltaics for charging their vehicles, could be found in a dedicated website.

 

Smart cities

(reference C3.4.I5 in the Cypriot Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The objective of this investment is to coordinate ongoing smart cities initiatives regarding smart parking, smart lighting and smart waste collection management into a nationwide implementation plan in 30 municipalities. It will involve the installation of at least 97,000 smart sensors in municipalities, their connection to the central smart cities’ platform and the development of three mobile applications for each of the smart solution. Up to date, a study for the development of a National Smart Cities Platform for the implementation of vertical solutions for smart cities has been concluded in June 2022 (signing of contract was done on 09/11/2021) and the invitation by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy for expression of interest for the project was sent to all Municipalities of Cyprus on 23/01/2023. The project should be completed by the end of June 2026.

Grant schemes that will promote energy efficiency investments in SMEs, NGOs, the wider public sector, dwellings and households with people with disabilities

(reference C2.1.I1, C2.1.I2 and C2.1.I3 in the Cypriot Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The objective of the measure is to reduce the primary and final energy consumption and the CO2 emissions in buildings operated by SMEs, NGOs, local authorities and organisations of the wider public sector, but also old dwellings, energy poor households and households with people with disabilities. The objective is to achieve on average at least a 30% primary energy demand reduction. Through these grant schemes, at least 275 entities (SMEs, municipalities, communities and the wider public sector) and at least 16,200 dwellings and 270 households should implement energy efficiency interventions. For SMEs and NGOs, there is EUR 40 million budget, for individual dwellings EUR 20 million, while for the local authorities and the wider public sector EUR 9 million. The project should be completed by mid-2026.

These investments will facilitate the cost-effective conversion of existing buildings to high energy efficiency buildings and lead to a de-carbonised national building stock, serving both to implementation of the national long-term renovation strategy (LTRS), in line with the EU Renovation Wave Strategy, and contributing towards the achievement of the goals set under National Energy and Climate Plan.

More information on the grant scheme for SMEs and NGOs could be found on the website of the Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry, here.

More information on the grant scheme for local authorities and the wider public sector, and for dwellings, could be found on the website of the Renewable Energy Sources and Energy Conservation Fund, here

Enhance building cabling to be “Gigabit-ready” and promote connectivity take-up

(reference C4.1.I2 in the Cypriot Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The objective of the measure is to encourage the digital transition through the support of widespread take-up of Very High-Capacity Networks (VHCN). It consists of a voucher scheme to physical persons, which should encourage them to proceed with the construction of their internal cabling in their premises, to be ready for connection to a VHCN passing close to their premises. Through the measure, intra-building cabling will be upgraded to be able to support provision of gigabit connection in at least 82,000 homes.

The measure is budgeted for EUR 10 million from the Recovery and Resilience Plan, out of which EUR 3.5 million was allocated to the 1^st call of expression of interests issued in February 2023. The project should be completed by mid-2025.

More information on the project could be found on the website of the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Technologies, here.

Digitalisation in various Central Government Ministries/Services

(reference C4.2.I1 in the Cypriot Recovery and Resilience Plan)

The objective of the measure is to digitalise key workflows in several ministries and central government services, to improve efficiency in the delivery of government services, simplify compliance with government regulations, strengthen citizen participation and trust in government, and yield cost savings. The project will digitalise at least four central government services. Through the project, Cyprus has already developed a repository system for monitoring the implementation of the Cypriot Plan. Moreover, a few contracts have been signed with the services that will be digitalized. The project should be completed by the end of 2025.

More information could be found on the websites of the DMRID here, in the Ministry of Transports, Communications and Works website here and on the Ministry of Interior website here