Nicosia: A meeting took place Thursday in Nicosia between Cypriot and Swiss officials who examined the progress achieved so far as regards the projects implemented within the framework of the Cyprus-Switzerland Agreements in the fields of Cohesion and Immigration.
According to Cyprus News Agency, a press release by the Directorate General Growth of the Ministry of Finance says that the 4th Annual Meeting in the context of the 2nd Swiss Contribution 2019-2029, took place today at the offices of the DG Growth, in Nicosia, chaired by Permanent Secretary Penelope Papavassiliou. The meeting, which was attended by representatives of the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Cyprus, examined the progress of the projects implemented within the framework of the Agreements signed between the two countries, under the areas of Cohesion and Immigration.
It is noted that the Swiss Confederation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the European Union for the 2nd Swiss Contribution, on 30 June 2022, based on which it will contribute a total amount of approximately CHF 1.3 billion to reduce economic and social inequalities in the EU and to support measures in the field of immigration.
The amount allocated to Cyprus amounts to CHF 5.2 million (pound 5.4 million) to reduce economic and social inequalities (with an implementation period of 2019-2029) and CHF 20.0 million (pound 20.8 million) to support measures in the field of migration (with an implementation period of 2019-2026 for Phase I and 2025-2029 for Phase II).
Projects that are being financed under the 2nd Swiss Contribution include the sectors of cohesion and immigration.
Regarding the cohesion sector, projects include 'Preventing Domestic Violence and Protecting Victims', with approximately pound 2 million, 'Rare Care', with approximately pound 2.1 million, and 'Contribution to the Committee on Missing Persons in Cyprus', with approximately pound 1 million.
Regarding immigration, the projects are 'Implementing efficient and high-quality asylum procedure in accordance with the relevant EU Law, by the Asylum Service', with approximately pound 8.8 million, the project 'Supporting Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration', with approximately pound 1.5 million, 'Home for Hope - Shelter for Unaccompanied Children', with approximately pound 2.4 million, 'Assisted Voluntary Return Hub (AVR Hub)', with approximately pound 1.6 million, and 'Implementation of the Integration Strategy', with approximately pound 6.4 million.