NICOSIA: Cyprus has informed the European Commission about a delay in submitting its National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) for the 2021-2030 period, as confirmed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment. This development comes in response to a warning letter issued by the Commission to Cyprus and 12 other member states concerning the late submission. The Cypriot government now anticipates submitting the plan by December 2024.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the Ministry issued a press release explaining that it had already informed the Commission of the expected delay, attributing it to “specific issues” that have arisen. Under the EU Governance Regulation, Cyprus, along with other member states, was required to submit their final NECPs by June 30, 2024.
The Ministry elaborated that significant new developments necessitated adjustments to the plan. These developments include updated forecasts for key parameters such as GDP growth, population changes, fuel prices, greenhouse gas e
missions inventories, and methods for calculating emissions from waste. Additionally, updated assumptions about the arrival of natural gas and the electricity interconnection project have been identified as contributing factors to the delay.
Furthermore, the Ministry highlighted that the Council of Ministers has recently approved the proposed plan outlined in the final draft of the revised NECP, along with the actions and timeline for its finalization and submission in December 2024. It was also noted that national procedures for finalizing the plan are currently underway.
The Ministry assured that the situation “is being closely monitored” and affirmed its commitment to collaborating with all stakeholders to ensure the plan is submitted to the European Commission as soon as possible.