Paris: The Minister of the Interior, Constantinos Ioannou, is travelling to Paris today, 4 March 2025, as the head of an Interior Ministry and Civil Defence Force delegation, which is visiting France for training purposes.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the visit is part of the strengthening of cooperation between Cyprus and France, particularly in the fields of civil protection and emergency crisis management. Ioannou will have a meeting with the French Deputy Interior Minister Fran§ois-No«l Buffet, during which they will discuss issues of mutual interest, with emphasis on civil defence and protection issues, as well as ways of strengthening cooperation between the two countries in terms of prevention and protection of the population from emergency situations.
It is added that Ioannou is also expected to brief the French official on the Cyprus Government’s plan to transform the Civil Defence Force into a Civil Protection Directorate, as well as on the actions being promoted, such as the Civil Protection Month, to strengthen the resilience of the Cypriot society and increase the citizens’ response capacity in case of emergencies.
It is also noted that during his stay in the French capital, the Minister of Interior will visit the Crisis Management Centres of the French Ministry of Interior and will be briefed on the procedures and methodologies followed in these structures, in the framework of a training programme attended by members of the Civil Defence Force.
It is also added that Ioannou will have a meeting with the Director of Expertise France, the French public body for the design and implementation of international technical cooperation projects, which, in the context of cooperation with Cyprus, is contributing to the reorganisation of the Civil Defence Force, with the aim of strengthening the country’s capabilities in the field of crisis management and civil protection.
Ioannou returns to Cyprus on Friday, 7 March 2025, the statement concludes.