Nicosia: President Nikos Christodoulides announced on Wednesday the establishment of a modern and effective national civil defence mechanism, adding that all relevant agencies would fall under the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior which is to be renamed to “Ministry of Interior and Civil Defence”.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the President addressed the Cabinet and stated that this reform is one of the five key priorities of his administration and aligns with the theme of state modernisation. The President emphasized the necessity for a modern and effective national civil defence mechanism based on international and European standards.
President Christodoulides explained that the decision includes integrating the Fire Service, staff at the Forestry Department working on forest protection actions, and the Civil Defence department under the same Ministry. He emphasized that this coordination would end the fragmentation of competences across different Ministries, resulting in a powerful National Civil Defence Mechanism.
He recalled that the first relevant decision on this matter was taken in October 2023, followed by technical support from France, funded by the EU. The President expressed confidence that this coordination would lead to a modern National Civil Defence Mechanism, comparable to those in other states.