The protection of Cyprus’ environment is not this government’s priority
Statement by Christina Nikolaou, Head of the Environment Bureau of the C.C. of AKEL
29th June 2021, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia
This is neither the first, nor the second – and certainly not the last – letter that Cyprus will receive from the European Union due to the poor implementation of the Directives on the Conservation of Habitats and Birds. At the same time, the European Commission has opened two new infringement procedures against Cyprus on nature protection and management issues.
We have repeatedly called on the Anastasiades-DISY government and the competent ministry to act immediately, not only to avoid the country’s disgrace in the courts, but also for Cyprus to be able to proceed with the proper implementation of the European acquis for the protection of our island’s habitats.
Instead of immediately completing the process of designating protected areas and their inclusion in the Natura network, and lifting the arbitrary interventions and illegal constructions in protected areas, the competent Minister confines himself to issuing verbal assurances about the commitment of the Republic of Cyprus to the Green Agreement and its priorities.
We have had enough of commitments and empty talk. But the need to protect Cyprus’ environment is immediate and pressing, but it is now clear that this is not a priority for the government.
