Housing issues and civil protection were discussed in meetings held in Rome by Cyprus’ Interior Minister, Constantinos Ioannou, in the framework of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, according to a press release by the Ministry of the Interior.
Cyprus and Italy are to sign a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at cooperation in the field of civil protection, it adds.
Ioannou held separate meetings on Tuesday, 24 February with Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Matteo Salvini, and the Minister for Civil Protection and Maritime Policies, Nello Musumeci, as part of a working visit to Rome. During the meetings, housing and civil protection issues were discussed in the context of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU.
Housing was at the centre of the meeting between Ioannou and the Italian Deputy Prime Minister, with both officials exchanging information on the policies implemented by the governments of Cyprus and Italy to alleviate the housing problem, it said.
“Particular interest was expressed by the Italian side in the measures we are taking in Cyprus regarding fast-track licensing and the results it has produced in easing the problem, as well as in town-planning incentives,” Ioannou said in statements after the meeting.
He added that he had the opportunity to brief his Italian counterpart on housing matters and on the priorities set by the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU in this area.
Following the recent discussion on the European Affordable Housing Plan, Ioannou and Salvini noted that this EU-level initiative should form the basis for further strengthening cooperation among Member States and for promoting measures and initiatives in the sector, it also said. Although housing is primarily a national competence, the two ministers acknowledged that the EU could play a supportive and complementary role, it adds.
Activating investment, particularly from the private sector, is extremely important both for Cyprus and Italy, while providing the necessary flexibility to Member States in the use of funds, Ioannou said after the meeting. “We look forward to the creation of the European Investment portal at the end of 2026, which is expected to have beneficial results,” Cyprus’ Interior Minister noted.
Ioannou also conveyed the Cyprus Presidency’s intention to strengthen dialogue and the exchange of knowledge and experience among the 27 Member States, so that the policies being designed are targeted and respond to the specific needs of European citizens.
Salvini, on his part, expressed the Italian Government’s support for the actions promoted by the Cyprus Presidency on the housing issue and conveyed Italy’s readiness to contribute constructively to advancing the implementation of the actions included in the European Affordable Housing Plan, to further strengthen national policies, it said.
Cyprus-Italy Memorandum on civil protection cooperation
Cyprus and Italy are to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance cooperation in civil protection, the press release said, noting that the two countries aim to strengthen their collaboration through the exchange of expertise and best practices aimed at improving crisis management.
According to Ioannou, Italy has extensive experience in crisis management that could be highly beneficial for Cyprus. In this context, it was agreed that Italy is to participate in a joint civil protection exercise in April and that a cooperation memorandum is to be signed to facilitate the exchange of experience and joint exercises. Cyprus will also be able to benefit from Italy’s experience regarding early warning systems and critical entities, the press release said.
It adds that Musumeci “stressed the need” for the implementation of additional disaster-prevention measures and for strengthening resilience and response capacity in dealing with natural and man-made crises. He also welcomed the Cyprus Presidency’s intention to clarify the respective responsibilities of Member States and the European Commission within the framework of the proposed regulation on the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
(Source: CNA)
