On Tuesday, 3 September, the European Commission adopted the decision on the 2024 Annual Action Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community, which allocates €39.5 million in EU aid to facilitate the reunification of Cyprus and support the socioeconomic development of the community.
The 2024 Annual Action Programme provides €6.5 million for measures relating to the ‘Halloumi/Hellim’ protected designation of origin (PDO) (see EUROPE 13446/3). This is the first EU protected designation that is open to producers from the government-controlled areas of Cyprus as well as Turkish Cypriot producers. Funding from the 2024 programme will help Turkish Cypriot producers meet EU standards. In addition, a grant programme for stakeholders in the dairy and agri-food sectors will help producers meet the required standards for selling PDO-compliant Halloumi/Hellim across the Green Line and will help them reap the benefits of this trade.
The 2024 Annual Action Programme also notably provides €5 million for the construction of a bicommunal solar power plant, if both communities agree to the project.
The 2023 programme allocated €31.7 million (see EUROPE 13248/32).
Link to the 2024 programme: https://aeur.eu/f/dan (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)