Funding boost for managing migration
Cyprus and Switzerland signed on Monday two funding agreements amounting to over €10 million over migration management, as well as domestic violence.
The agreements fall under the framework of the Second Swiss Contribution 2019-2029.
According to the finance ministry, the first agreement has to do with funding for the construction of the asylum service headquarters, which falls under the wing of the deputy ministry for immigration.
The agreement provides for a contribution of CHF 8.8 million (approximately €9.1 million) and will cover part of the costs for the construction of the building facilities, for publicity actions and for the exchange of know-how. It is expected to be completed by December 2026.
The agreement was signed by the finance ministry permanent secretary Andreas Zachariades and the Deputy Minister of Immigration of the Swiss Confederation, Christine Schraner Burgener, in the presence of the Cyprus’ Deputy Minister of Immigration Nicholas Ioannides and other officials.
The second agreement is a CHF 2.08 million (approx. €2.2 million) tranche of funding for new infrastructures targeting the prevention and handling of domestic violence for the Association for the Prevention and Treatment of Violence in the Family (Spavo).
The project is aims to expand Spavo’s premises in Larnaca, Nicosia and Limassol districts.
Zachariades and the Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation Christoph Burgener signed the agreement in the presence of Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Marilena Evangelou and Spavo officials.
The agreements are part of the two Framework Agreements signed between the two countries.
The first Framework Agreement, amounting to CHF 10.0 million (approx. €10.4 million), provides for the support of measures in migration and additional funds are expected to be made available. The second one aims at the Reduction of Economic and Social Inequalities in the European Union for the amount of CHF 5.2 million (approximately €5.4 million).