Republic of Cyprus Second Voluntary National Report - Sustainable development goals

10 Governance – Institutional Mechanism country’s National Reform Programme as analysed in the Country Report issued by the European Commission. Within the National Long-Term Strategy Currently Under Preparation Commitments towards the implementation of the SDGs for 2030 will also be addressed within the Long-Term Economic Strategy currently being under preparation. This strategy will bring together all the elements required to secure the continuous enhancement of citizens’ welfare. Within the Programming for the European Funds – Steam to the Sustainable Development Engine The funds provided to Cyprus through the Multi-Annual Financial Mechanism of the EU offer significant support in implementing the Sustainability Agenda up until 2030. In the first place, Cyprus National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) brings to the economy additional new funds through the New Generation EU instrument approved in response to Covid-19. Equally important are the traditional funds of the Cohesion Policy and the Common Agricultural Policy, which bring to the economy significant funds for investment in the priority areas of sustainable development. They are a significant key tool to repair, restart, and reconfigure Cyprus’ economic and social composition to positively impact the citizens’ well-being, the quality of human capital and the labour force, the efficiency of its institutions and the Country’s effective green and digital transition, in accordance with the 2030 Agenda. An overall investment plan of €3.5billion. SELECTED MINISTRIES’ GOVERNANCE APPROACHES TO SDGs Key horizontal and site-specific policy actions are being promoted with Ministries setting up their own processes, plans, bodies and initiatives to achieve the SDGs and effectively tackle the specific challenges in their own area. Stimulus on innovation and digitalisation The newly established (since March 2020) Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy (DMRID) is responsible for enabling and accelerating Cyprus’ digital transformation, while leveraging technology and innovation to stimulate sustainable growth and vibrant economic activity and help solve the numerous pressing challenges of our time. Combating Violence Within the framework of preventing and combating violence in the family, the full implementation of the actions included in the National Action Plan on the Prevention and Combating of Violence in the Family for the period 2017-2019 was pursued. In this context, the operation of a “Women’s House” and a “Children’s House” functions as interdisciplinary centres providing psychosocial and legal counselling and support to women and children who are victims of violence and sexual abuse. Green Transition Governance A new structure for the Governance of the Green Deal Strategy has been approved by the Council of Ministers on the 13 th of November 2020. The core of this new structure forms the “ National Governance System for the EU Green Deal in Cyprus ” which operates under the political guidance of a six-member Ministerial Committee and a corresponding Committee of Permanent Secretaries, while, at a technical level, the individual initiatives / themes of the Green Deal are examined by the competent Technical Committees. The national targets for the next decade are looked into in detail in the National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) on a mid-term basis, up to 2030, and should serve as a basis for an ambitious long-term strategy aiming towards the minimisation of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Other strategies falling under the scope of the EU Green Deal are also coordinated under this new national umbrella, such as the ones for biodiversity, circular economy, zero pollution etc.