The European Commission approved a €34 million aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community on Friday, aimed at supporting socioeconomic development and facilitating efforts towards Cyprus reunification.
According to the Commission, the 2026 programme will invest in key sectors to improve social and economic conditions while strengthening relations between the island’s two communities.
Support for businesses and Green Line trade
The programme will help the Turkish Cypriot community align with EU standards on food safety and animal health. This will include continued support for the island-wide Protected Designation of Origin scheme for halloumi.
It will also seek to stimulate economic growth by supporting small and medium-sized enterprises, promoting innovation and expanding trade opportunities, including commerce across the Green Line.
Investment in infrastructure
The new funding will support major projects in energy, school infrastructure, wastewater treatment and waste management.
These include initiatives promoting the reuse of treated water from the bicommunal Nicosia Wastewater Treatment Plant.
Support for committees and scholarships
The programme will continue funding the Technical Committee on Cultural Heritage, the Committee on Missing Persons, other bicommunal technical committees and civil society organisations.
It will also support two flagship EU scholarship schemes: the bicommunal programme enabling young Cypriots to study at United World Colleges and the scholarship programme for Turkish Cypriots attending universities across the EU.
Over the past 20 years, the EU has allocated more than €794 million through the aid programme, reflecting its commitment to supporting the Turkish Cypriot community and promoting trust, cooperation and reconciliation.
Source: CNA
