The system of government of the Republic of Cyprus differs significantly from other EU countries.
According to the Constitution, the office of the President unites the Head of State, the Head of Government and the Commander of the National Guard. For this reason, there is no position of the President of the Government or Prime Minister in Cyprus, and the formation and management of the executive power is carried out by the first person of the state.
At the end of February 2023, the inauguration of the incumbent President and Head of Government Nicos Christodoulidis took place, and on March 1st the Cabinet of Ministers was sworn in.
The current Cabinet is the 14th since Cyprus' independence from the British Empire. The members of the Cypriot government occupy the eighth place in the internal hierarchy of the state. In turn, the heads of ministries hold their posts in the ranks of ministers or deputy ministers. On January 8, 2024, Christodoulidis announced a significant reshuffle in the executive branch. Several key ministers lost their posts, and the president was strongly criticized by the opposition for removing the head of the defense ministry, Michalis Georgalas. As of today, the list of 16 ministries and their heads is as follows.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Minister - Constantinos Kombos
Mission of the ministry: realization of the state foreign policy of Cyprus, protection and promotion of the interests of the country and its citizens abroad.
The main functions of the ministry are:
- exerting diplomatic efforts to solve the problem of the division of Cyprus;
- protecting and enhancing the international presence and prestige of the state;
- developing international relations with the countries of the eastern Mediterranean, strengthening the active and effective participation of Cyprus in the EU;
- improving and implementing foreign policy instruments such as economic, cultural, and digital diplomacy;
- participation in the resolution of the Arab-Israeli military conflict.
Ministry of Defense. Minister - Vassilis Palmas
Mission of the ministry: realization of the state policy of security and territorial integrity of Cyprus.
The main functions of the ministry are:
- Strengthening the defense forces and preventing external or internal threats to the state and its citizens;
- Control and management of the National Guard and the armed forces;
- coordination of the Joint Rescue Centre Larnaca, whose task is to organize search and rescue activities in the region;
- logistical and technical support, qualification checks for members of the security forces;
- ensuring the harmonization and interaction of Cyprus with other NATO members.
Ministry of Finance. Minister - Makis Keravnos
The mission of the Ministry is to ensure conditions of macroeconomic stability and rational management of financial resources.
The main functions of the ministry are:
- Ensuring economic policy, budget allocation, and financial monitoring;
- management of public debt and the public procurement process;
- development and control of compliance with the tax policy of Cyprus;
- management of the banking sector, audit of insurance companies;
- monitoring the implementation of economic reforms.
Ministry of Interior. Minister - Constantinos Ioannou
Mission of the Ministry: to promote sustainable development of the state, guaranteeing a high level of security of life of citizens.
The main functions of the ministry are:
- maintaining public order, escorting mass events, controlling traffic;
- implementation of migration policy, detection and deportation of persons illegally staying on the territory of the country;
- organization of visa issuance procedures, granting asylum and civil status to foreign citizens;
- ensuring housing policy and providing financial support to displaced persons;
- creating an information system and controlling the licensing process in construction.
Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. Minister - Athena Michailidou
Mission of the ministry: improvement of education, providing equal learning opportunities. Development of national sports, expansion of youth rights.
The main functions of the ministry:
- Educating a literate population with a sense of civic responsibility and historical identity;
- improving the quality of life of citizens through education and sports;
- Improving the level of education, fostering creative and critical thinking in young people;
- optimizing the link between university curricula and market demands;
- consistent professional development of human resources in education.
Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works. Minister - Alexis Vafeadis
Mission of the Ministry: to make Cyprus a regional center of modern and efficient transport and communication infrastructure.
The main functions of the ministry are:
- Improving the quality of transportation and communication services, renewing the rolling stock and equipment;
- Creation of a modern and safe road transportation network;
- modernization of the air fleet, expansion of air links between Cyprus and other countries;
- provision of prompt and modern postal and logistics services to the population;
- implementation and control over the fulfillment of industry standards, and improvement of personnel qualification.
Ministry of Energy, Trade and Industry. Minister - Georgios Papanastasiou
Mission of the ministry: realization of a comprehensive strategy for transition to a green economy and environmentally friendly industry. Expansion of trade and exports.
Main functions of the ministry:
- Increasing the country's competitiveness, introduction of advanced environmentally friendly technologies;
- implementation of state policy in the energy sector, effective use of renewable energy sources;
- ensuring a high level of consumer protection rights in a competitive market;
- increase and diversification of exports of goods and services, formation of appropriate business climate and infrastructure;
- registration of companies and intellectual property.
Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment. Minister - Maria Panayiotou
Mission of the Ministry: to ensure sustainable development of agriculture, and fisheries. Protection of the environment and management of natural resources of Cyprus.
The main functions of the ministry are:
- development of the agricultural sector through the improvement of farmers' skills and the use of modern machinery;
- management of the fishery resources of Cyprus, development of aquaculture and fisheries in international waters;
- protection of forests and expansion of protected areas;
- controlling the quality of food products of animal origin, combating diseases of farm animals;
- implementation of the state's environmental policy, protection of the environment and control of the condition of the territorial waters of Cyprus.
Ministry of Labor and Social Policy. Minister - Yiannis Panayiotou
The mission of the Ministry is to ensure full employment for the benefit of the economy, and to achieve a high level of social protection and well-being of the citizens of Cyprus.
The main functions of the ministry are:
- Training and retraining of the workforce according to the needs of the labor market;
- ensuring a safe and harmonious working environment, promoting the social integration of people with disabilities;
- Strengthening and modernizing the Public Employment Service, introducing legislation regulating telecommuting in the private sector;
- guaranteeing the protection of citizens' income in emergencies, optimizing the pension system;
- development and implementation of employment policies for third-country nationals, and protection of the rights of legally working foreigners.
Ministry of Justice and Public Order. Minister - Marios Hartsiotis
Mission of the ministry: reform and enforcement of the current legislation in the field of public and private law.
Main functions of the ministry:
- Ensuring the smooth functioning of the courts, formulating policies for the prevention and punishment of crime;
- maintaining law and order and solving crimes through police functions;
- concluding agreements and the accession of Cyprus to judicial-legal cooperation conventions;
- liaison between the judiciary and the executive;
- supervising the activities of the Fire Service, which is a police unit.
Ministry of Health. Minister - Michael Damianos
The mission of the Ministry is to ensure a policy of health promotion for the inhabitants of Cyprus and to develop mechanisms for the prevention of diseases.
The main functions of the Ministry:
- observing the guarantees of providing medical care to all citizens regardless of social status and place of residence;
- coordinating the activities of the sector, implementing the necessary protocols and regimes in emergencies;
- improving the efficiency of medical services, controlling the production and introduction of medicines;
- organizing cooperation between the public and private healthcare sectors;
- respecting the rights of every patient to high-quality health care.
Ministry of Shipping. Deputy Minister - Marina Hadjimanolis
Mission of the Ministry: development of Cypriot shipping as a basic sector of the economy, and creation of jobs.
The main functions of the ministry are:
- Development of a national shipping strategy, expansion of the ship registry and the shipping cluster;
- updating and modernizing the structure of the Ministry, improving the quality of services, and promoting innovation in the maritime sector;
- supervising the process of training and professional development of maritime transportation workers;
- conducting market research and analyzing current trends in the shipping sector;
- updating and implementing shipping legislation, including the registration of ships in the Cyprus Registry and the issuance of relevant licenses.
Ministry of Science, Innovation and Digital Policy. Deputy Minister - Nicodimos Damianou
The mission of the Ministry is to support research and development of innovative technologies to make Cyprus a modern competitive state.
The main functions of the ministry are:
- Development and implementation of the national digital policy, formation of the relevant regulatory framework;
- control over the work of the research and innovation management bodies;
- implementation of modern information technologies in the e-government system and the civil service;
- development of the national broadband application plan;
- managing and supervising the work of the State Research and Innovation Fund.
Ministry of Tourism. Deputy Minister - Kostas Koumis
Mission of the Ministry: planning and development of the industry, promoting Cyprus as a popular tourist destination.
The main functions of the ministry :
- Improvement of infrastructure and application of modern technologies in the tourism industry;
- marketing research aimed at strengthening the image and promotion of Cyprus as a popular resort;
- attracting foreign investment to diversify the tourism industry and improve the level of service;
- collection and analysis of analytical data on tourist preferences for further transfer to industry partners and services
- Launching the "Heart of Legends" project, which made up Cyprus as a country rich in history and culture.
Ministry of Social Welfare. Deputy Minister - Marilena Evangelou
Mission of the Ministry: to support social justice within a democratic society, to improve the quality and standard of living of the population of Cyprus.
The main functions of the Ministry are:
- Supporting citizens facing social problems;
- ensuring the protection and care of children and other vulnerable groups;
- developing and implementing social assistance programs;
- guaranteeing the principle of equal opportunities for all Cypriots;
- Strengthening of civil society, development of social protection, and integration.
Ministry of Culture. Deputy Minister - Vassiliki Kassianidou.
The mission of the Ministry is to protect the unique cultural heritage of Cyprus, to promote the development of contemporary creativity, and to formulate the cultural policy of the State.
The main functions of the Ministry are:
- promoting artistic creativity within the country and abroad;
- Ensuring a policy that connects ancient culture with contemporary art;
- guaranteeing the observance of the professional rights of the industry workers;
- establishing a partnership network with relevant agencies and promoting the achievements of Cypriot culture abroad;
- investing in education, identifying and supporting talents in their formative years.
The governmental structure of Cyprus also includes the State Committee for European Affairs, headed by Marilena Raouna. The mission of this agency is to coordinate Cyprus' European policy and interaction with EU countries.
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