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Cohesion Policy Program ‘THALEIA 2021-2027’ Accelerates Social Inclusion In Cyprus

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

Program Advancement And European Endorsement

The General Directorate of Development at the Ministry of Finance has confirmed that the “THALEIA 2021–2027” Cohesion Policy Program is progressing at a robust pace. With over 100 projects either in progress or completed and approximately €700 million already deployed, the initiative is setting the stage for transformative social and economic reforms in Cyprus. This update was delivered during the visit of the European Parliament’s Committee on Employment and Social Affairs (EMPL) delegation, underscoring the program’s alignment with EU strategic priorities.

Strengthening Partnerships And Best Practices

The delegation’s visit served as a platform for exchanging experiences and best practices in employment and social inclusion policies. Delegates had the opportunity to inspect a series of EU co-financed projects on the ground, providing concrete examples of how targeted investments are enhancing the quality of life for communities across Cyprus. This collaborative approach not only reinforces policy coherence but also paves the way for innovative solutions in tackling unemployment and social disparities.

High-Impact Projects With Social Returns

Among the flagship projects under the THALEIA initiative are:

  • Organization And Operation Of The Inspection Service – With a budget of €8.5 million, this project, managed by the Ministry of Labor, aims to intensify labor inspections, advance the ERGANI II system, and implement an electronic records platform to improve service delivery for both employers and employees.
  • Ackida Center For Family Intervention And Autism Support – Budgeted at €6 million, this initiative in Nicosia focuses on providing comprehensive assessments, therapeutic interventions, and counseling services to support children and families, under the supervision of the Department of Social Integration for Persons with Disabilities.

Financial Commitment And Strategic Deployment

The THALEIA program commands a substantial budget of €1.8 billion, comprising €969 million from the European Union and €842 million from the national treasury. To date, more than 100 projects have been implemented or completed, with approximately €700 million disbursed towards impactful actions. This strategic financial mobilization is central to driving significant progress in labor market participation and social cohesion.

Measurable Social And Economic Outcomes

The program is poised to deliver extensive benefits, including:

  • Creation of 6,000 new job opportunities for unemployed individuals by October 2025.
  • Engagement of 1,100 new graduates in practical training assignments.
  • Support for 540 young individuals outside the employment, education, or training sectors through guided market integration.
  • Deployment of 35 community social workers across 19 municipalities and 255 local communities, addressing approximately 2,700 cases.
  • Provision of subsidies covering tuition fees and meals for 25,000 children aged four years and younger.
  • Annual social inclusion initiatives that benefit 27,000 students, with a supplementary 65,000 students participating in a school breakfast program.
  • Extensive support for persons with disabilities, including 23,000 assessments, 12 independent living homes, 8 personalized programs, and in-home care for 130 individuals.

Conclusion

The recent EMPL visit has shone a spotlight on the breadth and depth of the THALEIA program’s interventions. By catalyzing employment opportunities and strengthening social cohesion, this initiative underscores the pivotal role of European cohesion policy in enhancing the socio-economic fabric of Cyprus. As the program moves forward, its achievements to date offer a compelling blueprint for sustainable development and inclusive growth across Europe.

Copyright Law Struggles To Keep Up With AI Training

by News Editor

Courts Are Still Applying Old Copyright Rules To AI

AI companies train models on enormous amounts of published material, including books, articles and academic research. Whether using that content without authors’ permission violates copyright law remains unresolved.

Much of the debate centres on fair use, which allows copyrighted material to be used without permission in certain circumstances. Courts consider factors such as the purpose of the use, how much material was involved and its impact on the original market.

Anthropic Case Sets An Important Precedent

A major case involving Anthropic and a group of authors provided one of the clearest rulings so far. Judge William Alsup found that using copyrighted books to train AI models was lawful, comparing the process to people reading and studying literature before creating something new.

Anthropic was nevertheless ordered to pay $1.5 billion in a settlement. The penalty concerned books the company had obtained from illegal online libraries rather than the AI training itself.

For AI companies, that distinction could prove significant because it separates studying copyrighted material from directly copying it.

Competition Could Be The Key Issue

A case involving Thomson Reuters and Ross Intelligence offers a different perspective. A court ruled that Ross could not claim fair use after using Reuters’ copyrighted material to develop a competing AI-powered legal research platform.

The decision suggests courts may be less willing to consider AI training fair use when copyrighted content is used to build a product that directly competes with the original.

For authors, an unresolved question is whether AI-generated content should be considered competition for the works used to train these models.

The Law Has Yet To Catch Up

US copyright law predates generative AI by decades, leaving courts to apply old principles to new technology. Questions also remain over copyright protection for AI-generated works. In Thaler v. Perlmutter, a court ruled that material created entirely by AI cannot receive copyright protection.

Major AI companies remain involved in copyright litigation, and different courts could reach different conclusions. For now, there is no universal rule: the legality of AI training will depend on the circumstances of each case and how courts ultimately interpret copyright and fair use.

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