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Cyprus To Invest Over €3 billion On Climate Change By 2030, FinMin Says

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 17, 2024

Cyprus’ total investment on climate change in both EU and public funds as well as private investments are estimated to amount to €3.1 billion by 2030, the Finance Ministry has said.

The European Union has set ambitious goals about the green transition, adopting the Green Deal and aspiring to render the Union as climate-neutral by 2040. In this context, the EU has also adopted the “Fit for 55” package which ups the EU interim target of reducing emissions from 40% to 55% by 2030 compared with 1990.

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Moreover, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ensuing energy crisis prompted the EU countries to reconsider their strategy on energy security through alternative credible options, which culminated in the programme RepowerEU, which became an integral part of the Recovery and Resilience Fund.

“The Republic of Cyprus has programmed and utilises EU Funds to promote many projects that contribute to the green transition”, the Finance Ministry said in the Strategic Framework on Fiscal Policy, an annual document that precedes the annual state budget.

EU funds earmarked for green transition projects in Cyprus amount to €1.1 billion coming from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and the Thalia programme on structural funds.

The Finance Ministry estimated that along with the necessary national contribution and the contribution from the private sector as part of the various subsidy schemes, such as the renovation of buildings and electronic vehicle purchases, total investments will amount to €3.1 billion.

The promotion of a large number of investment projects and reforms with a direct contribution in achieving the green transition, remains a key parameter in the utilisation of the Recovery and Resilience Plan and the Social Cohesion Funds, the Ministry added.

The report also noted that apart from the direct contribution to tackling the impact of climate change and achieving the climate neutrality targets based on the EU Green Deal directives, promoting climate growth is estimated to create new jobs and business opportunities.

Moreover, the Finance Ministry pointed out that Cyprus’ Long-Term Strategy for the economy, also called “Vision 2035” sets a green economy as a basic element for the growth of the Cypriot economy.

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Industry Uproar Over Reduction in Electric Vehicle Subsidies

by News Editor

April 26, 2025

The recent move by the government to curtail subsidies for electric vehicles has stirred significant discontent among car importers in Cyprus. The Department of Road Transport (DRT) has slashed available grants under the Electric Vehicle Promotion Scheme as of April 23, leading to a rapid depletion of the subsidy pool and leaving many potential applicants disappointed.

Importers’ Concerns

According to the Cyprus Motor Vehicle Importers Association (CMVIA), the lack of transparency and failure to engage stakeholders prior to the decision have eroded trust in the government’s commitments. Importers now find themselves facing a precarious situation, with substantial stocks of electric vehicles and mounting promotional expenditures.

Public Interest and EU Compliance

Although the scheme aimed to support the transition to zero-emission transport until 2025, the DRT states that the curtailing of funds was necessary to comply with European funding terms, which warned against delays in vehicle deliveries. This decision has fueled market uncertainty despite the application portal experiencing dynamic changes.

Industry’s Ongoing Demand

The CMVIA refutes any claims suggesting waning interest in electric vehicles, underscoring the rapid exhaustion of available grants as proof of substantial demand. They highlight the importance of meeting Cyprus’s green transition targets, including putting 80,000 electric vehicles on roads by 2030.

While the total budget for subsidies saw an increase to €36.5 million in 2023, thanks to additional funding, ongoing difficulties in timely vehicle distribution have led to premature closures of applications. In response, CMVIA has called for urgent dialogue with the Minister of Transport to reassess the decision, fearing that it could endanger the future of e-mobility in Cyprus.