Commission funds Cyprus pollution control project

AN OFFICIAL government contract for the control of industrial waste was signed in Nicosia yesterday.

Entitled ‘Integrated Control of Industrial Pollution and Chemical Substances’, the project was 70 per cent funded by the European Commission with the donation of ECU 411,307 (CY£240,531).

The main objective of the project is to establish an administrative unit within the Ministry, which will be responsible for pollution management and control systems overseeing chemical substances, industrial waste water and volatile organic compound emissions.

The project is a joint proposal by the Labour Ministry and the National Technical University of Athens and was approved by the European Commission.

Signing the contract, Labour Minister Andreas Moushiouttas said: “I have no doubt that the project… will result in the development of an appropriate national system and will enhance and sustain the national capabilities to combat pollution and effectively protect our common environment.”

He added that the project would bring Cyprus’ environmental legislation and policies into line with those of the EU.

The Head of Delegation of the European Commission to Cyprus, Donato Chiarini, speaking at the signing said the project was “in fact a shared priority” and that joint resources could “protect the environment and establish the legislative framework in order to preserve the beauty of this island, which is a small garden”.

In a press release, the Delegation of the European Commission to Cyprus, said that the project was one of 11 proposals Submitted by Cyprus for the EU’s 1998 environmental programme ‘Life’.

The statement added that a second project entitled ‘Special Areas of Conservation’ had also been approved by the Commission.

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