EU environmental alignment will cost £500 million

COMING into line with EU environment policy will cost the state £500 million over the next 27 months, Agriculture Minister Costas Themistocleous said yesterday.

The minister said Cyprus planned to be fully compliant with EU environmental law by January 1, 2003.

The government agreed with the EU approach to environmental issues and was committed to making sure all relevant departments had both the personnel and the legal framework with which to implement relevant EU regulations, Themistocleous stated.

Speaking after a morning meeting of the government Environment Council, Themistocleous said Cyprus had already submitted its positions on EU environment policy to the 15-member block.

The government is asking for “special arrangements” vis-à-vis three areas of EU environmental policy.

These areas concern “technical adjustments” to EU directives, the special arrangements for stricter protection of the environment and areas where the island cannot comply immediately with EU environment policy.