The proposed establishment of the deputy ministry is part of the government’s plan to introduce three new deputy ministries. “The establishment of the deputy ministry of environment is included in my agenda,” he said. “It is one of the three deputy ministries I foresaw in my pre-election programme, along with the deputy ministries of immigration, for which plans are already in motion, and of sports. “Obviously, such important goals cannot be achieved immediately,” Christodoulides said.

He explained that the need for a deputy ministry of environment in Cyprus is linked to the objectives of the Recovery and Resilience Fund and their coordination. “This is a priority not only for Cyprus but for all EU member states,” Christodoulides added. “All ministries are involved in this plan, even the foreign ministry,” the president said, explaining that, when he was acting as the foreign minister during the Anastasiades government, the environment and green transition were often discussed with his European counterparts.