250 nurses , ‘doing anything but nursing’
Around 250 seconded nurses are being forced to perform other duties in addition to or instead of their own jobs, leaving hospitals short of nurses.
public sector
Personnel costs and social benefits dominate Cyprus’s budget
The main categories of state expenditures in the Republic of Cyprus for fiscal year 2023 include personnel wages, pensions, and bonuses, social benefits, and transfers. Social benefits also include the government’s contribution to the General Health Plan. The number of personnel has fluctuated over the years, with an increase in wage expenditures. Pensions and bonuses increased by 7% in 2023. The largest part of wage expenditures is for educators in the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, and Youth. Social benefits include medical care, emergency grants, emergency humanitarian incidents, and supplementary pension benefits. The total amount of loans as of December 31, 2023, stood at €22.18 billion. State financing is mainly done through European Medium-Term Notes and loans from the European Stability Mechanism. Approved expenditures for 2023 were €12 billion, with actual expenditures reaching €10.92 billion. Total revenues for 2023 were €9.94 billion, resulting in a state budget deficit of €0.98 billion.
Cyprus-Estonia business forum boosts bilateral ties
The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Keve) successfully held an event to promote bilateral collaborations between Cypriot and Estonian businesses in the fields of shipping, cybersecurity, and information technology.
Treasury Minister: There are no plans to raise income taxes
The government of Jersey has no plans to increase income tax or introduce new corporate taxes that would harm the international competitiveness of the finance sector. Deputy Elaine Millar stated that the Island does not need to follow the Isle of Man in raising income tax, and instead her department will focus on finding efficiencies to manage public sector costs. Additional funding has been allocated to Health and Community Services, and there are no plans to introduce measures such as capital taxes on second property sales.
Morningstar DBRS keeps Cyprus at BBB, , ‘stable’ trend
Morningstar DBRS has confirmed Cyprus’ sovereign ratings at BBB (high) due to strong economic growth, but warned of exposure to geopolitical shocks and constraints from a small services sector. The stable trend balances favorable economic and fiscal developments against downside risks. Economic growth is driven by tourism, ICT relocations, and investment projects, with the Central Bank forecasting GDP growth to strengthen. Public debt has decreased, with further declines projected, and interest burden offset by favorable debt profile. Challenges include non-performing loans in the banking sector and low labor productivity. The ratings are supported by a stable political environment, sound fiscal policies, and EU membership.
North , ‘ministry’ requests suspension of bailed civil servant
The north’s ‘interior ministry’ requested the suspension of Meray Durust from her civil servant post due to her being on bail for allegedly forging documents. Durust had been working as the director of the north’s ‘labour ministry’ until her arrest with her husband, former ‘education minister’ Kemal Durust, in February over accusations of obtaining a false degree from Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University in Morphou. After her arrest, ‘labour minister’ Sadik Gardiyanoglu announced Durust was given a new public sector role in the Morphou District Governor’s office. Additionally, two relatives of Ersin Tatar’s bodyguard, Serif Avcil, also arrested in the same investigation, were found in possession of certificates from KSTU, with one having a degree certificate from a four-year undergraduate program. Both were remanded in custody for a day. Avcil, who appeared in court, claimed to have lost his phone on the way to the police station after being contacted to appear.
Tatar, ’s daughter insists diploma is real
Canev Tatar, daughter of Turkish Cypriot Leader Ersin Tatar, insisted that her diploma from the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU) is authentic, despite the university being involved in a diploma forgery scandal. She graduated from the University of the Arts London in 2015 and has been involved in artistic and personal development activities. Tatar expressed disappointment and offense over accusations against her, asserting she completed the required coursework and exams at KSTU. She provided evidence of her studies, including Whatsapp conversations, a PowerPoint presentation, and her diploma certificates from both universities. High-profile arrests linked to the fake diploma scandal at KSTU include former ‘education minister’ Kemal Durust and his wife Meray Durust, as well as Yodak chairman Turgay Avci and former board member Mehmet Hasguler, all of whom are currently on bail.
Woman arrested in north scandal handed public sector job
Meray Durust, who was arrested in connection with a fake diploma scandal, has started working in a new public sector role despite the ongoing case against her. She was previously arrested and accused of obtaining a false degree from the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University, and was sacked from her position as director of the north’s ‘labour ministry’. However, she has now returned to her former position as a civil servant in the Morphou District Governor’s office. This decision has been criticized by Kudret Ozersay, a former negotiator for the Cyprus problem, who believes that individuals under police investigation should be removed from public duty.
Microsoft deal to help public sector, ’s digital transformation
Cyprus has signed an €8 million Enterprise Agreement with Microsoft to enhance digital transformation and improve public sector efficiency. The agreement, signed by the Deputy Ministry of Research, Innovation, and Digital Policy, includes the purchase of Microsoft 365 software licenses for 10,000 users. It covers email services, secure collaboration, document handling tools, cloud computing services, project management tools, reports, and the development of a custom user interface. Specialized Microsoft personnel will provide support services and executive training to upgrade the digital skills of public sector officials. This marks Cyprus Government’s first strategic agreement of this magnitude, aiming to implement a flexible work framework in the public sector. Deputy Minister Nikodemos Damianou views this as the start of expansive cooperation with Microsoft towards achieving Cyprus’ strategic objectives. Microsoft’s Managing Director for Greece, Cyprus, and Malta, Yanna Andronopoulou, highlighted the agreement’s importance for Cyprus’s digital future, aiming to boost public sector efficiency and enhance citizen services.
Cyprus signs multi-million deal with Microsoft to boost public sector efficiency
Cyprus has signed an €8 million deal with Microsoft to provide 10,000 public sector workers with Microsoft 365 licenses and to upgrade the country’s digital infrastructure. This five-year Enterprise Agreement includes email, secure collaboration tools, cloud computing services, project management, reporting software, and support services from Microsoft specialists for smooth implementation and user training. Deputy Minister of Research, Innovation and Digital Policy, Nicodemos Damianou, sees this as the start of broader cooperation with Microsoft, aiming to create a modern, digital state. Yanna Andronopoulou, Managing Director for Microsoft Greece, Cyprus, and Malta, views the agreement as a significant step towards Cyprus’s digital future. The agreement aims to improve public sector efficiency and service quality for Cypriot citizens, marking a milestone in Cyprus’s digital modernisation efforts.