Minister of the Interior Konstantinos Ioannou highlighted the need to develop a modern, effective, and resilient civil protection system, in remarks delivered on his behalf by the Director General of the Ministry of the Interior, Dr. Elikkos A. Ilias, at today’s session of the Parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs. As part of the opening of the debate on the bills to rename the Ministry of the Interior as the Ministry of the Interior and Civil Protection and to reform the civil protection sector, Committee members were briefed on the proposed changes, which aim to improve response, coordination, and the utilization of available resources in the event of disasters.
As the Minister noted in his remarks, the experience from Solea in 2016, Arakapa in 2021, and the mountainous region of Limassol in 2025 clearly demonstrated that Cyprus needs a more cohesive and effective civil protection system, with clearly defined roles for each agency involved, joint planning, and a robust operational coordination mechanism, so that in a crisis, all available resources can be mobilized immediately and effectively.
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The goal is to create a unified and integrated civil protection system that will cover the entire crisis management cycle, from prevention and preparedness to response and recovery.
In this context, plans call for the creation of a General Directorate of Civil Protection, the establishment of the National Civil Protection Mechanism and the National Civil Protection Coordinator, as well as the strengthening of prevention, training, preparedness, and scientific support for decision-making.
In his remarks, the Minister of the Interior also referred to the successful implementation, starting this year, of the position of General Coordinator for Major Fire Response, noting that this experience has confirmed in practice the need for unified operational coordination during large-scale crises.
Through this reform, the government is transforming this experience into a permanent institutional change, creating a system that can be activated for all major risks facing the country and ensure the best possible use of available resources and capabilities, the Minister said.
According to the Minister of the Interior, the reform is the result of systematic preparation and technical expertise that began in 2023, in collaboration with Expertise France and European experts, and is aligned with the modern European approach to civil protection.
Finally, it should be noted that the effective date of the new framework will be determined by a decision of the Council of Ministers, in order to ensure the necessary time for preparation, staffing, and a smooth transition to the new system. “This is an institutional investment in the safety of citizens and in the protection of life, property, the environment, and the country’s critical infrastructure. We are ready to listen to the Parliament’s recommendations and work together to establish a modern and resilient civil protection system as soon as possible,” the Minister of the Interior stated in his remarks
