The longstanding partnership between the European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Cyprus marks a significant milestone as it celebrates 20 years of collaboration globally and over two decades in Cyprus. Since its beginning in October 2001 with the pioneering Nicosia Master Plan, the EU-UNDP partnership has played a vital role in the peace building process through infrastructure development, private sector growth and the preservation of cultural heritage. The cooperation has also been instrumental in supporting the work of the Committee on Missing Persons as well as the functioning of the bicommunal technical committees dealing with important public issues from health to environment across the island.

‘’Over the past two decades, this partnership has been essential in fostering peacebuilding and reconciliation in Cyprus, bringing the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities closer while laying the groundwork for sustainable peace and prosperity’’ stated the Director-General of DG Structural Reform Support of the European Commission, Mr. Mario Nava. ‘’The tangible fruits of cooperation between the EU and the UNDP have been, and will be, benefiting generations of Cypriots’’ he added.

“The EU-UNDP partnership in Cyprus has been key in promoting dialogue, trust-building, and reconciliation," stated Mr. Jakhongir Khaydarov, Head of Office for UNDP Cyprus and added, “we reaffirm our commitment to working hand in hand with the EU and other stakeholders to further strengthen peacebuilding efforts in Cyprus".

To celebrate this partnership, the month of June will be a month of events in the walled city of Nicosia. The events including panel discussions, exhibitions, virtual tours of cultural heritage sites, and many activities for children and youth will take centre stage in the Bandabuliya Market, Nicosia’s oldest covered market and one of the EU-UNDP partnership’s flagship projects - part of the Nicosia Master Plan.

The significance of this partnership extends beyond Cyprus, with UNDP and the EU working together for more than twenty years in over 100 countries globally. Currently, the collaboration spans over 70 countries and includes initiatives addressing crises, governance, environmental sustainability, and fragility, amounting to over EUR 1 billion in investment.