Project summary:

In March 2008 the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders established seven Technical Committees to work on confidence-building measures aimed not only at improving the everyday life of Cypriots, but also at encouraging and facilitating greater interaction between the two communities. In 2015, as a new round of negotiations started, new Technical Committees were established bringing the total number to twelve. 2025 saw the addition of one more Technical Committee bringing the total number to thirteen in the following key thematic areas:

• Broadcasting

• Crime and Criminal Matters

• Crises Management

• Crossings

• Cultural Heritage

• Culture

• Economic and Commercial Matters

• Education

• Environment

• Gender Equality

• Health 

• Humanitarian Matters  

• Youth

The Technical Committees operate as mechanisms created with the purpose of developing confidence building measures that can improve the atmosphere of the peace talks and demonstrate that the two communities can work together on issues of common concern.

UNDP’s supports the work of the Technical Committees (TCs), by encouraging and facilitating greater interaction and understanding between the two communities. This support aims to foster cooperation and to build confidence, contributing to efforts towrads a future reunification of the island. In consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the UN presence in Cyprus, the Support Facility contributes to this objective through the provision of capacity-building and project-enabling support to the TCs.