QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER OF THE UNION OF MUNICIPALITIES Friday, 30 September 2011 Issue No: 15

EUROPEAN PROJECT SUSTAIN: SETTING UP OF THE INTRANET

Within the framework of the SUSTAIN assistance. This function will initially have project, an Intranet has been set up, limited functionality until the majority of linking the websites of the Union of Cyprus the users get acquainted with the system Municipalities and TEDK Chios. The and learn how to fully use it by Intranet aims to accelerate and optimize themselves, in a way that when there is a the management and dissemination of specific question or a final idea, all of the crucial information to and from the users who have access to the system will Municipalities of North Aegean and Cyprus be able to share their experience and and their Associations, in order for all of comments. them to have direct access to all the documents of the SUSTAIN project, as well as project ideas and proposals, partner searches and best practices.

The Intranet has been set up as an internal section of the website of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities. Via this internal e- space, registered users from the Municipalities or other stakeholders, will Access to this communication network will have access to partner searches gathered initially be given to registered users, only from the Brussels Office of the Union of among the Municipalities of Cyprus and of Cyprus Municipalities and other sources, the Northern Aegean Islands. In the completed projects which can be future, access will also be given to users considered as good practices, practical from other areas in and other EU guides and other useful information, in Member States. Gradually, the system will order for even the most inexperienced be upgraded and used more widely, to Municipalities to have access to targeted cover the demanding needs of digitalized and easy-to-use information. The Intranet communication among Local Authorities will also give the opportunity for online and their Associations, in an automatic and comments, consultation, discussions and costless way.

Future major SUSTAIN activities:

October: Third training session - Brussels October - November: Second 10-days long study visit of the Greek expert to Cyprus November: Dissemination Event December: Evaluation report For more information: http://www.ucm.org.cy/Project-SUSTAIN,1,63,Greek

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SUSTAIN Project: Visit of SUSTAIN Project: Drafting the Head of the UCM of a study outlining the Brussels Office to Chios current situation in Cyprus

Within the framework of the SUSTAIN During his 10-day visit in Cyprus (9-19 project, the Head of Brussels Office of the May), the expert of TEDK Chios had Union of Cyprus Municipalities, Mr. F. thoroughly recorded the situation in the Pantelogiannis, visited Chios from the 27th Municipalities of Cyprus with regard to of June to the 4th of July. their involvement in Town-Twinning and other European Programmes. On June 28, Mr. Pantelogiannis participated to the second training session This recording has now been documented of the SUSTAIN Project: "Europe for into a study, which compiles the results of Citizens 2007-2013, financial tools, actions the meetings that took place in Cyprus and implementation practices by public involving representatives of thirty out of its and private stakeholders of local and thirty three Municipalities, including regional level". He also participated -along Mayors, Municipal Secretaries and with eleven representatives from Cypriot municipal personnel. Five such meetings Municipalities- to part of the organised had been organized in Cyprus, where the visits in areas of Chios that have municipalities were divided as follows: experienced the positive impact of the implementation of European Programmes. • , , Ayios Dhometios, Aglantzia, , , , Idalion. • , , , , , Lefkonikon. • , Mesa Yitonia, Ayios Athanasios, , Yermasoyia. • Larnaka, , , Lefkara, , Agia Napa, , , . • Pafos, Polis Chrysochous, , Peyia.

Later on, the Head of the Brussels Office of In each of these meetings, the twinning the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, visited coordinator of the Union of Municipalities, the Municipalities of Chios (29 and 30 Ms. Kalia Martides, presented a summary June), Psara (1 July) and Oinousses (2 of the SUSTAIN project and the “Europe July), in order to explain to elected officials for Citizens” Programme, while the and municipal officers the role of a presentation of the Greek expert, Mr. representation office in Brussels. These Kampouras, focused on the methodology meetings aimed also to open a of the project and facilitated the gathering communication channel and create within of all the necessary information concerning the three Municipalities, a mechanism for the participation of Cypriot Municipalities in receiving and using information sent by the European Programmes. UCM Brussels Office (search partners, calls for proposals, etc.), so that they could The participants were then asked to benefit from these information to the describe the experience of their greatest extent possible. Municipality in European Programmes, the

09/2011 MUNICIPAL NEWS ISSUE 15 process they follow in order to participate in SUSTAIN project: proposals them and the problems encountered at all and recommendations of stages of their participation. Mr. Kampouras went through the steps of an application the expert procedure (diagnosis of the Municipality’s needs, correct formulation of the central Having completed three quarters of the idea of a project, searching for a suitable implementation time of the SUSTAIN call for proposals, partner search, project and four out of its six main submission and successful implementation activities, the expert of TEDK Chios, Mr. V. of the project) and asked the participants to Kampouras was able to make a series of describe their experiences in relation to all proposals and recommendations aimed at these steps. All the discussions were then improving the current situation and recorded in detail in the aforementioned increasing the efficiency of the study. participating Municipalities in the use of Town-Twinning and other EU Programmes.

According to Mr. Kampouras, despite all difficulties and obstacles faced by Cypriot Municipalities, there is a very lively interest from both officers and their Municipalities to participate in European Programmes.

According to the expert, a toolkit should therefore be created for Municipalities with the support of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, which should make an effort

to steer the Municipalities of Cyprus and of According to the expert's conclusions, most the Northern Aegean Region, towards the of Cypriot Municipalities understand implementation of a well-structured sufficiently the meaning, the importance process of participation and and the added value of Town-Twinning and implementation of European projects, of the European Programmes in general. which to the extent that it will be followed, would ensure success and maximum In small Municipalities where the human benefit for the stakeholders. and financial resources are relatively small, there seemed to be less awareness of the According to Mr. Kampouras, this issue and its correct dimension. For this procedure should be strengthened and reason, the meetings highlighted from the supported by existing tools, as well as beginning of the discussion the general others which will be produced in the concept of the European Programmes and framework of the SUSTAIN project, like what they offer to the implementing bodies. the ones outlined below:

All these observations and conclusions of • Development of the intranet. On the the expert of TEDK Chios were included in first page of our issue, we referred in the first part of his study, while its second detail to the development of this tool. part has been dedicated to proposals and As pointed out, the intranet has been recommendations, in order to improve the developed as an internal section of the performance of Municipalities in the use of website of the Union of Cyprus Town-Twinning and other European Municipalities, which gives access only Programmes. to registered users.

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These users will have access to partner • Offering support for the drafting of searches, completed projects which can project proposals to the Municipalities be considered as good practices, that do not have relevant experience practical guides and other useful and further step by step support until information. the full cycle of a first European project is completed. • Editing of a “Practical Twinning Guide” (in Greek), containing good practices • Editing of a terminology and “things to information, guidelines and tips for the do or not to do” guide, for submitting, successful implementation and use of managing and implementing European the “Europe for citizens” programme. projects. This Guide will be a permanent point of reference not only for the participating • Registration of all qualified and Municipalities and municipal officials of experienced municipal personnel (e.g. in the Greek and Cypriot Municipalities to thematic areas such as IT, environment, this project, but also for all of those who e-health etc) and joint use of it, in the would like to participate in the "Europe framework of a wider cooperation for Citizens" Programme in the future. between Municipalities.

• Annual publication of the “European • Setting up of an “automatic and Programmes’ Guide”. This Guide is standardized process” for the already being published (in Greek) since participation of Municipalities to 2007 by the Brussels Office of the Union European Programmes. The process of Cyprus Municipalities, but it should be consists of four steps: updated and upgraded. Step 1: Preparation of a Business Plan Step 2: Search for calls, drafting or • Re-activation of the inter-municipal search and evaluation of the proposals network of European Affairs Officers of based on one’s needs the Cypriot Municipalities. This network, Step 3: Implementation of the action which used to be active in the past in Step 4: Use and dissemination of results the framework of the Union of Cyprus Municipalities, should be reconstituted The detailed description of the four steps of and re-activated. Its aim should be the the process is available (in Greek) in the mutual support of its members, and the "Preliminary report outlining the current constant recording of targets, problems situation of Cypriot Municipalities regarding and opportunities in the sphere of the use of Town-Twinning and other European Programmes. The network European programmes", which is available could make use of the SUSTAIN intranet on the intranet of the SUSTAIN project. and gradually identify and exploit synergies and potential collaborations, It is worth mentioning that almost all the with the support of the Union of Cyprus proposals and recommendations of the Municipalities. expert have not only been adopted, but their implementation has already started. • Offering support (advice, Thus, by the end of the year, when the implementation guides and integrated SUSTAIN project will be completed, the examples) for the drafting of five-year Municipalities of Cyprus and of the “mini business plans” by the Northern Aegean Region, will have a Municipalities, outlining their plans and complete arsenal of tools at their disposal objectives, regarding Town-Twinning for the development of Town-Twinning and and other European programs. other European Projects.

USEFUL CONTACTS AND LINKS FOR CYPRUS

• Union of Cyprus Municipalities Tel: +357 22 445170 Fax: +357 22 677230 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.ucm.org.cy/

Brussels Office Tel: +32 2 213 8110 Fax: +32 2 213 8111 e-mail: [email protected]

• Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Cyprus Tel: +357 22 804122 Fax: +357 22 665990 e-mail: [email protected] http://moi.gov.cy/

• Cyprus Government web portal http://www.cyprus.gov.cy/

• Planning Bureau of the Republic of Cyprus Tel:+357 22 602900 Fax: +357 22 666810 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.planning.gov.cy/

• Permanent Representation of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Union Tel: +32 2 735 9015 / 2 741 6745 Fax: +32 2 735 7948 e-mail: [email protected]

• Representation of the European Commission in Cyprus Tel: +357 22817770 Fax: +357 22768926 e-mail: [email protected] http://ec.europa.eu/cyprus/index_en.htm

• European Parliament Cyprus Offices Tel: +357 22 46 06 94 Fax: +357 22 76 77 33 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.europarl.europa.eu/nicosia/

• Press and Information Office of the Republic of Cyprus Tel: +357 22 80 11 17 Fax:+357 22 66 61 23 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.moi.gov.cy/pio

• Cyprus Tourism Organisation Tel: +357 22 69 11 00 Fax: +357 22 33 16 44 e-mail: [email protected] http://www.visitcyprus.com

Brussels office Tel: +32 2 735.06.21 Fax: +32 2 735.66.07 http://www.ucm.org.cy e-mail: [email protected] Visit our website for more information