The Ministry of Interior renamed to Ministry of Interior and Civil Protection

President Nikos Christodoulides announced on Wednesday that all crisis management services in Cyprus will be consolidated under the Ministry of Interior, which has been renamed the Ministry of Interior and Civil Protection (Interior and Civil Protection). The statement was made at the beginning of a cabinet meeting at the presidential palace.

According to the president, the reform aims to create a modern and efficient national civil protection mechanism in line with European and international standards. The first step was taken in October 2023, when the government secured financial support from the European Commission and received technical assistance from France.

Under the new decision, the fire service and forestry department staff responsible for forest protection, as well as the civil defense service, will be transferred to the new ministry. This will bring all relevant services under a single administrative structure instead of being spread across multiple ministries.

Authorities estimate that this restructuring will enhance coordination and improve crisis management efficiency. The integration of the fire service, forest management, and civil defense is expected to provide a unified National Civil Protection Mechanism and eliminate fragmented responsibilities, aligning the management structure with the practice of other countries.