Description
This project addresses a weakness of previous negotiations rounds for the solution of the Cyprus problem: the lack of mobilisation of social actors. Social actors are of strategic importance for the solution of the Cyprus problem, because their support to the process may generate wide acceptance and active participation. Social actors may also provide expertise, useful for the elaboration of essential provisions of the solution that are indispensable for the economic and social cohesion of the common future state and thus for the viability of the negotiated solution. The main objective of this bi-communal project is to encourage the democratic participation of social actors in the process by providing space to them to intervene collectively and in a structured manner in the course of the ongoing negotiations through a formation of network to be engaged in thematic discussions on economic and social cohesion leading to the adoption of thematic memoranda. The project is implemented by a partnership consisting of the Cyprus Labour Institute, PEO and DEV-IS.
Summary of project results
The project implemented has met all its targets. To some extend the project can present over achievements. The Framework Document has been completed in both its parts. Part I is a comparative study of the two communities’ economies that proposes an economic growth model of a shared prosperity in the context of reunification. The study has been presented to the social actor’s network and the public in the framework of the conference “Reunification of Cyprus: economic and social benefits for the Cyprus people. The study has been published under the title “Cyprus: what economic growth model in the context of reunification?”. Part II of the framework document was a qualitative research and analysis of some 20 interviews with various stakeholders on economic and social cohesion in the reunified federal state of Cyprus. The research report prepared, helped the project’s team and the social actor’s network to define the focus of the thematic conferences convened under WP 5. The social actor’s network (SAN) was subjected to WP 4. Thought with delay, the SAN has been formed with the All Cyprus Trade Unions Forum (ACTUF) being its core. The SAN engaged in a democratic and structured dialogue on issues related to the social economic cohesion in the envisaged reunified Cyprus. The project targeted to 30 organisations to get involved in the process. Finally, 32 organisations joined the various process’ activities. According to the project description, the SAN was supposed to have 1 plenary meeting. With careful management of the project’s resources, it was made possible to organise two plenary meetings, as well as a plenary meeting with the leaders of the two communities. The second plenary meeting, convened on 26th of October 2015, was of immense importance for the future of the network since it has adopted a comprehensive document on the Cyprus problem, as well as a plan of activities safeguarding its sustainability. The project was provided with resources to convene 7 thematic conferences in the WP 5 aiming at the conclusion of seven thematic memoranda. All 7 thematic conferences have been realised and all 7 thematic memoranda were concluded. The project targeted 60 persons to participate in capacity building activities which were carried out in WP 5. The activities of WP 5 were attended by 416 persons with some 150 attending one or more of the WP 5 activities.
Summary of bilateral results