EU Provides Financial Support for 15 Civil Society Initiatives Spread Throughout Cyprus, Disbursing Over €2 Million in Grants
The European Commission has announced the approval of 15 new grants worth over €2 million as part of its ninth grant programme titled "Cypriot Civil Society in Action", launched in 2024 [1]. These grants will support various civil society initiatives across Cyprus, with 28 Cypriot organizations set to implement these projects over the next 15 to 30 months.
The funding aims to support civil society and promote the reunification of Cyprus, with six initiatives involving collaboration between Greek and Turkish Cypriot groups. The projects focus on key societal themes such as environmental protection and sustainable development, reconciliation between communities, women’s empowerment, health rights, and animal rights.
This programme builds on nearly two decades of EU support, with about €23 million allocated since 2007 through earlier cycles of assistance for civil society and community trust-building efforts between the divide on the island [1]. The grants were awarded in June 2025, after reviewing 69 submitted applications.
The projects address several other key areas, including environmental protection and sustainable development, and reconciliation, trust-building, and strengthening civil society participation in the peace process. The European Commission's grants also aim to create an enabling environment for civil society organizations.
Unfortunately, the specific titles or detailed descriptions of each of the 15 projects have not been provided in the available information. However, the overall emphasis is on fostering cooperation, social cohesion, and addressing key social and environmental challenges within the Cypriot context through civil society engagement.
The grants support civil society organizations in Cyprus, with a focus on women’s empowerment and support for victims of gender-based violence. The programme aims to empower civil society in fostering trust, dialogue, cooperation, and promoting EU values and standards.
The European Commission has allocated approximately €23 million in grants to the Turkish Cypriot community through the EU's Aid Programme since 2007. The grants are separate from the "Cypriot Civil Society in Action" programme, which was launched in 2024 and focuses on fostering trust, dialogue, cooperation, and promoting EU values and standards.
[1] Source: European Commission Press Release, June 2025.
- The 15 new grants, approved by the European Commission in 2025, are destined for Cypriot civil society initiatives, focusing on themes like environmental protection, sustainable development, reconciliation, women’s empowerment, health rights, and animal rights.
- The "Cypriot Civil Society in Action" program, launched in 2024, has allocated over €2 million in grants, with a primary objective of promoting civil society and facilitating the reunification of Cyprus, through collaboration between Greek and Turkish Cypriot groups.
- The European Commission's grants aim to create an environment conducive to the growth and participation of civil society organizations, addressing key social and environmental challenges within the Cypriot context.
- The Turkish Cypriot community has received approximately €23 million in grants from the EU's Aid Programme since 2007, a separate initiative from the "Cypriot Civil Society in Action" program, both of which share the common goal of fostering trust, dialogue, cooperation, and promoting EU values and standards.
