**Nicosia Mayor Hails Local Government Reform as Deficit Falls and Citizen Services Improve**
Nicosia, Cyprus – Mayor Charalambos Prountzos announced significant achievements of the newly established metropolitan municipality of Nicosia during a presentation on Thursday, highlighting an 80 percent reduction in the municipal deficit and a successful resolution of over 75 percent of citizen requests in the two years following local government reform.
The municipal reform, which involved the merger of several local authorities, aimed to create a more efficient governance structure. Mayor Prountzos noted that the municipality has effectively navigated the transition, overcoming initial financial and operational challenges. The review was attended by Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou, deputy mayors, councillors, and representatives from local organisations.
According to municipal records, 659 decisions have been made since the implementation of the reform, with a focus on collective decision-making and transparency. Municipal director-general Myria Pilakouta credited the success of the reform to the dedication of municipal employees who embraced the changes and worked diligently to implement them.
Despite inheriting financial obligations, outdated infrastructure, and equipment shortages, Prountzos emphasized that the municipality has shifted its focus from the initial merger phase to enhancing the daily lives of residents and launching major projects. The mayor reported that the deficit reduction was achieved through stricter oversight of revenues and expenditures, alongside initiatives to combat tax evasion.
In terms of citizen services, the municipality has consolidated operations, establishing five service centres, a unified call centre, and expanding digital services. Over the past two years, residents submitted 22,594 requests across 84 categories, with 17,457 requests completed, reflecting a completion rate of more than 77 percent. The remaining requests are still in processing.
The municipality has also made strides in environmental management, with over 22,000 new tree plantings and the maintenance of 1,052 green spaces. Waste collection services have seen a 50 percent improvement, and the municipality now maintains 177 parks and 106 playgrounds, including the creation or upgrading of 15 playgrounds.
In an effort to promote sustainable development, Nicosia has launched Cyprus’ first citizens’ energy community, named “Lefkothea.” Additionally, improvements in sanitation and public health were reported, with over 4,500 truckloads of garden waste, bulky items, and rubbish removed. The municipality cleared 2,199 abandoned vehicles and issued 122 environmental fines.
To support animal welfare, 21 designated cat-feeding stations and new dog parks have been established, alongside 883 inspections of food premises. The municipality also noted the issuance of the first court order in Cyprus regarding unhealthy living conditions, leading to the sealing of several nuisance properties.
On the digital front, the municipality has implemented an automated irrigation system and is developing a comprehensive geographic information system. Smart parking and smart waste applications are operational, with plans to install 7,000 sensors as part of the Smart Cyprus initiative.
Culturally, Nicosia has hosted over 150 annual events and operates three municipal museums. The city has received international recognition, including Europa Nostra awards for 2025 and 2026, and the title of European Best Cultural Destination for 2025.
Socially, the municipality reported that 3,578 individuals benefited from social services in 2025, with €522,000 allocated directly to charitable organisations. The budget for social programmes and institutions in 2026 is set at nearly €3 million, the largest ever for social policy in the municipality.
The ongoing revitalisation of the historic centre has been bolstered by the arrival of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the University of Cyprus in Faneromeni, which is expected to attract around 1,000 students by 2029.
A recent survey conducted by the Cyprus Forum Cities indicated that 73 percent of residents now approve of the municipality’s performance, an increase from 66 percent the previous year. This growing approval reflects the positive impact of the local government reform and the municipality’s commitment to enhancing the quality of life for Nicosia’s residents.