Thursday, 30/5/2013
Address
by the Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment
Mr
Nicos Kouyialis
at
the 43rd «Panta Rhei» Conference, at Hilton Park,
Nicosia
I am very glad to see so many delegates, gathered here
today, from EU Member States and candidate countries to enter the EU, as well
as delegates from the European Commission and the Court of Auditors, for the
Panta Rhei Conference. In addition to the conference workings, I hope you will all
have the opportunity to get to know our island, especially those of you
visiting Cyprus
for the first time.
I would like to thank the Commissioner of the Cyprus
Agricultural Payments Organisation, Mr Costas Petrides, for inviting me to
address this conference and declare its official opening. The Panta Rhei
conferences have quite a reputation for the results they accomplish.
Getting together in order to exchange ideas, identify
challenges, share experiences and highlight best practices is an important aim,
especially in periods of major changes as the one we are currently going
through in preparation for the policy for the period 2014-2020. The mission of
the Panta Rhei institution is a noble one, bringing like-minded people together,
aiming to improve the processes of paying agencies and to administer EU funds
efficiently. I hope that in this conference you will identify ways to improve
your work processes, and see your way through the biggest challenges that you
have to deal with.
The efficiency of paying agencies is closely tied with
the effective use of Information Technology. Information Technology helps the paying
agencies to establish smooth processes and procedures that make things easy for
their personnel, and at the same time it allows paying agencies to offer
services of quality to applicants, beneficiaries and to the public in general.
The name Panta Rhei, - that is “everything flows” - adopted by this institution
implies everything is in an ever changing process; especially in the field of
IT. Members of the Panta Rhei must be in constant vigil to follow changes that
happen so rapidly, and to adapt to them so that through this technology they
can bring about a continuous improvement in the paying agencies’ performance.
As the Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and
Environment, I am very pleased to say that the agricultural sector has the
highest absorption of EU funds in Cyprus. This reflects positively on
the work of CAPO, (the Cyprus Agricultural Payments Organisation) and proves
that the close collaboration of CAPO with the Ministry, which is responsible
for policy making, achieves excellent results.
To maintain success, we must constantly look for ways
to improve our performance and the underlying technology used. The Cyprus
Government recognizes the significance of Information Technology and the impact
its efficient utilization can have, in these times of economic austerity. The
Government encourages the development of the IT sector and of activities that
lead to the build-up of relevant knowledge and expertise. The Panta Rhei
conference provides such an opportunity and I am very happy that it is being
held here, in Cyprus.
I wish all delegates to have a successful and fruitful
conference.
Thank you.
Note: The address was delivered by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of
Agriculture, Mrs Egly Pantelakis, on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture,
Natural Resources and Environment.
