A study by Ernst & Young, prepared in November on behalf of the Municipality of Geroskipou regarding local government reform, demonstrates that the best and most beneficial option for Geroskipou, as well as the surrounding area, is the merger of the municipality with adjoining communities.

• The study, having taken into account the Ministry of the Interior’s plan to strengthen the administrative and financial autonomy of municipalities, the transfer of new responsibilities together with the corresponding financial resources, the securing of the staffing needed by municipal departments to carry out existing and new responsibilities, and the merger of municipalities as well as communities in a way that safeguards the preservation of their identity, concluded, as far as Geroskipou is concerned, that failure to effectively address the operational and administrative challenges that may arise could create risks leading to negative outcomes, including, among others:
• The absence of a methodology for setting priorities among the needs of the merged Municipality, or the adoption of a methodology that fails to take into account Geroskipou’s development prospects, which is very likely to lead to negative outcomes both for the tourism product and for tourism revenue.
• The diminished and unrepresentative representation of Geroskipou on the council and in the administration of the new municipality more generally, relative to its contribution to the overall budget of the merged Municipality and to its active population.

Taking the above into account, the study assessed four (4) merger scenarios[1] that were proposed with a view to achieving the objectives of the reform and ensuring the effective handling of the operational and administrative challenges. Specifically, the merger scenarios examined were:

1. Scenario A: Municipality of Geroskipou and Municipality of Paphos.
2. Scenario B: Municipality of Geroskipou, Community of Konia, Community of Agia Marinouda, Community of Acheleia, Community of Timi.
3. Scenario C: Municipality of Geroskipou, Municipality of Paphos, Municipality of Peyia, Community of Acheleia, Community of Timi, Community of Agia Marinouda, Community of Chloraka, Community of Emba, Community of Lempa and Community of Kissonerga.
4. Scenario D: Municipality of Geroskipou, Community of Konia, Community of Agia Marinouda, Community of Acheleia, Community of Timi.

As became evident from the results of the assessment of the four (4) merger scenarios, Scenarios B and D present the greatest likelihood of achieving the objectives of local government reform and the development prospects of the merged Municipality, since the operational and administrative challenges identified can be addressed to a greater extent. It should be noted that Scenarios B (proposed by Dr Koutalakis’s study) and D (proposed by the Municipality of Geroskipou) are similar, the only difference being the inclusion in Scenario D of the Community of Konia, which is a community adjoining the Municipality of Geroskipou and is expected to benefit from a possible merger with the Municipality.

The Municipality of Geroskipou, having assessed the EY study, has already put forward a proposal to merge Geroskipou with the Communities of Konia, Agia Marinouda, Acheleia and Timi. This proposal took the following into account:

• The achievement of the objectives of the reform, as defined by the State.
• The effective handling of the operational and administrative challenges, as analysed in the EY study.
• The development prospects of the entities to be merged.
• The more democratic representation of the local authorities to be merged within the new administrative structure and in the decision-making bodies.

It is further emphasised that, owing to the expertise the Municipality of Geroskipou possesses in providing services to a (relatively) large population, it will contribute to upgrading the services provided to the residents of the other entities to be merged. The merger of the communities of eastern Paphos with their neighbouring municipality will help them secure population regeneration and socio-political equality, develop in a balanced manner and make progress. Moreover, the Municipality of Geroskipou has the expertise to prepare proposals for complex infrastructure projects that will be eligible for funding from European funds during the next programming period (2021-27), which will give impetus to the development of the area.

[1] Regarding the merger of the Municipality of Geroskipou with other entities, three (3) scenarios were proposed in the “Policy Document on the Revision of the promoted reform of Local Government in the Republic of Cyprus” prepared by Dr Charalambos Koutalakis on the instructions of the Ministry of the Interior, as well as one (1) alternative scenario proposed by the Municipality of Geroskipou.