Demetriou meets with new accountant-general for economic cooperation

House president Annita Demetriou met on Friday with the new Accountant-general Andreas Antoniades.

At the meeting, she “declared her readiness to strengthen the cooperation between parliament and the General Accounting Office”, while also “highlighting the economic autonomy of parliament.”

She also emphasised “the need to improve the legislative framework that governs the procedures for organising public contracts, with the aim of more efficient and effective implementation of projects which serve the public interest.”

In addition, she drew attention to the need to “review the new pension plan.”

Antoniades spoke of his “vision to make the General Accounting Office a modern and innovative organisation, which effectively supports the provision of useful and immediate financial information for rational and realistic decision-making, with transparency and citizen service in mind.”

He added, “the axes of this vision are the simplification of the regulatory framework which governs the management of public resources and the digitisation of the procedures related to the various areas of focus of the General accounting office.”

This would be done by “ensuring an effective system of checks and balances and a transparent system of public contracts”, he said.

Earlier, Demetriou had met with representatives of the Cyprus Financial Analysts’ Association.

The association’s delegation told her about its actions and initiatives, which, they said, “mainly concern the support of young people in Cyprus’ financial literacy, the promotion of moral values and professionalism in the financial sector, the strengthening of its relations with Cypriot universities, as well as inclusion, diversity, and equality at work in society.”

They also added their “willingness and readiness to assist parliament in matters related to the association’s members’ expertise.”

Demetriou said she “expressed a particular interest in the association’s actions and initiatives”, stressing the “particular importance of educating young people in financial matters, as well as equality among professionals in Cyprus’ financial sector.”

She also emphasised her “desire to establish meaningful communication between parliament and the association and to develop cooperation.”