Parliament needs to pass bills in a hurry to get EU money

Parliament needs to approve some 20 reform bills and regulations by the end of the year as a precondition for the dispersal of €1.2bn in EU funds, according to a memo handed to party leaders by president Nicos Anastasiades on Tuesday.

According to the memo, 23 reform bills are currently pending in parliament, 20 of which must be approved the latest by December this year.

Apart from those, 28 additional pieces of legislation are expected to be submitted relating to the recovery fund.

Reforms should come into effect between December 2021 and December 2025.

The bills that must be passed this year include one on carbon neutrality and renewable energy sources, the reform of the civil service, local authority and justice reforms, and fighting corruption.