Iezekiil Concerned About Forest Department Transfer to Interior Ministry

The Director of the Department of Forests, Savvas Iezekiil, expressed concerns about the potential impact of transferring part of the Department of Forests' personnel to the Ministry of Interior and Civil Protection. The Speaker of the House, Annita Demetriou, met with Mr. Iezekiil and two First Conservators of Forests, Andreas Christou and Kostas Papageorgiou, to discuss the issue.

The Council of Ministers' decision, dated September 17, 2025, provides for the transfer of the Cyprus Fire Service and part of the Department of Forests' personnel to the Ministry of Interior and Civil Protection, aiming for better coordination in dealing with extreme weather events. Mr. Iezekiil pointed out that this decision, which was included in the 2026 state budget, may have adverse effects on the prevention and suppression of forest fires.

Ms. Demetriou stressed the need to inform the relevant committees of the House and the possibility of reviewing the decision, as well as the need to strengthen the Department of Forests with personnel and equipment. The need to establish a National Civil Protection Mechanism was also recognized.

Source: CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY