Ending Makarios Ave one-way system ‘could put EU funds at risk’

Putting an end to the one-way system on Nicosia’s arterial Makarios Avenue “could put European Union funds at risk”, Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades said on Friday.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail, he said the renovations carried out to the road were done so with EU funds on the condition of specific criteria being met, one of which was that the stretch of road between the old Debenhams building and the Landmark hotel be transformed into a one-way street, except for buses and bicycles.

“The continued receipt of these funds depends on the criteria met, and one of those criteria was that the road be turned into a one-way street. We can look into it, but if that were to be changed, it would require the acquiescence of the EU,” he said.

The subject had been brought to the fore by Nicosia mayor Charalambos Prountzos, who had said on Wednesday that he wanted to see the one-way system “abolished”.

He told CyBC radio that he “respectfully disagrees” with Vafeades’ call for the matter to be looked into.

“For this part, decisions must be made which certainly will not kill the issue of buses,” he said.

This is not the first time Nicosia’s Makarios Avenue’s status and attempts to change it have possibly put Nicosia at odds with the EU.

In 2021, the audit service had stepped in to say that allowing private cars to use the stretch of road between the Evagorou intersection and the old Debenhams building could also cause the Nicosia Municipality to lose out on EU funding.

Audit service spokesman Marios Petrides said at the time that funds had been allocated “under specific conditions” and that a change in the plans would violate the agreement.

“Should the municipality go ahead with the change of plans and allow the transit of vehicles on Makarios Avenue, the government will have to withdraw the funds and allocate them to other projects,” he added.