The European Union is to finance the expansion of Nicosia’s Pedieos linar park into the north, the European Union’s infopoint in Nicosia announced on Friday.

The infopoint explained that the project will cost around €4.4 million, and that the expansion project will be implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The project, it said “aims to create a peaceful and sustainable area where Nicosia residents can cycle, walk and be at one with nature”.

“The project aims to improve both the environment and the local community, and will create new recreational areas, protect and develop the river’s natural ecosystem, and reduce flood and erosion risks,” the infopoint said.

It added that in the expanded park, “events that bring people from both communities together will be supported”, and that the “natural beauty” of the Pedieos river, after which the park is named, “will be preserved in rehabilitation efforts”.

The project was announced at the Ledra Palace hotel, in Nicosia’s buffer zone, on Thursday, with the European Commission’s acting director-general for regional and urban policy (DG Regio) extolling its virtues.

“The EU supports projects that improve green areas in Cyprus and promote sustainable development in cities. With this project, we aim to make Pedieos a significant example of innovative approaches, environmentally friendly development and nature protection,” he said.

He added, “this initiative will both improve the quality of life of the local population and lead to better urban planning”.

Meanwhile, the UNDP’s Cyprus office head Jakhongir Khaydarov said the project “is a concrete example of UNDP’s commitment to restoring ecosystems, raising living standards and strengthening social cohesion and reconciliation”.

“By implementing the project, we are not only increasing the ecological value of the area but also creating a shared space for cultural and recreational activities,” he said.

The first phase of the project is expected to be completed as soon as November, with the entire project set to be complete by September 2027.

The ambassadors of Austria, Finland, and Sweden hand trees to Nicosia’s mayors, Charalambos Prountzos and Mehmet Harmanci

At Thursday’s launch event, the embassies of Austria, Finland, and Sweden inaugurated a tree-planting initiative along the river to mark the 30th anniversary of their accession to the EU.

The embassies described the move as a “symbolic gesture”, which “aims to contribute to a greener, more sustainable and peaceful future for Cyprus”.

“One of the simplest, yet most powerful tools in the fight against climate change is planting trees. Every tree planted is a step toward a healthier planet”, Finnish ambassador Paivi Peltokoski said.  

Meanwhile, Austrian charge d’affaires Martin Kraemer said the trees are “a symbol of what Europe stands for: environmental stewardship, intercommunal dialogue, and a shared future”.

The inauguration event was also attended by the capital’s two mayors, Greek Cypriot Charalambos Prountzos and Turkish Cypriot Mehmet Harmanci.

Harmanci said that he and Prountzos “want to show that this stream is not just a place of flowing water, but a bridge of reconnection”, adding that it is “the biggest step the two communities will take hand in hand”.

Prountzos and Harmanci together at the inauguration event