June 3, 2026
Today, 03/06/2026, in cooperation with the Municipality of Nicosia, the Directorate General Growth of the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Education, Sport and Youth, a guided tour was organized for students of Makedonitissa Primary School in the old city of Nicosia as part of the initiative “EU in My School.” Through a simple and hands-on learning experience, the children had the opportunity to see firsthand projects co-funded under the Cohesion Policy, mainly through the “THALIA 2021–2027” Programme, as well as projects from the 2014–2020 programming period.
The tour included visits to co-funded projects in the old city of Nicosia, such as the “Rainbow” Centre, “Smart City, “CYENS”, and the Old Town Hall. As part of the activity, the students also visited the new Nicosia Town Hall, where the Mayor of Nicosia, Mr Charalambos Prountzos, presented himself as an ordinary citizen and asked for the children’s help in addressing a real issue facing the city. The children discussed the problem, considered possible solutions, listened to different viewpoints, and voted, ultimately making a decision for the city.
Also present during the students’ tour was Ms Themis Christophidou, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission, who spoke to the children about the EU’s role in supporting cities and improving citizens’ daily lives. For her part, Ms Penelope Papavasiliou, Director-General of the Directorate General Growth of the Ministry of Finance, spoke about the THALIA Programme and the way in which the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus work together to create projects that provide more opportunities, more attractive cities, and a cleaner environment for the younger generation.
The initiative aimed to bring students closer to European projects that promote learning, creativity, social inclusion, innovation, and environmental awareness.
