Environment commissioner’s role expanded to include animals

Environment commissioner Antonia Theodosiou’s brief has been expanded to include animal welfare, the government announced on Friday.

President Nikos Christodoulides had made the decision to coincide with World Animal Day, which is celebrated every year on October 4.

Christodoulides’ decision, the government said, “is based on the government’s expressed will to strengthen the coordination of the implementation of the integrated framework for the protection and welfare of animals”.

It added that these matters include the oversight required in the implementation of existing laws and policies.

The decision is effective immediately, with the role of the environment commissioner now officially renamed as the “environment and animal welfare commissioner”.

However, Theodosiou will not receive any more pay for her expanded role.

But, the government has announced it will increase the annual support it offers to Cyprus’ animal welfare organisations by €2,000 per organisation, with the annual government outlay for the matter thus increasing from €100,000 to €140,000.