A Memorandum of Understanding between the Republic of Cyprus and Safe Water Sports (SWS) was signed today at the Presidential Palace, during a joint press conference by Deputy Minister to the President Ms. Irini Piki and Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth Ms. Athina Michaelidou.

The purpose of this Memorandum is to develop cooperation for safety in the aquatic environment and the prevention of drownings and marine accidents. The agreement was signed on behalf of the Republic of Cyprus by the Deputy Minister to the President, Ms. Irini Piki, and on behalf of SWS by Mr. Panagiotis Paschalakis.

The cooperation with SWS is considered significant for the implementation and completion of the interventions of the Action Plan for "Safety in the Aquatic Environment, Prevention of Drownings and Marine Accidents," which was developed in February 2024 and approved by a decision of the Council of Ministers. Through the Memorandum, the field of coordination is more specifically defined, which includes, among other things, the adoption of further initiatives aimed at raising societal awareness and enhancing safety in the aquatic environment, as well as the transfer of know-how to the Republic of Cyprus regarding international practices in water safety, without any financial burden on the state. It is noted that SWS has been active since 2015, implementing related initiatives and relevant actions free of charge in collaboration with public and private sector entities in Greece and Cyprus.

During the press conference, the Deputy Minister to the President presented the progress of the Action Plan implementation, while the Minister of Education, Sports, and Youth specifically presented the initiatives concerning the Safe Swimming Program for acquiring swimming skills for children up to 12 years old and the Educational Program for Safety in the Aquatic Environment.

To monitor the progress of the Action Plan implementation and to submit specific recommendations for its further development, a special interministerial Committee was established in February under the supervision of the Deputy Minister to the President, with representatives from the Ministries of Defense, Justice and Public Order, Interior, Transport, Communications and Works, Education, Sports and Youth, Health, and the Deputy Ministries of Shipping and Tourism.

The Action Plan includes the operation of a Port Police Information System, public information tools (the "Safe Water Sports" website & the "Safe Water Sports App"), the Safe Swimming Program for acquiring swimming skills for children up to 12 years old, the Educational Program for Safety in the Aquatic Environment, the modernization of the legislative framework, the establishment of a National Drowning Day and an Accident Observatory, and an awareness campaign to educate citizens on safety issues in seas/swimming pools and drowning prevention, focusing on the elderly.