'Strengthening Consumer Protection in Cyprus: Preparing to Meet the European Challenge'

The project's strategy and focus on strengthening consumer protection in Cyprus is achieved through the implementation of a unique set of coordinated activities that aim at the following: (a) training and development, (b) promotion of information and public awareness and, (c) establishing local and international networks of contacts and cooperation.

I. Training and Development

Training of staff and trainers of CCA and TUHAK - 26, 27 May 2003

The Training of Staff and Trainers Sessions on 'Strengthening Consumer Protection in Cyprus' took place between Monday 26 to Tuesday 27 May, 2003 at the Ledra Palace Hotel in Nicosia with great success. Organized by CCA in cooperation with TUHAK, the goal of the sessions was to bring together members and staff of CCA and TUHAK and provide them with the necessary training and skills on the following themes/issues:

• The Role, Mission and Objectives of the European Consumers' Organization (BEUC) 
• European Institutions
• Networking and Lobbying
• Involvement in Policy Making
• Promotion and Awareness: Attracting Media Attention

The Training Sessions were delivered by two esteemed experts from BEUC, namely, Mrs. Willemien Bax, Deputy Director of BEUC and Mrs. Georgina Siklossy, Information Officer of BEUC.

All presentations included a short Questions and Answer session

II. Promotion of information and public awareness

Open Forum - 28 May 2003

The Open Forum took place on Wednesday, May 28, 2003 at the Ledra Palace Hotel in Nicosia, with overwhelming success. 

Organized by the CCA in cooperation with TUHAK, the overarching theme of the Forum was 'Achieving a High Level of Consumer Protection in Cyprus'. Its objective was to enable an open debate among interested parties and individuals regarding Consumer Protection, identify issues of concern to the parties, and contribute to the overall effort of strengthening consumer protection in Cyprus. In this task three themes of significant concern to the notion of Consumer Protection were identified and explored with the help and insight of the invited distinguished speakers. Each theme consisted of two presentations. These themes, were:

• Formulation and Implementation of Legislation
• Consumer Protection in Cyprus
• Participation of Consumer NGOs in Policy Making

Speakers were selected and invited on the basis of their expertise in the aforementioned topics/themes. Their name in order of appearance at the Forum follows:

• Willemien Bax, Deputy Director, The European Consumers' Organization (BEUC)
• Leontios Pericleous, Acting Director, Consumer Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism
• Petros Markou, President, Cyprus Consumers Association (CCA)
• Mine Yucel, Project Coordinator, Turkish Cypriot Association for the Protection of Consumer Rights (TUHAK)
• Georgina Siklossy, Information Officer, The European Consumers' Organization (BEUC)
• George Mitides, Former Director, Consumer Protection Directorate of the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism

The event attracted over 80 participants. It also attracted a great number of printed and electronic media from both communities of Cyprus, which showed great interest in covering the event.

 Development of Website www.cyprusconsumers.org.cy

The development and launching of the Website aims to address all current informational needs of both the consumers and the association; set-up an e-mail address exclusively for on-line communication with consumers regarding complaints, questions and any other information related to consumer protection.

It will also provide a vital reference point for all those interested in, and working towards raising the level of awareness on consumer protection and consumer education ranging from, members and staff of CCA, Cypriot consumers, students, professionals, tourists, academics, policy makers, and third parties.

School competition

On Thursday 03 July, 2003 the Award Ceremony of the Pancyprian Essay Competition titled 'Consumer Behavior of the Youth: Challenges, Obligations and Responsibilities' took place in Nicosia with great success.
The aim of the essay competition was to promote consumer education and sensitivity to the youth regarding their rights and responsibilities as consumers. It appealed to high school students attending the first and second grade. Sixteen Lyceums across Cyprus entered the competition, with each Lyceum having the responsibility to propose the Evaluation Committee with its best entrants. The Evaluation Committee comprised of three high-ranking officials of the Ministry was then presented with 22 final participations to choose from. 

The Ceremony was addressed by HE Ambassador Adriaan Van Der Meer, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission to Cyprus, Mr. Petros Markou, President of the Cyprus Consumers Association and Mr. George Kitromilides, Inspector of Secondary Schools of the Ministry of Education and Culture and member of the Evaluation Committee. 

The presentation of the awards then followed. 
The First Prize, complimented with a 100 CYP cheque was awarded equally to 

Antigone Stylianou	A/ Paphos Lyceum
Μaria Polykarpou	Dasoupolis Lyceum

The Second Prize, complimented with a 75 CYP cheque was awarded equally to 

Charoula Titsinidou	Κykkou Paphos Lyceum
Eleni Efthymiou	Idaliou Lyceum

The Third Prize, complimented with a 50 CYP cheque was awarded equally to 

Theotokis Athanatos	Ayios Antonios Lyceum
Κleopatra Lambrou	Linopetras Lyceum

A Certificate of Merit, complimented by a one-year free subscription to the Associations Magazine 'O KATANALOTIS' was awarded equally to

Sophia Avgousti	Ayios Antonios Lyceum
Despina Alexiou	Ayios Neophytos Lyceum (Paphos)
Μarina Charalambous	Ayios Neophytos Lyceum (Paphos)
Ιoanna Skordi	Verginas Lyceum

 A Certificate for Effective Participation was awarded equally to 

Beatrice Serrano	Β/ Τechnical School (Limassol)
Chrysostomos Gabriel	Idaliou Lyceum
Αthanasia Rotsidou	Linopetras Lyceum
Μaria Klonari	Linopetras Lyceum
Eleni Evagorou	Linopetras Lyceum
Νicholas Odysseos	Linopetras Lyceum
Lyyia Trakkou	Agias Phylaxeos Lyceum (Limassol)
Chrystalla Koumbaris	Ayios Antonios Lyceum
Emily Polydorou	Agros Gymnasium
Christiana Constantinou	Agros Gymnasium
Μikaella Theodoulidou	Agros Gymnasium
Maria Minas	Apostolos Varnavas Lyceum

III. Establishing local and international networks of contacts and cooperation. 

Bicommunal Workshops (in chronological order):

• The First Bicommunal Workshop on 'Consumer Education' took place in Friendship House in the mixed village of Pyla on 08 March 2003. The workshop was very successful in bringing together representatives of the Cyprus Consumers Association (CCA) and the Turkish Cypriot Association for the Protection of Consumer Rights (TUHAK), providing a solid foundation of Consumer Education knowledge, fostering discussion on Consumer Education, giving a general framework on its importance and providing an overview of the efforts undertaken towards the development and promotion of consumer education in both communities of Cyprus and networking and promoting post-workshop education.
• The Second Bicommunal Workshop on 'Strengthening Consumer Protection in Cyprus: Services Provided to Consumers - Complaints Handling' took place in the Ledra Palace Hotel in Nicosia on 03 May 2003. Presentations focused mainly on the services provided to consumers by each organization, identified the main consumer complaints procedures complimented with some very insightful examples and statistical analysis and concluded with a discussion on the problems and obstacles faced and proposed ways of solving them
• The Third Bicommunal Workshop on  'Health Related Behaviours as Consumer Activities' took place on Friday, 5 September 2003 at the Ledra Palace Hotel in Nicosia, with great success.
  Dr. Soula Ioanou, member of the CCA, lectured on the notion of consumer culture as a theoretical field highlighting the role of consumption as a cultural rather than a material phenomenon. This included an elaboration of related-concepts such as 'cultural needs', 'cultural consumption' and a discussion of the relationship between consumption and culture.
• The Fourth Bicommunal Workshop on  'Consumer Education and Consumer Protection' took place on Friday, 5 November 2003 at the Ledra Palace Hotel in Nicosia, with great success. Participants shared experiences regarding the joint cooperation of the two Associations so far, exchanged information on recent developments concerning consumer education and consumer protection issues in their respective communities and discussed ways of extending their cooperation in the future.

Creation of local and international networks of contacts and cooperation

In the context of establishing local and international networks of contacts and cooperation and enhancing its provided services to consumers, the Association has compiled and continuously upgrades a database of local and international NGO's, high-caliber experts and scientists from professional fields and local governmental agencies related to consumer protection and consumer education. Furthermore, the Association has proceeded to extend an invitation for cooperation to the abovementioned parties.

The Project is funded by the Civil Society Programme of the European Union.