This week, a high-level delegation from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) concluded an intensive three-day fact-finding mission in Cyprus. The visit is a centerpiece of a 24-month strategic reform project aimed at overhauling the island’s housing policies to ensure middle- and low-income citizens can secure quality homes amidst a global cost-of-living crisis.
According to a press release from the Ministry of Interior (reported by Stockwatch.com.cy and In-Cyprus), the mission, which ran from January 21 to 23, 2026, focused on the “Design and Implementation of Affordable Housing Models and Policies.”
Project Blueprint: Reforming the Foundation
The mission isn’t just a data-gathering exercise; it is the first step in a multi-national effort (including Croatia) to modernize residential accessibility. Funded by the European Union’s Technical Support Instrument (TSI), the project is being executed by the OECD in partnership with the European Commission’s SG REFORM task force.
The 24-month roadmap focuses on three critical pillars:
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Supply Creation: Identifying ways to boost the production of new units and repurposing old, empty buildings into affordable rentals.
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Financial Innovation: Developing new funding tools and subsidies for both housing providers and residents.
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Land Management: Strategizing the sustainable use of state and private land to prevent urban displacement.
High-Level Collaborations
Throughout the week, OECD technocrats held specialized meetings with a wide array of Cypriot stakeholders to identify systemic “bottlenecks.” These discussions included:
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Governmental Bodies: The Ministries of Interior and Finance, and the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.
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Specialized Institutions: The Cyprus Land Development Corporation (KOAG) and the Housing Finance Corporation.
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Industry Experts: The Cyprus Scientific and Technical Chamber (ETEK) and the Federation of Cyprus Building Contractors Associations.
Stakeholder Roles in the Housing Reform
| Stakeholder | Primary Focus Area |
| Ministry of Interior | Legislative and land-use policy reform. |
| KOAG | Direct implementation of affordable housing units. |
| SG REFORM | Alignment with broader European Union housing standards. |
| OECD | Technical expertise and international best-practice mapping. |
A Timely Priority: The EU Presidency
The visit comes at a pivotal moment. Having taken over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on January 1, 2026, Cyprus has placed affordable housing at the very top of its cross-cutting agenda.
Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou has emphasized that “laying the foundations for a European affordable housing strategy” is a priority, with an Informal Ministerial Conference on Housing scheduled for May 2026. This OECD-led project will provide the empirical data necessary to back those high-level discussions.
Source: Stockwatch.com.cy