Nicosia, Cyprus. A UN budget performance report says the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (Unficyp) continued operating amid budget reductions and structural reorganisation. The report covers July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025 and July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
Mandate and operational focus
The report recalled that Unficyp’s mandate “was established by the Security Council in its resolution 186 (1964)” and was most recently extended “until 31 January 2027”. It said operations remained stable, with the objective of maintaining peace and security in Cyprus and facilitating a return to normal conditions.
Activities and reported challenges
According to the report, Unficyp “enhanced its efforts in all areas of its mandate,” including preventing tensions and maintaining a calm and stable environment, political engagements, and supporting trust-building and cooperation initiatives. It continued supporting confidence-building measures through facilitation and co-facilitation of technical committees and engagement on the clearance of minefields and suspected hazardous areas.
The report said the absence of meaningful progress toward resuming formal negotiations, limited intercommunal contact, and violations of varying severity contributed to persistent tensions. It also raised concerns about rising costs, particularly for commercial flights and civilian personnel.
Spending in 2024/25 and proposed budget for 2026/27
Unficyp incurred $55.3 million in expenditure for 2024/25, representing a resource utilisation rate of 97.9 per cent. The report said an unencumbered balance of $1.2 million reflected reduced operational costs, mainly linked to lower military personnel requirements and deferred acquisitions.
For 2026/27, the proposed budget is $56.3 million, a decrease of $1.0 million, or 1.8 per cent, compared with 2025/26. The report attributed the reduced requirements primarily to lower needs for uniformed personnel and international staff, and to the proposed abolishment of civilian personnel posts.
Priorities for 2026/27
The report said Unficyp will continue to prioritise efforts contributing to preventing a recurrence of fighting, maintaining law and order, and supporting a return to normal conditions.
What do you think should be prioritised in Unficyp’s mandate in the coming period?
