According to the Commission’s report on the rule of law in Cyprus, the reform of the Legal Service and the establishment of effective oversight of the decisions of the Attorney Generalregarding decisions not to prosecute or to discontinue proceedings, as well as the issue of delays in the administration of justice.

According to the European Commission’s 2026 report on all member states, it notes regarding Cyprus that, based on the recommendations set forth in the 2025 report on the rule of law, taking into account other developments that occurred during the reporting period and while recalling the relevant commitments undertaken under the Recovery and Resilience Plan, as well as the country-specific recommendation under the European Semester on the efficiency of the judicial system, the Commission reaches the following conclusions: 

• Limited further progress has been made regarding the reform of the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the establishment of effective oversight of decisions not to prosecute or to discontinue proceedings. Given that the relevant bill is still pending before the House of Representatives, Cyprus is recommended to complete the ongoing reform of the Legal Service and the establishment of the Office of the Attorney General, and to establish effective oversight of decisions not to prosecute or discontinuation of proceedings, including for victimless crimes, taking into account European standards on the independence and autonomy of the prosecution service.

• The length of judicial proceedings remains a serious problem, and there have been delays in establishing an Independent Courts Service to streamline the administration of the courts. Cyprus is recommended to move forward with plans to establish an Independent Courts Service with the aim of improving the efficiency of the justice system.

Conversely, the report notes significant progress regarding legislative reform to strengthen the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority (ICA) and to ensure that this Authority has the human and technical resources to effectively carry out its duties, as new legislation on recruitment has been adopted.

However, the Commission considers that further measures are still needed to ensure a fully effective AAC. To address this issue, Cyprus is recommended to strengthen the operational effectiveness of the AAkD. 

With regard to the other 2025 recommendations, the Commission concludes that:

• some progress has been made in (i) ensuring a fair and transparent allocation of advertising expenditures by the state and state-owned enterprises, and (ii) strengthening the rules and mechanisms to reinforce the independent governance of public media, as a draft law has been submitted. Given that the issues addressed by these two recommendations are covered by the provisions of the European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), and while the Rule of Law Report will continue to monitor key developments and present evidence on their impact, further continuity will be ensured in the context of the Commission’s support for Member States and the enforcement of the EMFA.

• Significant progress has been made in establishing safeguards in the appointment process for the Auditor General and the Deputy Auditor General to strengthen their independence, through the establishment of a fixed, non-renewable eight-year term and stricter criteria regarding the qualifications required for their appointment.

Further developments in this area will continue to be monitored in the Rule of Law Report.

However, the Commission’s report on Cyprus notes in its overall assessment that “the ongoing reform of the Legal Service, which provides for the establishment of the Office of the Attorney General and the introduction of effective oversight of decisions not to prosecute or to discontinue proceedings, remains pending before the House of Representatives. A distinct branch of administrative justice has been established. Measures have been taken to strengthen confidence in the judiciary, including new guidelines on the recusal of judges. The Supreme Constitutional Judicial Council has ruled that the appointment of judges on a probationary basis is based on long-standing practice. The digital transformation of the justice system remains limited, as key projects are progressing slowly, while efforts to strengthen the alternative dispute resolution framework continue. Challenges remain regarding the recruitment of judges and infrastructure. While progress is being made in clearing the backlog of pending cases and new procedural rules aim to improve efficiency, the length of court proceedings and delays in the Commercial Court becoming operational continue to raise serious concerns, including among the business community. The establishment of an Independent Courts Service, which aims to streamline court administration and reduce the workload on the judiciary, is facing persistent delays.
The Independent Anti-Corruption Authority (IACA) has been strengthened through the adoption of new legislation on recruitment. Efforts to investigate high-level corruption continue, with further convictions, new police structures are being established, and calls are being made for specialized training for judges and prosecutors. New legislation on asset declarations for elected and appointed officials has begun to be implemented. With regard to the post-employment period, a new law has tightened restrictions, while initiatives are underway to expand the categories of persons subject to oversight. Enforcement of the law on lobbying is being strengthened. Integrity rules have been strengthened, and a comprehensive strategy on the integrity of individuals entrusted with senior executive responsibilities is currently being developed. Draft revisions to the law on political party financing aim to address previously identified shortcomings. Measures continue to be implemented to address risks in public procurement procedures. Measures are being taken to ensure that Cyprus’s regulatory authority for audiovisual media services has sufficient resources. Reforms to improve the legal framework regarding transparency of media ownership are at an advanced stage. Reforms are also underway to improve transparency in the area of government advertising and to strengthen the rules and mechanisms for enhancing the independent governance of publicmedia. The Office of the Information Commissioner continues to raise awareness of the law governing public access to information, while further measures are needed to improve it.
The overall situation regarding the safety of journalists remains stable; however, journalists continue to face precarious working conditions.
Significant steps have been taken to strengthen public participation in decision-making.
Businesses continue to face challenges regarding the quality of the legislative process and the need to streamline legislation.
The Audit Office has gained financial autonomy, and safeguards have been put in place in the appointment process for the Auditor General and the Deputy Auditor General to strengthen their independence. The Audit Office is exploring ways to improve access to the information necessary for the performance of its duties.
Reforms to improve the framework for civil society organizations are making progress. The Parliament’s regular discussions with stakeholders are fostering public dialogue on the rule of law.

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE

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