The new Urban Amnesty Plan was approved by the Council of Ministers and it came into effect immediately for a period of only six months. Applications are officially accepted from 23/09/2024 until 23/3/2025. The amnesty main goal is to allow people to legalize unauthorized constructions in approved developments that involve small-scale planning violations that do...Read More

The Consumer Protection Service has recently issued a statement addressing complaints regarding abusive clauses in financial contracts, which follows the initiation of an infringement procedure (INFR(2024)0018) against Cyprus by the European Commission. The key points from the announcement are as follows: Context and Legislative Background The infringement procedure relates to the implementation of Directive (EU)...Read More

Cyprus Parliament has proceeded with an amendment to the Criminal Code, Cap. 154 on the 31/05/2024, effectively expanding the criminal offence of “Public Mischief” and updating the applicable monetary penalty under this. As such, the new Section 115 of the Criminal Code now provides that: Any person who knowingly makes to any police officer or...Read More

Cyprus Parliament has proceeded with an amendment to the Law of Children in Conflict with the Law (N.55(I)/2021) in early April 2024 to better define the conditions under which a child may be held in custody. Specifically, the following amendments/additions have been passed in Section 119 of the Law (as they appear in underline format...Read More

The Commissioner for Personal Data Protection in Cyprus (the “Commissioner”) has issued guidelines as to the potential installation of CCTV Systems in kindergarten, having taken into account numerous enquiries that her office had received. The guidance was provided in late April 2024 and is summarised below. The Commissioner has recognised the requirement and need for...Read More

After recent incidents during after-school hours which have caused damage to public school property, and given the repetitive nature observed in such offences, the Ministry of Education decided to proceed, on a trial basis, with installation of security cameras (CCTV systems) in public schools in an effort to monitor and deter such actions. To this...Read More

In an attempt to modernize the existing legislatively framework regarding the qualifications and criteria for naturalization of foreigners, in December 2023, the Civil Registry Law was amended with the amending Law 149(I)/2023. The amendments, mainly, focus on the duration of residence required for foreigners before applying for naturalization as well as a basic level proficiency...Read More