The European Commission has sent Cyprus a supplementary reasoned opinion for failing to fully transpose into national law the provisions of the revised renewable energy directive, specifically those requiring the simplification and acceleration of permitting procedures for renewable energy projects.
The revised directive, EU 2023/2413, entered into force in November 2023, with certain provisions required to be transposed by member states by 1 July 2024. The provisions in question include measures to streamline licensing procedures for both renewable energy projects and the grid infrastructure needed to integrate new capacity, clear deadlines for permitting processes targeting specific technologies or project types, a strengthened role for the single point of contact for applications, and the recognition that renewable energy projects and related network infrastructure are of overriding public interest.
The Commission had already sent a warning letter to 26 member states in September 2024 for failing to transpose the directive fully. Cyprus received a reasoned opinion in February 2025 after it had still not notified any transposition measures. Having since examined both the measures Cyprus subsequently notified and the explanations provided in its compliance table, the Commission concluded that the directive has still not been fully transposed into Cypriot law.
Cyprus now has two months to respond and complete the transposition. If it fails to do so, the Commission may refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union and seek the imposition of financial penalties.
ReFuelEU Aviation
Cyprus is also among 13 member states facing a warning letter from the Commission over the ReFuelEU Aviation regulation. Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Spain, Croatia, Cyprus, Latvia, Luxembourg, Austria, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia and Slovakia have all failed to establish national penalty regimes under the regulation, which requires member states to set out rules for sanctions applicable to aviation fuel suppliers, aircraft operators and EU airport managers in cases of non-compliance.
The deadline for submitting this information to the Commission was 31 December 2024. The 13 member states now have two months to respond and remedy the shortfall. If the Commission does not receive a satisfactory response, it may proceed to issue a reasoned opinion.
