The content of the European Commission's recent Rule of Law Report on Cyprus was unsurprising to anyone. These are findings that align with common sense, changes and reforms that should have been made long ago, and which, prompted by the latest cases, make it clear in the most emphatic way that there is no longer any room for delay or excuses.
Separation of powers
The report from the European Commission places particular emphasis on the separation of the Attorney General's powers and the establishment and operation of the office of Public Prosecutor General. This is a matter of fundamental importance, as recent events have underlined the need for the issue to be regulated without delay. Just recently, following the publication of the Anti-Corruption Authority's findings on the so-called "Mafia State" case, a problem arose concerning the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General, since a conflict of interest would inevitably arise from any role they played in the criminal investigation into former President Nicos Anastasiades, who had first appointed them as ministers and later placed them at the head of the Legal Service. Amid the atmosphere this created, George Savvides and Savvas Angelidis decided to recuse themselves. But is that really a solution for the rule of law?
Reform now
The bill on separating the Attorney General's powers is currently before parliament's Legal Affairs Committee. Early discussions have already revealed disagreements, chiefly from the Attorney General himself, who believes the proposed legislative framework would raise questions of unconstitutionality. The European Commission, in this year's annual report too, recommends pressing ahead immediately with the changes to the Legal Service.
On the specific issue of Legal Service reform, the Commission's report concludes that only limited further progress has been made and that the relevant bill remains before parliament. It recommends that Cyprus complete the ongoing reform of the Legal Service and the establishment of the Public Prosecutor General's office, and put in place "an effective review of decisions not to prosecute or to discontinue proceedings," including victimless offences, taking into account European standards on the independence and autonomy of the prosecution service.
Progress at the Anti-Corruption Authority
The European Commission also addresses the other topical issue, the need to strengthen the Anti-Corruption Authority, while acknowledging the progress made so far. According to the report's conclusions, notable progress has been made on legislative reform to strengthen the Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC) and to ensure it has the human and technical resources to carry out its duties effectively, with new recruitment legislation now in place. Further measures are still required to ensure the IAAC becomes fully effective, and the Commission recommends that Cyprus strengthen the Authority's operational effectiveness.
A half-finished i-justice is not enough
The European Commission's report gives particular attention to the digital transformation of the justice system, noting that progress remains limited and that key projects are advancing slowly. The existing i-justice system functions effectively but continues to focus mainly on the electronic filing and exchange of documents, and is used only by a select number of courts.
The first phase of its upgrade, expected to be completed in June 2026 (editor's note: its completion has since been announced), remains on schedule. However, a fully integrated electronic case management system is not expected before 2030.
At present, no further major reforms are planned to improve the effective use of digital technology in the courts. Despite the efforts of the judicial service, paper-based procedures remain widespread, and judicial statistics continue to be collected manually. Key projects aimed at boosting digitalisation have run into implementation difficulties, and some have had to be abandoned or postponed.
The Cyprus Bar Association favours the broader, systematic adoption of technology, including remote hearings and digital recordings of court proceedings, as a means of improving efficiency and reducing delays.
Convictions and cases
According to the 2026 Rule of Law Report, efforts to investigate high-level corruption continue, with further new convictions recorded. The special anti-corruption team under the Attorney General continued to oversee investigations and prosecutions of corruption offences, including high-level cases. In 2025, four people were convicted of corruption offences in separate cases, and police investigated 13 corruption cases, including cases of high-level corruption.
By 2025, the IAAC had completed 15 major investigation reports, six of which were forwarded to the Attorney General for further investigation and to other competent authorities for further action. The Authority is currently handling six ongoing corruption investigations conducted by appointed independent inspectors.
During 2025, police opened six sports-related corruption cases. The four corruption cases linked to the now-abolished investor citizenship scheme remain pending.
The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) investigated one corruption case in 2025. Civil society considers that policymaking on corruption enforcement is not sufficiently grounded in transparent and systematic statistics.
The Police Internal Audit Service continued to actively investigate complaints of police misconduct. In 2025, it examined 23 complaints of possible police involvement in corrupt acts, compared with 22 in 2024. Of these complaints, criminal proceedings have been brought and are pending before the courts in three cases, while seven cases remain pending at the investigative stage.
A very welcome development, the FBI
The European Commission also recognises the decision to create Cyprus' equivalent of the FBI, officially named the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime. According to the report, new police structures related to combating corruption are being created, and calls have been made for specialised training for judges and prosecutors. In December 2025, the establishment of the Directorate for Combating Organised Crime was announced, which is expected to play a significant role in the fight against corruption. During 2025, staffing at the Cyprus Police's Economic Crime Combating Sub-Directorate increased by two members, and by the end of June 2026 four seconded members are expected to return to the service. Civil society has expressed concerns about delays in investigative and judicial procedures, as well as a perceived lack of timely and deterrent outcomes in the handling of high-level cases, and favours greater specialisation and increased resources.
