Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus attorney-general George Savvides said the European Union is facing “increasingly complex legal and geopolitical challenges” as he hosted a meeting of law directors from the bloc’s 27 member states in Nicosia. He said Cyprus is approaching its six-month term holding the Council of the EU’s rotating presidency “with self-confidence, responsibility, and a strong European vision”.
Cyprus outlines approach to Council presidency
Savvides told his counterparts that the Cypriot government is committed to “promoting unity, dialogue, and stability, and policies which bring substantial benefits to all”.
“Despite our small size and limited resources, Cyprus has always proven that commitment, cooperation, and determination can have a substantial impact within the European family,” he said.
Call for closer cooperation among legal services
Savvides stressed the importance of “close cooperation” between the legal services of the EU’s member states and between the states and the EU’s institutions, “particularly at a time when the European Union is faced with increasingly complex legal and geopolitical challenges”.
Role of Cyprus’ legal service and European law department
He said Cyprus’ legal service “functions as a legal advisor to all ministries and government agencies, as well as the competent authority for representing the state before national, European, and international courts”.
Savvides said the legal service’s European law department was established in 1997 “in view of the Republic of Cyprus’ accession to the European Union” and “played a decisive role in the harmonisation of Cypriot legislation with the European acquis communautaire”.
He said that “more than 1,300 pieces of [European] legislation” have passed through the department before being transposed into Cypriot law since Cyprus joined the EU in 2004.
Comments on 2024 ECJ reforms
Savvides referred to the 2024 European Court of Justice reforms, which transferred jurisdiction for preliminary rulings in six areas to the General Court of the EU.
He listed those areas as the common system of value added tax, excise duties, the customs code, the tariff classification of goods, compensation and assistance for passengers whose transport services are delayed or cancelled, and the greenhouse gas emission allowance trading scheme.
Savvides said the aim of the reform was to allow the ECJ “to focus on its role as the constitutional authority of EU law, while the General Court handles specific areas of preliminary ruling requests”.
What impact do you think the transfer of preliminary ruling jurisdiction to the General Court could have on EU legal proceedings?