Nicosia, Cyprus. The European Commission on Wednesday issued infringement notices to Cyprus over failures related to EU waste recycling targets, restrictive energy installation policies and the transposition of anti-money laundering rules.
The commission said the decisions were part of its enforcement efforts to remove barriers in the single market in 11 focus areas.
Waste recycling targets
The commission called on 12 member states to meet EU waste recycling targets, which required a 50 per cent recycling rate for municipal waste by 2020.
It issued letters of formal notice to Cyprus, Greece and Germany. In the case of Cyprus, the letter of formal notice marks the first step in the EU’s formal five-step infringement procedure.
The targets are part of EU framework directives that are legally binding on all member states.
Cyprus was also among seven member states found to have missed EU targets for total packaging, metals and glass. It was found in breach of the glass target along with Portugal.
The commission said achieving these targets was essential to foster the single market for secondary raw materials and enhance circularity.
Energy installation rules
A further infringement case was filed against Cyprus for what the commission described as restrictive mandatory authorisation or certification schemes for energy installation and construction services.
The commission said the cases addressed obstacles to the installation of renewable energy equipment created by authorisation and similar requirements.
It added that the requirements made it difficult for installers of renewable energy equipment and providers of energy efficiency installations to work across the bloc.
Anti-money laundering directive
In a third infringement notice, the commission called on Cyprus to correctly transpose the provisions of the EU directive on combatting money laundering.
Minimum wage law
The commission also cited Cyprus for failing to enshrine adequate minimum wages into national law.