Nicosia, Cyprus. The European Commission opened nine infringement procedures against Cyprus on Wednesday over the country’s failure to fully and promptly transpose several EU directives into national law. The cases concern labour migration, environmental protection, dangerous goods transport, capital markets, financial services, hazardous substances in electronic equipment, agriculture, equality bodies and internal market rules during crises.
Initial procedures
All nine cases are at an initial stage. The Commission sent letters of formal notice to the Cypriot authorities, giving them two months to provide details of measures taken to comply.
If the responses are considered unsatisfactory, the Commission may issue a reasoned opinion before potentially referring the cases to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Labour migration rules
Cyprus is among 17 member states that received a formal notice over incomplete transposition of the revised Single Permit Directive, which establishes the EU framework for the legal migration of workers from non-EU countries.
The revised directive provides for a faster process for issuing a combined residence and work permit, requiring applications to be processed within a maximum of 90 days. It also strengthens workers’ rights by allowing them to change employers and introducing complaint mechanisms and safeguards against exploitation.
Environmental crime
A separate procedure concerns Cyprus’ failure to fully transpose the Environmental Crime Directive.
Cyprus is among 23 member states that did not notify the Commission that they had fully implemented the new rules, which strengthen the EU framework for tackling serious environmental offences and provide tougher penalties for acts causing significant, widespread or irreversible environmental damage.
Dangerous goods inspections
Cyprus also received a formal notice over incomplete transposition of new European rules on roadside checks of vehicles transporting dangerous goods.
The delegated directive updates inspection procedures, replaces the existing standard checklist and revises the risk categories associated with potential violations.
