House committee examines legal service reform and court delays

Nicosia, Cyprus. Reform of the legal service and delays in judicial proceedings were examined on Wednesday by the House institutions committee during a review of the European Commission’s report on the rule of law in Cyprus. The report called for progress on legal service reform, oversight of prosecutorial decisions and measures to improve court efficiency.

European Commission recommendations

The report again urged the government to complete the reform of the legal service and establish effective control over decisions not to prosecute or discontinue prosecutions.

It also included a new recommendation on judicial delays and called for measures to improve the efficiency of the courts, including plans for an independent court service.

European Commission representative Panayiotis Pourgourides said the report was intended to encourage government action rather than assign blame. He said progress on legal service reform had remained limited.

Pourgourides described the reform as a complex matter but also a unique opportunity to strengthen the institution’s independence and accountability.

Government response

Deputy minister to the president Irene Piki said implementing the commission’s recommendations remained a government priority.

She said a package of bills on legal service reform had been submitted to parliament last year, while legislation on control of prosecutorial decisions had also been submitted.

Amendments addressing shortcomings in recently passed legislation are being prepared and will be presented to the House in the coming months.

Staff shortages and bar association concerns

Judicial delays were also attributed to shortages of support staff. Chief registrar Maria Christodoulou said courts were struggling to recruit office assistants and other support staff needed for hearings.

The bar association criticised the pace of judicial reform, with vice-president Nikolas Tsardellis describing the current system as “anachronistic and outdated”.