Cyprus enjoys the privileges of EU membership but continues to struggle with the fundamentals of the rule of law. Once regarded as a stable liberal democracy, Cyprus has now been downgraded to an “electoral democracy” by the 2025 V-Dem Democracy Report. It joins a shortlist of seven countries globally identified as being on the brink of autocratization. This trend, reflective of wider regional pressures in Southeast Europe, signals not only the erosion of legal and democratic checks but also the weakening of citizen trust in core institutions.
The rule of law is not merely a legal doctrine—it is the infrastructure of democratic legitimacy. When it falters, the ripple effects spread across governance, public accountability, and human rights. Cyprus today finds itself at a crossroads where piecemeal reforms are insufficient, and a deeper structural reckoning is urgently needed.
Judicial Independence and Efficiency: A System Under Stress
The 2024 EU Rule of Law Report provides a sobering diagnosis of Cyprus’s justice system. While some progress is acknowledged—such as new civil procedure rules and the establishment of a Commercial Court—major structural concerns remain unaddressed. These include the absence of mechanisms to review prosecutorial decisions and the lack of separation between the Attorney General’s advisory and prosecutorial functions. Draft legislation has been proposed, but no binding reform has been enacted.
The judiciary also faces persistent resourcing issues: understaffing, insufficient support personnel, and delays in the rollout of a new electronic case-management system all undermine court efficiency. Cases continue to face prolonged delays, particularly in second-instance courts, further weakening public confidence in judicial effectiveness and impartiality.
Perception data from the 2024 EU Justice Scoreboard paints a concerning picture:
- 49% of the general public consider judicial independence to be good or fairly good (down from 54% in 2023).
- 31% of companies express confidence in the legal system to protect their investments.
- Trust in the judiciary has declined steadily since 2020, eroding Cyprus’s comparative standing within the EU.
These shortcomings point to a structural problem of inertia, where reform is not met with institutional follow-through. The European Commission has urged Cyprus to take legislative steps to enhance prosecutorial accountability, yet political will remains inconsistent.
Corruption: Institutional Commitments, Limited Results
Anti-corruption measures have been formalised but not fully implemented. The 2024 EU Rule of Law Report commends the establishment of the Independent Authority Against Corruption (IAAC), but questions whether it has sufficient financial and technical capacity. High-level prosecutions are rare, and enforcement of new asset disclosure laws is lagging.
The report also flags serious concerns about transparency in state advertising, noting that no progress has been made toward fair and accountable distribution of public funds to media. In addition, conflict of interest rules for Members of Parliament remain weak, with no significant legislative movement in 2023–2024.
The dismissal of Auditor-General Odysseas Michaelides—who played a leading role in exposing irregularities in the now defunct Cyprus Investment Programme (CIP)—is framed within the report as a governance concern. The circumstances surrounding his removal raised doubts about the robustness of institutional checks and balances, especially in politically sensitive investigations.
Human Rights: Systemic Legal Failures
Cyprus’s human rights record also comes under sharp critique. The 2024 ECHR judgment in M.A. and Z.R. v. Cyprus confirmed violations of Articles 3 and 13 of the European Convention, as well as Article 4 of Protocol No. 4. The case involved the summary return of Syrian asylum seekers to Lebanon without adequate risk assessment, undermining Cyprus’s obligations under both European and international law.
The EU Rule of Law Report reinforces these concerns, highlighting continued implementation gaps in asylum procedures and refugee protections. The Ombudsperson’s role in overseeing compliance with fundamental rights has expanded, but administrative bottlenecks persist. The Commission calls for Cyprus to take concrete steps to ensure legal safeguards for vulnerable groups are both accessible and effective.
Civic Participation and Democratic Legitimacy
In the democratic domain, the 2024 country report recognises progress in stakeholder engagement, particularly through the launch of an e-consultation platform. Yet, it also notes that further legislative and procedural enhancements are required for meaningful public consultation. A draft bill to formalise participatory policymaking has stalled, reflecting wider hesitance to institutionalise civic involvement.
Civil society continues to face regulatory and financial pressures. The EU urges Cyprus to simplify administrative burdens on NGOs and to foster regular dialogue between government and civic organisations. According to a 2023 University of Nicosia survey, 74% of respondents believe the justice system is deteriorating, while only 10% express strong trust in its fairness—underscoring a growing legitimacy gap.
Conclusion: At a Democratic Crossroads
Cyprus is not undergoing a democratic breakdown, but the warning signs are clear. Its downgrade by V-Dem, compounded by damning findings from the EU and ECHR, point to systemic dysfunction that cannot be explained away as temporary or circumstantial. The 2024 EU Rule of Law Report outlines an actionable roadmap for reform—yet without consistent implementation, these efforts risk remaining superficial.
The rule of law is not a static benchmark; it requires ongoing commitment and vigilance. Cyprus’s current trajectory reflects a pattern seen across Southeast Europe: formal institutions endure, but their democratic substance weakens. Reforms exist on paper but lack the political will or administrative capacity to shift outcomes.
At this juncture, Cyprus must make a decisive choice. Either it reinforces its democratic foundations with genuine transparency, accountability, and judicial reform—or it continues down a path of gradual but consequential erosion. The EU may act as a mirror, but the reflection ultimately depends on what Cyprus chooses to see—and change—within itself.
Literature:
European Commission (2024). 2024 Rule of Law Report – Communication on the rule of law situation in the EU. 2024 Rule of law report – Communication and country chapters – European Commission
European Commission (2024). 2024 Rule of Law Report – Country Chapter on the rule of law situation in Cyprus. 2024 Rule of law report – Communication and country chapters – European Commission
European Court of Human Rights (2024). Judgment in M.A. and Z.R. v. Cyprus – Preventing refugees from disembarking in Cyprus to claim asylum violated the Convention. Judgment M.A. and Z.R. v. Cyprus – Preventing refugees from disembarking in Cyprus to claim asylum violated the Convention.pdf
International IDEA (2024–2025). Cyprus Country Profile – Democracy Tracker. https://www.idea.int/democracytracker/country/cyprus
Oxygen for Democracy (2024). Έκθεση Κράτους Δικαίου 2024 – Συμβολή Oxygono για την Κύπρο. Έκθεση Κράτους Δικαίου 2024: Συνεισφορά Oxygen for Democracy – Oxygono
University of Nicosia, Procedural Law Unit (2023). Survey: “From Bad to Worse: The Public’s View of the Justice System.” https://www.unic.ac.cy/survey-from-bad-to-worse-the-public-039-s-view-of-the-justice-system/
V-Dem Institute (2025). Democracy Report 2025: 25 Years of Autocratization – Democracy Trumped? Democracy Reports – V-Dem
