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The Council of Europe has issued its latest assessment of Cyprus’s treatment of national minorities, noting both steady progress and areas where renewed action is needed. The findings appear in the Advisory Committee’s Sixth Opinion on Cyprus under the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities (FCNM), adopted in July 2025 and released today.
According to the opinion, Cyprus continues to uphold a solid legal and institutional system safeguarding the rights of the Armenian, Latin, and Maronite communities, groups recognised as “religious groups” under the country’s constitution. The Committee also highlights a recent step to broaden the FCNM’s application to the Cyprus Roma on a provision-by-provision basis.
In reviewing current policy, the Advisory Committee acknowledges notable efforts to promote cultural diversity and dialogue. It points to public awareness projects, minority-language teaching initiatives, and community-driven cultural programmes. Examples include instruction in Armenian and Cypriot Maronite Arabic, support for cultural centres such as the House of the Latins, and educational cooperation with institutions in Armenia, Greece, and Lebanon.
The Committee further notes that Cyprus has put in place tailored educational arrangements for each of the three recognised groups and for the Cyprus Roma. It singles out the National Roma Strategic Framework 2021–2030 as a crucial policy instrument aimed at strengthening inclusion and equal participation for Roma communities.
Despite these strengths, the opinion stresses that several issues remain unresolved. The Cyprus Roma, it notes, are still not formally recognised in domestic legislation as a distinct group entitled to protection. In addition, Turkish-speaking residents and individuals who identify with the “Turkish Cypriot community” continue to face barriers when using Turkish, even though it is one of the Republic’s two official languages.
To bolster minority protection, the Advisory Committee urges the government to reinforce the responsibilities and resources of the Co-ordinator of Religious Groups, and to extend this role to cover Roma affairs. It also calls for significant improvements in minority-language education, including training more teachers of Armenian and Cypriot Maronite Arabic, creating university posts dedicated to these languages, and offering more frequent and longer lessons, particularly in secondary schools.
The report also emphasises the need for Cyprus to align fully with FCNM standards on free self-identification. It recommends publishing the long-delayed 2021 census data on the Roma population, broken down by ethnicity, religion, and language, and calls for greater support for independent research into Roma history and culture.
To counter rising intolerance, the Committee advises intensified measures against hate speech and xenophobia. These should include systematic training for law-enforcement officials and the judiciary, alongside public campaigns promoting respect for diversity.
Full implementation of the National Strategic Framework for the Equality, Inclusion and Participation of Cyprus Roma 2021–2030 is described as essential to ensuring equal access to public services, including education, housing, healthcare, and social support.
Finally, the opinion recommends making political participation more accessible for Armenians and Maronites by allowing individuals to register for the election of their representatives without requiring confirmation from religious authorities.
