Deadly airbags, six years of silence, now the EU is investigating Cyprus

The European Commission has launched an inquiry into Cyprus’ handling of the Takata airbag crisis after years of government inaction despite repeated EU safety alerts. Since 2019, the EU’s Rapex/Safety-Gate rapid alert system has issued 57 warnings about the deadly airbags, which have been linked to fatalities worldwide due to their risk of exploding and releasing shrapnel. However, Cypriot authorities, specifically the Road Transport Department (TOM), failed to take any action—until now, after two deaths and significant pressure from Brussels.

Cyprus Under Scrutiny: A Potential Infringement Case?

The European Commission is now formally requesting official information from Cyprus on its management (or lack thereof) of the Rapex/Safety-Gate notifications. The Directorate for Justice and the Rule of Law, responsible for overseeing the system, is assessing whether Cyprus’ inaction constitutes a breach of EU law. If found non-compliant, the Commission could initiate an infringement procedure, which could lead to legal action and penalties.

While Cyprus’ Consumer Protection Service has actively engaged with Rapex in other areas—submitting 65 notifications and 2 feedback reports in 2024 alone—it completely ignored the Takata crisis. The responsibility for vehicle safety lies with the Road Transport Department (TOM) and the Ministry of Transport, both of which failed to respond to the dozens of alerts issued over the past six years.

Cyprus’ Legal Obligations and Systemic Failures

Under EU Regulation 2023/988 on General Product Safety (GPSR), all member states are required to:
1. Monitor and respond to safety alerts regarding dangerous products.
2. Take corrective actions such as recalls, investigations, and public warnings.
3. Report back on the measures taken to address risks.

Despite these clear obligations, Cyprus failed to act from 2019 to 2024, neither investigating affected vehicles nor notifying the public of potential dangers. The first Rapex alert about Takata airbags was issued in January 2019 by Romania, warning about six Mazda models. Cyprus, like all other EU states, was required to check whether these models were on its roads and provide feedback—yet no response was ever recorded.

The Commission will now decide whether Cyprus’ general participation in the Rapex/Safety-Gate system—through its Consumer Protection Service—is enough to prove compliance, or whether its complete inaction on Takata airbags will result in serious consequences. The stakes are high, as the findings could determine whether Cyprus faces legal repercussions for its failure to act on a known life-threatening safety issue.

*This article was translated and summarized from its Greek original.  To read more of  Pavlos Xanthoulis' article and gain full access to in-depth reports (in Greek), subscribe now to Kathimerini's print edition and stay informed with comprehensive coverage on this and more!