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Cyprus is making headway in the fight against corruption, according to the European Commission’s 2025 Rule of Law Report released Monday, but Brussels says more work is needed to strengthen accountability and speed up key reforms.
The report highlighted major efforts in investigating and prosecuting high-level corruption cases, with the Anti-Corruption Task Force continuing to oversee complex probes under the supervision of the Attorney General. The task force also provided training on asset recovery, which led to the collection of more than €8 million in frozen assets in 2024, a record amount for the island.
In total, five people were convicted of corruption in four separate cases last year, and 13 investigations were launched, including some at a high level. That’s up from just three convictions and five investigations the previous year. Six new probes have already begun in 2025.
But despite those advances, the commission pointed to “limited progress” on deeper reforms, particularly around the attorney general’s dual role as both legal advisor and chief prosecutor, a long-standing concern for legal experts and civil society.
Reform of the legal service
Efforts to separate the Attorney General’s advisory and prosecutorial functions appear to be moving forward. The Cabinet approved draft legislation on July 2, which aims to create a new General Public Prosecutor’s office, independent from the Attorney General’s advisory role. Both positions would have eight-year non-renewable terms, with appointments made by the President.
This institutional reform is seen as key to rebuilding public trust. The President of the Republic has voiced strong support, saying the move will “restore citizens’ faith in institutions.”
The proposed laws now await parliamentary review, while the government also prepares for the administrative separation of the Legal Service and the establishment of the new prosecutorial body.
Gaps in oversight
Still, the EU report flagged ongoing concerns about how decisions to drop criminal cases are handled. Under the current constitution, decisions by the Attorney General to end prosecutions are not subject to review, a situation that watchdog groups say undermines transparency.
A proposal submitted in late 2024 would allow the Supreme Court to review such decisions, but the Attorney General raised legal concerns, and the Supreme Court’s own opinion is now under review by the Ministry of Justice.
Civil society organizations, including Oxygen of Democracy, OPEC, CIReN, and CRoLEV, have called this issue “the most crucial” part of the legal overhaul and expressed frustration with the slow progress.
Spotlight on citizenship scandals and sports
Meanwhile, 15 prosecutions linked to Cyprus’ controversial citizenship-by-investment scheme are ongoing, involving 26 individuals and entities, according to the Legal Service. The European Public Prosecutor’s Office also investigated one Cyprus-based corruption case in 2024, making up roughly 4% of its total caseload on the island.
Corruption in local government and sports remains a concern. Fourteen sports-related cases were pursued in 2024, including one involving a senior sports official that began in late 2023 and is still under investigation.
The report also noted a stable working relationship between the Audit Service and Legal Service, adding that no major disputes have emerged recently. The Audit Service has long been a vocal player in corruption oversight and public spending scrutiny.
