Cyprus - Justice and Home Affairs

Short-term priorities:

• adopt and implement asylum legislation in accordance with the EU acquis;
• ensure regular and complete reporting by the offshore banking sector;
• upgrade border control equipment and improve training of personnel to prevent illegal immigration;
• ensure further progress in the detection of forged documents;
• ratify the European Convention on Mutual Assistance and its protocol and the European Criminal Law Convention on Corruption;
• sign the OECD Convention on bribery;
• increase resources in the unit for combating money laundering.

Assessment (November 2001)

With regard to border control, progress has been made with a view to detecting forged documents and to improving infrastructures. However, efforts to control maritime borders must be continued, as must efforts to join the SIS (Schengen Information System). In addition the European Convention on judicial assistance has entered into force. This priority has been acted on in part.

Assessment (October 2002)

As regards asylum, Cyprus has introduced the necessary amendments to the Refugee Law incorporating the rights of refugees. The measures concerning upgrading of border equipment are being implemented. As regards the campaign against money laundering, 11 posts have been created for the Unit for Combating Money Laundering (MOKAS).

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Medium-term priorities:

• further upgrade law enforcement bodies and the judiciary (staff numbers, training and equipment);
• continue progressive alignment of visa legislation and practice with that of the EU;
• ensure effective application of international instruments on judicial cooperation, especially the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Penal Matters and its additional Protocol, the European Criminal Law Convention on Corruption, as well as the Hague Convention on Civil Procedure and on Access to Justice.

Assessment (November 2001)

Cyprus has strengthened the human resources and facilities of bodies responsible for applying the law and the judicial system. Efforts were made to apply international measures relating to judicial cooperation. Thus this priority has been acted upon to a large extent.

Assessment (October 2002)

Cyprus has achieved further legislative alignment with the common visa policy, but more steps are needed, in particular concerning visa-issuing capacity.

Assessment (November 2003)

Please refer to the fact sheets on the adoption of the Community acquis.

Following the signing of the Accession Treaty on 16 April 2003, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia acceded to the European Union on 1 May 2004.

REFERENCES

Decision 2000/248/EC of 20.03.2000Official Journal L 78, 29.03.2000

Commission Report COM(2001) 700 final - SEC(2001) 1745Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2002) 700 final - SEC(2002) 1401Not published in the Official Journal

Commission Report COM(2003) 675 final - SEC(2003) 1202Not published in the Official Journal

Treaty of Accession to the European Union [Official Journal L 236, 23.09.2003]

Last updated: 19.11.2004