Filenews 16 July 2022 - by Theano Thiopoulou
Four open cases involving Cyprus' non-compliance with the acquis communautaire have caused the European Commission's displeasure. It issued letters of formal notice or reasoned opinions yesterday and gives two months for the country to respond before proceeding with the next stage of the infringement procedure. The final stage is the referral to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Yesterday the Commission announced that in a letter of formal notice it is calling on Cyprus to ensure that the new requirements for the regulated professions are necessary and balanced. Cyprus did not examine the measures adopted by professional associations or bodies or the initiatives of parliament in the context of the obligations laid down in the Directive. Cyprus has two months to reply to the arguments raised by the Commission; Otherwise, the Commission may decide to send a reasoned opinion.
On the second issue, the Commission is urging Cyprus to transpose into national law new rules on temporary VAT exemptions, as regards imports and certain supplies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It sent a reasoned opinion to Cyprus yesterday for failing to notify the measures transposing the relevant European directive into national law. That Directive provides for temporary measures aimed at addressing the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Member States had to adopt and publish the necessary national provisions by 31 December 2021. In January 2022, the Commission sent a letter of formal notice to eight Member States, including Cyprus. To date, Cyprus has not notified the Commission of any transposition measures. As a result, the country now has two months to reply and take the necessary measures, otherwise, the Commission may decide to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
The European Commission also calls on Cyprus to transpose EU rules on the minimum level of training of seafarers and the mutual recognition of seafarers' certificates issued by Member States. Cyprus has two months to reply to the reasoned opinion, otherwise it will be referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
