Filenews 5 August 2025 - by Angelos Nikolaou
Today's report by the Audit Service brings to light a series of serious illegalities in the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, proving complete inaction and degraded operation in the environmental and management obligations of the state.
Serious complaints, multiple illegalities, arbitrariness and generalized administrative dysfunction are revealed by the new special report of the Audit Service, which concerns the audit of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment and the competent General Directorates (Agriculture & Rural Development and Environment).
The report includes follow-up and examination of sample transactions and captures a series of violations of environmental and urban planning legislation, with delays and inaction on critical issues.
The Republic of Cyprus has already been referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) for two serious environmental violations:
Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC): Delay in the adoption of specific conservation objectives and management measures, despite guidance from 2021 and the commitment of 27 decrees by the end of 2025.
Directive 99/31/EC on the Vati and Kotsiatis landfills: The EU has again called for the imposition of financial penalties for continued non-restoration, 12 years after the first conviction (2013). Cyprus is once again facing the EU for not fully complying with the Landfill Directive 99/31/EC. The EU postponed the RC to May 2025 due to delays in the restoration of the landfills in Vati and Kotsiatis. Efforts have been significantly delayed, increasing the risk of economic sanctions.
Kouklia (Akamas Peninsula): Change of urban planning status to state forest land, in favour of a specific company, without completing the planned exchange of plots. Despite the cancellation of the planned land exchange, private plots in Kouklia continue to enjoy a favourable urban planning regime. The Audit Service had issued a special report, in the context of which serious irregularities were found and the participation of a specific company was investigated. The case remains under investigation by the Police.
The report records cases of favourable treatment of companies and ROPs (Politically Exposed Persons):
Agia Thekla (Famagusta): Constructions without permits in a tourist development that belonged to a ROP. The Administrative Court annulled the rejections of permits, criticizing incomplete environmental assessment and justification. The report records urban planning violations by a RIP company in the Famagusta District. Additional floors in tourist development without a permit, construction of holiday homes before legally required approvals. The Administrative Court annulled decisions of Urban Planning Authorities in 2025, citing insufficient justification and evaluation.
A huge issue arises with the chronic illegalities in Akamas. Despite the announcement of demolitions, illegal premises (restaurants and refreshments) still exist in protected areas of the Akamas Peninsula. The Audit Service located the premises on the spot, asking the local authorities for immediate action. The Municipality of Akamas, as the most competent, makes intense efforts, either out of court or by other available means, to remove the illegal constructions.
In February 2025, the Paphos District Court examined a decision of January 2025 for an illegal construction in the Community of Ineia within the Akamas Peninsula, on the basis of which it ordered the issuance of a Decree for the demolition of the building in question and the fence erected, within two months, unless permission is obtained from the competent Authority in the meantime.
Fires in recycling plants
Repeated fires in recycling plants (Geri – Idalio), including a hazardous waste treatment plant, have caused public health concerns. The Department of the Environment proceeded to reissue permits with increased fire protection measures. Following a fire in December 2024 at a hazardous waste treatment plant in Geri-Idali, the Audit Service reported serious risks to public health. Although there was a reaction from the Department of the Environment by tightening the permits, imposing fire protection measures, the submission of a restoration plan was requested by the operators and a ban on entering the site came into force until the impact management was complete.
Illegalities upon illegalities with interventions in rivers and arbitrary constructions. Complaints were examined for illegal constructions in the river Krios (Pano Platres), in Amathos (Dierona – Prastio Kellaki), while violations have also been identified in Timi B', where residential buildings were arbitrarily erected on a state livestock plot.
A private residence was erected in or near the bed of the river Krios in the Community of Pano Platres, without a valid building permit. The project is in progress despite the expiration of the permit, while a Decree for the Suspension of Works has been issued and surveys are expected to document any intervention in the riverbed.
The inspection identified extensive interventions in the bed of the Amathos River, between Dierona and Prastios Kellaki. Artificial lakes and gazebos have been created, while access to the site is allowed by purchasing an expensive ticket. The Water Development Department (TAY) confirmed the illegal works and sent a warning letter, while the Land Registry Department completed the surveys to document the illegal interventions.
In 1996, a tenant erected illegal premises in the Livestock Area of Timi B, on a livestock plot managed by the Department of Agriculture (TG) and the Paphos Town Planning Authority granted planning permits, which concerned additional conversions and change of use of the premises, without the prerequisite consent of the Department, as the owner. Despite the fact that the lease agreement of the livestock plot in question expired on 31.10.2023, the tenant still owns it illegally. The TG, over time, has failed to exercise adequate administrative oversight on the issue. Following relevant information from the Audit Service, the Attorney General forwarded the matter to the Police in January 2023 and the investigation of the case is still ongoing.
Illegal premises within Natura 2000
A large livestock farm continues to operate illegally within a Natura 2000 protected area since 2015. Despite a court decision to demolish and the interventions of the Auditor, the premises remain, with the case having been forwarded to the Independent Anti-Corruption Authority. In response of the General Directorate of Agriculture to the Audit Service, it is noted that "in consultation with the Veterinary Services and the owner of the livestock unit, efforts are being made to mark the animals". Furthermore, it is noted that under the coordination of the Veterinary Services, efforts are being made to relocate the farm to an area where it is possible to license it with the full implementation of the legislation, both by the person in charge of the farm and by Departments of the Ministry.
Without an environmental study, the Environmental Information Center
The work of the Lakatameia Environmental Information Center began without conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment Study, despite the relevant suggestion of the Department of the Environment. However, the authorities believe that the underground aquifer system was not affected.
The 11.8 km high KPEL project within the framework of the Pedieon Linear Park, started without the required Environmental Impact Assessment Study, despite the clear indications of the IT as early as July 2021. The Department completes continuous monitoring and considers that the project has a small environmental footprint and can be completed in an environmentally acceptable manner.
Extensive financial and management irregularities
The report identifies a number of weaknesses and accounting omissions in the transactions of the Water Development Department (TAY):
Errors in water tariffs: Water meter readings are recorded as zero.
Insufficient payment documentation: Payments of more than €2 million without the necessary documents.
Controversial payments to desalination plants: Invoice falsification and deviation from conventional prices.
Unspecified deposit balances: Outstanding amounts and a deficit of €207,492 in the VAT account.
Irregularities in the operation of the canteen of the Institute of Agricultural Research (IGE): Successive contract renewals without a tender and gradual reduction of rent.
Construction of a park within Natura 2000. At Larnaca Salt Lake, a park was remodelled within an area of the Natura 2000 Network without a special Ecological Assessment. Although the Game Service and the Department of the Environment had set conditions, the construction was temporarily suspended, while measures have already been taken to limit the nuisance in small groups (pedestrian bridge, etc.).
Conclusions of the Audit Service
The Auditor General, Andreas Papaconstantinou, concludes with a rigorous assessment: "Unjustified delays in the compliance of the Republic of Cyprus with European directives on environmental issues are identified. There is also a significant dyskinesia of the state to adopt drastic and immediate therapeutic measures where violations and illegalities are detected."
The Audit Service calls on the Ministry of Agriculture and the services involved to take effective responsibility and immediately correct the chronic pathogens that endanger the environment, public health and good administration.
