"We have recently carried out a study regarding outdated legislation that needs to be revised or repealed. This issue will be further studied, in consultation with the relevant Ministries, so that we can take the necessary legislative measures", the Commissioner points out.
"Indicatively, I mention that we have found that there are legislation that is now outdated and does not correspond to today's reality, such as "the Law on the Employment of Women in Mines (CHAPTER 181), which introduces restrictions on employment on the basis of gender and conflicts with the principle of equal treatment in employment", says Ms. Cleopa.
At the same time, she states, there are legislations whose subject matter is now covered by a newer and more specific legislative framework, such as "the Siribi Law (CHAPTER 93)", which is a colonial law of agricultural policing to prevent the spread of a wheat pest. "This special issue is now covered by the "Protective Measures against Plant Harmful Organisms Law of 2023 (Law 146(I)/2023)", which is modern and harmonized with EU law, for organisms that are harmful to plants. The list we have prepared includes several pieces of legislation that may have fallen into disuse, have become obsolete or are now covered by a newer and modernized legislative framework and in cooperation with the competent Ministries, the necessary measures for abolition or modernization will be taken", she clarifies.
One of these pieces of legislation, the Commissioner points out, is on death row inquiries. "The Law on Death Investigators is a colonial piece of legislation of 1936 and since then it has received minimal amendments. Its current form has functional weaknesses and no longer meets modern needs. There are outdated references to the Governor, the Governor, the execution in pursuance of a death warrant and legislation that has been repealed," she underlines.
The need to modernize it, says the Commissioner, has been publicly recognized by the Attorney General in 2021 and the Commissioner for Legislation has been institutionally assigned by the Council of Ministers to study and draft a relevant bill. "To this end, a legislative committee was set up, under my chairmanship, which consists of representatives of the Ministries of Justice and Public Order and Health, the Attorney General of the Republic and the Police. I have already started the preparation of the study, where the weaknesses and problems identified will be mapped, a comparative study will be carried out with the relevant legislation of other countries and suggestions will be made for the improvement and modernization of the whole process."
Other laws considered by the Law Commissioner
The Commissioner's Office is currently dealing, among other things, with the harmonization of national legislation with three important European Union Directives:
>> Directive (EU) 2024/1499 and Directive (EU) 2024/1500 of the European Parliament and of the Council on standards for equality bodies,
>> as well as Directive (EU) 2024/1385 on combating violence against women and domestic violence.
"Harmonization bills are always prioritized, due to the specific obligations and timetables of compliance of the Republic of Cyprus. Their timely promotion is particularly important, both to avoid delays and to prevent possible infringement proceedings against our country," she says.
At the same time, the Commissioner's Office is also working on issues of compliance with observations and recommendations arising within the framework of the GREVIO Committee, "i.e. the independent body of experts of the Council of Europe that monitors the implementation of the Istanbul Convention, but also of the GRECO Committee, whose main purpose is the fight against corruption", it states.
"In addition, I submit ex officio recommendations to the President and the competent bodies on issues of legislative modernization, and I chair several legislative committees, where we draft reform bills, following a decision of the Presidency or the Council of Ministers," she emphasizes.
The e-Legislation platform is coming
Among the actions promoted by the Commissioner for Legislation is the e-Legislation project. "A formal government platform for the preparation of legislation, which makes the legislative process entirely digital, including the drafting and consolidation of legislation, as well as the publication of legislation in a readable and interoperable format," Ms. Cleopa clarifies.
The platform, she clarifies, is expected to promote collective legislative drafting and issuance, especially during inter-agency consultations in the drafting phase of new legislation, to simplify the consolidation of laws and regulations and to provide easier access to legislation for citizens.
''It will cover all stages of processing, including the amendment and consolidation of the law, and the publication of the laws in digital form. In other words, it is an open data platform that will be publicly available and accessible to professionals, citizens and businesses and its operation will be entrusted to the Commissioner for Legislation," she says.
The 6-month reports to the Council of Ministers
One of the responsibilities of the Commissioner for Legislation is the written identification of the obligations and actions arising from legislation concerning the Council of Ministers, the Ministers, the Independent Officials, the Services, etc., the issuance of instructions for compliance as well as the preparation and submission of a relevant semi-annual Report to the Council of Ministers.
"We study all the laws that the House of Representatives passes every month, and we identify and point out to the competent bodies of the executive power the obligations and actions they must take on the basis of the new legislation. Then, we submit the information report, for the better and holistic monitoring of the implementation of the legislative provisions", she clarifies.
"Part B of the report includes the notes that have not been complied with. I must note that I recently sent letters to the competent services, which were delayed, and several of them have already responded and informed me of the measures they have taken to comply."
The office of the Commissioner for Legislation has been established
The role it plays in the modernization of the state
Ms. Cleopa referred to the role played by the office of the Commissioner for Legislation, but also to its consolidation through the very recent adoption of relevant legislation by the Parliament.
"Since the appointment, in 1971, of the first Commissioner for Legislation, the late Stella Soulioti, until today, the Office of the Commissioner for Legislation has been operating uninterruptedly, contributing substantially to the modernization of legislation and the strengthening of the operational effectiveness of the rule of law. The institution of the Commissioner for Legislation is the first institution of a Commissioner of the Republic of Cyprus".
The Commissioner, she points out, is appointed by the President of the Republic for a six-year term and her main responsibilities include the revision, consolidation, codification and modernization of legislation. "At the same time, the Office prepares translations and consolidations of legislation, coordinates and prepares the national reports of the Republic of Cyprus, in the context of international human rights conventions, and monitors the implementation of the obligations of the executive power arising from laws and regulations. The contribution of the institution is decisive, as it serves the modernization of legislation and contributes to the formation of a modern, functional and effective legal framework, for the benefit of the state and citizens."
She points out, from the day she took office, in November 2025, set as her main goals "first, the staffing of the Office with permanent staff and, second, the institutionalization of the institution itself. These are two key issues, as without adequate and permanent staffing, the Office cannot effectively respond to its ever-increasing role in terms of modernization and revision of legislation."
Today, Ms. Cleopa explains, both have been achieved. Both the staffing of the Office and the "unanimous vote by the House of Representatives of the Commissioner for Legislation Law of 2026 (on March 27) which is a milestone for the institution and an important development for the strengthening of its role".
The institution, until now, was not based on a special law, but on a presidential act of appointment, she clarifies and adds that "this institutionalization shields the independence of the respective Commissioner for Legislation, clarifies his responsibilities and strengthens transparency, accountability, as well as the modern and effective operation of his Office. At the same time, it ensures the continuity and stability of the institution, beyond persons and circumstances, giving it a clearer and more stable institutional basis."
The basic text of the law, says Ms. Cleopa, was drafted by her predecessor and has been pending in Parliament since 2022. "When I took over, I made changes and conducted intensive consultations with all stakeholders, resulting in its recent unanimous vote," she says, thanking the Ministry of Justice and the Parliament.
''The main objective I set was and remains the substantial contribution of the Office to the modernization of the legislation, through the conduct of studies, the submission of ex officio recommendations and their implementation, especially on issues related to the protection of human rights and the international obligations of the Republic of Cyprus. I must emphasize that with the full support of the Presidency, the institution is strengthened, evolved and properly staffed, and now I can say that it acquires the position it deserves," she says.
What changes after the institutionalization of the office
The institutionalization of the Commissioner for Legislation, says Ms. Cleopa, has not only symbolic value, but also brings about substantial, practical changes for the operation of the Office, including stability and continuity.
"The modernization of legislation, the monitoring of its implementation and the contribution to the fulfilment of the international obligations of the Republic are not conjunctural issues, but a mission that requires a stable basis, institutional endurance and long-term planning. In this sense, the institutionalization strengthens the practical ability of the Office to operate with greater organizational coherence, with a clearer orientation and with a more stable institutional footprint," she says.
Also, the Commissioner adds, it allows for better prioritization and more systematic exercise of its work, without depending on occasional needs or the specifics of each period.
"In other words, it creates the conditions for the work of the Commissioner for Legislation to be exercised more consistently and effectively. At the same time, the institutionalization also strengthens the institutional weight of the Office itself over other state bodies. This does not mean that the nature of the institution is changing, but that its work and recommendations acquire a clearer institutional basis. This is important, because in matters relating to the revision, consolidation or modernisation of legislation, effectiveness often depends, not only on the quality of the legal work, but also on whether the institution itself operates within a clear, stable and recognised framework. Therefore, institutionalization is not limited to a symbolic recognition of the institution. On the contrary, it strengthens in practice its functionality, its institutional continuity and its ability to carry out its mission consistently and effectively", she concludes.
