The recent publication of the EU Justice Scoreboard (EU Justice Scoreboard 2026) has once again confronted Cyprus with its pathologies, highlighting a worrying, timeless reality. The judicial system remains one of the most cumbersome in Europe. Despite the moves made to modernize the judiciary, the numbers are relentless and demonstrate the urgent need for immediate and deep cuts by the decision-making centers.
Stagnation in numbers
The findings of 2026 offer anything but relief. In some critical indicators, the situation is deteriorating. In particular in civil and commercial disputes, the estimated time for adjudication increased from around 520 days in 2023 to almost 580 days in 2024, ranking Cyprus in the second worst position in the EU. Even more dramatic is the picture in administrative procedures, where the resolution time has almost doubled, reaching 800 days.
It is true that the courts record satisfactory clearance rates. But the sheer volume of backlog makes this progress a drop in the ocean. For the citizen and the entrepreneur, the practical result is constant waiting.
Economic suffocation and entrapment of capital
Beyond the fundamental issue of the rule of law, the slow administration of justice is an open wound for the economy itself. When civil and commercial cases get bogged down in the courtrooms, the business ecosystem suffocates. Significant funds are trapped in endless legal proceedings, liquidity in the market is limited and the ability to settle financial outstanding issues in a timely manner is paralyzed.
In a modern European economy, the rapid implementation of what has been agreed and the immediate response to cases of default is a prerequisite for the survival of businesses. The system's inability to resolve trade disputes quickly also acts as a deterrent to attracting foreign direct investment. What serious investor is willing to invest capital in a country where, when a dispute arises, the state machine is unable to provide him with effective and, above all, timely legal protection? It is a key question that seriously concerns those who are called upon to persuade serious foreign investors to deal with the case of Cyprus.
The responsibility of decision-makers
The problem in Cyprus has long ceased to be related to the diagnosis as it has been over-analyzed by many different institutions and persons inside and outside Cyprus. The problem, or rather its maintenance, is more related to a timeless timidity for substantial interventions. The 2026 report, like the previous ones, is a catapult for state care. Cyprus remains firmly in last place in terms of public expenditure on courts as a percentage of GDP, while the number of judges per 100,000 inhabitants continues to lag significantly behind advanced European jurisdictions. The judiciary itself bears its own, heavy responsibility. The internal management of the backlog, the need for internal modernization, the strict adherence to schedules and the effective adoption of digital tools (e-justice) are its own issue.
Both the executive and the legislative power must emphasize the problem that afflicts the entire country and provide solutions so that without compromising on quality, the speed of justice is enhanced.
