The European Commission has sent letters of formal notice to Cyprus and a number of other Member States for delays in the transposition of two EU legislation in the area of justice on trafficking in human beings and internal security for the failure to include new psychoactive substances as drugs.
In the first case, Cyprus is among the 20 Member States that did not notify full transposition of Directive (EU) 2024/1712, which amends Directive 2011/36/EU on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings and protecting its victims.
The revised Directive introduces stricter criminalisation and strengthened tools for public authorities to investigate and prosecute new forms of exploitation, including those taking place online, as well as better support for victims.
Member States are now required to establish a National Referral Mechanism, designate a contact point for cross-border referral of victims, appoint National Anti-Trafficking Coordinators and regularly adopt and update National Action Plans.
The transposition deadline expired on 15 July 2026, with Cyprus and the remaining 19 member states now having two months to complete the process.
In the second case, Cyprus is included among the Member States that did not fully transpose Delegated Directive (EU) 2025/2062, which adds three new psychoactive substances (2-MMC, NEP and 4-BMC) to the Union definition of the drug through an amendment to the Annex to Council Framework Decision 2004/757/JHA.
The inclusion of these substances means that they will now be covered by EU rules on criminal offences and sanctions for illicit drug trafficking, helping to harmonise national controls and strengthen cross-border police and judicial cooperation.
The transfer deadline expired on July 12, 2026. According to the Commission's text, the Member States that did not notify a complete transposition are Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia.
In both procedures, the Member States involved now have two months to reply and complete the transposition, otherwise the Commission can move on to the next step, the reasoned opinion.
