The European Commission has intensified its legal pressure on Cyprus, issuing a formal demand for the nation to address significant shortcomings in security and surveillance at its two primary international airports. This latest step, a "reasoned opinion," cites failures to implement crucial European Union regulations and raises serious questions about the oversight capacity of Cypriot aviation authorities.
This action represents the second phase of a formal infringement procedure, a mechanism the EU uses to ensure member states comply with bloc-wide law. The process was initiated following an inspection conducted by the European Union's safety agency in 2020, which identified persistent problems. Despite an initial warning sent to Nicosia in November of last year, the Commission concluded that the necessary corrective measures had not been sufficiently enacted, prompting this escalated response.
The concerns are narrowly focused on Larnaca and Paphos, the island's key aviation gateways for millions of tourists annually. According to the Commission's detailed opinion, Cypriot authorities have not ensured that the operator of these airports fully adheres to mandated EU security protocols. Specifically, the operational manuals governing airport activities, including provisions for critical rescue and firefighting services, are deemed non-compliant. Furthermore, the Commission expressed profound doubts about the structural capability of the Cypriot civil aviation department itself, suggesting it lacks an adequate number of qualified personnel across essential technical fields to perform its regulatory duties effectively.
A statement from the Commission articulated these twin failures, noting Cyprus had “failed to ensure … that the airport operator of Larnaca and Paphos airports correctly complies with all applicable EU requirements in their respective airport manuals, including those relating to rescue and firefighting services”. It separately indicated it “has concerns as to whether the civil aviation department in Cyprus has sufficient qualified staff in all the required technical areas to be able to effectively carry out its oversight tasks related to the airports”.
The issuance of the reasoned opinion opens a critical two-month window for the Cypriot government to formulate and communicate a comprehensive remedial plan. Should the Commission deem the response unsatisfactory, it retains the right to advance the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union, a move that could ultimately result in substantial financial penalties. This development occurs against a backdrop of heightened regional security awareness. Earlier this year, Israeli airlines El Al and Arkia temporarily suspended flights to Paphos airport following security advice from Israeli intelligence agencies, while an Israeli naval vessel was reportedly stationed off the coast near Larnaca airport's runway, underscoring the geopolitical sensitivities surrounding aviation security in the Eastern Mediterranean.
The Cypriot government now faces a pressing dual challenge: to swiftly implement tangible operational corrections at the airports while also bolstering the institutional strength and expertise of its own oversight body. The outcome will be closely monitored not only by EU institutions but also by international partners and the aviation industry, for whom consistent, robust security standards are non-negotiable pillars of safe travel.