The European Commission has officially informed the Republic of Cyprus that it has terminated the infringement procedure concerning the granting of citizenship to foreign investors through the Cyprus Investment Program (CIP), according to a statement from the Legal Service of the Republic.
The termination follows the immediate suspension of the program by the Government in 2020, as well as a series of actions by the executive and the Legal Service to ensure Cyprus’s compliance with EU law. The European Commission had ruled that the granting of Cypriot citizenship through the CIP violated EU law.
The Legal Service of the Republic states that it has been handling this legal issue from the outset. Following the European Commission’s recommendations for a “judicial-type” review of all matters arising from the CIP, the Attorney General of the Republic appointed the Nicolaou Investigative Committee in September 2020. Based on the findings of this committee, as well as the findings of the Kalogirou Committee, the Cabinet proceeded with the revocation of citizenship.
Additionally, in October 2021 and May 2023, the Attorney General and the Assistant Attorney General of the Republic met with the then European Commissioner for Justice, Didier Reynders, both in Brussels and Cyprus, to update the Commission on the actions taken by the Republic. A review of the measures was conducted during a subsequent meeting with the new EU Commissioner, Michael McGrath, in June 2025 in Brussels.
Although Cyprus had immediately halted the CIP, the European Commission requested further amendments to the relevant legislation. At the initiative of the Legal Service, in coordination with the Ministry of the Interior, a mutually acceptable draft law was prepared for the amendment of national legislation, in collaboration with the European Commission, to conclude the infringement procedure. The bill was promptly approved by the Cabinet and passed by the House of Representatives within three months of its submission.
The Legal Service of the Republic warmly welcomes the European Commission’s decision to end the infringement procedure against Cyprus, noting that this is a highly positive development for the country.