The House of Representatives has passed a new law to regulate volunteer groups, with 42 votes in favour and 4 against. However, the bill faced opposition from some MPs who are concerned that the new rules could discourage volunteers.
The Law on the Regulation of Specialised Volunteer Groups was proposed by MP Irene Charalambides and has the support of the Interior Ministry. The bill was debated in Parliament, with Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou attending the session. Groups of volunteers were also present to observe the vote.
The law sets up a system for registering volunteer groups and links each group to the relevant state service, such as the Fire Service or the Game and Fauna Service. It also introduces rules on training, certification, safety equipment, and civil liability. Employers will be required to support employees who serve as volunteers. The law also bans anyone with an arson conviction from joining a volunteer group, even if they have been rehabilitated under the law.
In her speech, Charalambides referred to the Limassol mountain fires last summer, where trained and organised volunteers played a key role in tackling the blaze. “The volunteers at the front lines are happy with this framework,” she said, adding that the bill “strengthens the operational readiness of volunteers.”
However, the law was met with objections from Andreas Themistocleous and the ELAM party. They argued that the bill risks undermining volunteerism by imposing too much red tape. Themistocleous stated, “If we had waited for state coordination, the entire Limassol mountains would have burned, including the Troodos forest.” ELAM’s Linos Papayiannis agreed, saying that volunteers deserve praise, not bureaucracy, and warned that the extra paperwork would deter volunteers.
Charalambides responded by emphasising that the initiative came from volunteers themselves, who saw through their own experiences that a formal framework was necessary to support their work.
The bill aims to balance proper organisation with recognising the crucial role of volunteers, Charalambides added. She said the new rules would make volunteering more effective while ensuring safety and accountability.