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EU initiates legal action against Cyprus for conservation failures

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EU initiates legal action against Cyprus for conservation failures

The European Commission has referred Cyprus to the Court of Justice of the European Union for not complying with the habitats directive (Directive 92/43/EEC). Cyprus has designated 37 sites as special conservation areas but has failed to establish necessary conservation measures for 28 of these sites and has inadequate conservation objectives for 5 sites. The Commission had previously sent Cyprus a warning letter in June 2021 and a reasoned opinion in April 2022. Despite some progress, the efforts by Cypriot authorities are deemed insufficient by the Commission. The habitats directive aims to protect biodiversity by establishing the Natura 2000 network, requiring member states to identify, propose, and manage sites of Community importance for species and habitat conservation. The Commission has also initiated infringement proceedings against 16 member states regarding the designation and management of special conservation areas.

Lawyers dispute validity of video in Saint Habakkuk scandal

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Lawyers dispute validity of video in Saint Habakkuk scandal

The lawyers of two archimandrites issued a statement regarding leaked video footage related to the placement of myrrh in the Holy Monastery of Saint Habakkuk. They stated that the video does not show any scheming of fraud, with one instructing the other to place myrrh and clarified that Monk Nektarios never claimed the myrrh was miraculous. They also mentioned that the video is allegedly manipulated to harm the priests. The lawyers welcomed the Synodal Court’s announcement, seeing it as a step towards proper investigation before the Ecclesiastical Court convenes, as they had requested in a letter to the Holy Synod.

Media independence safeguarded in EU law

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Media independence safeguarded in EU law

The European Parliament approved a new EU regulation for the protection of journalists and media from political and economic interventions, with 464 votes in favor, 92 against, and 65 abstentions. This regulation mandates member states to ensure media independence and prohibits any forms of intervention in editorial decisions. It includes measures against pressuring journalists to disclose sources, establishes rules for the use of surveillance software by authorities, sets criteria for the editorial independence and funding of public media, requires transparency regarding media ownership, ensures fair distribution of state advertising, and protects media freedom from arbitrary actions by major online platforms.

New Nicosia court buildings in five years

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New Nicosia court buildings in five years

The construction of the new Nicosia District Court buildings is expected to be completed in five years, as announced by Transport Minister Alexis Vafeades. This announcement was made following a House legal committee meeting which was also attended by Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis. Preliminary work for the construction, including archaeological and explosives surveys as well as a traffic study, has been completed. An initial costing of the project has also been done. The transport ministry is addressing the need for a second access passage through the adjacent Unficyp camp and is in contact with the department of public works. The next steps include updating the budget to reduce costs, adjusting the designs in consultation with the department of urban planning, and launching an architectural competition. Additionally, the foreign ministry is consulting on moving buildings of the Unficyp camp, with final recommendations expected.

Calls for resignation over money laundering oversight

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Calls for resignation over money laundering oversight

MPs in Cyprus have expressed concerns over the country’s compliance with money laundering regulations due to a lack of coordination and communication between the police, the money laundering unit (Mokas), and the customs office. Over €160 million in cash has entered Cyprus in the past four years, raising questions about tax evasion and money laundering investigations. A recent case involved the arrest of a 31-year-old Ukrainian woman facing 60 counts of money laundering, having brought €8 million in cash to the country. There is criticism over a “strange” meeting in 2023 where police allegedly instructed the customs office to route information through them before reaching Mokas, a directive not supported by law. The customs office provides Mokas with a USB detailing declared cash sums every three months, indicating a delay in communication. Concerns were raised about the lack of real-time information sharing, the effectiveness of the legal framework against money laundering, and the existence of a shadow economy. The committee chair criticized the absence of coordination among state services and described the situation as “criminal” due to the inaction of Mokas and the police.

Cyprus taken to EU court over precious sites

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Cyprus taken to EU court over precious sites

The European Commission has referred Cyprus to the EU Court of Justice for not fulfilling obligations under the Habitats Directive, aimed at protecting over a thousand EU animal and plant species. Cyprus has designated 37 Special Areas of Conservation but failed to establish conservation measures for 28 sites and provided inadequate conservation objectives for five sites. This referral follows a formal notice in June 2021 and a reasoned opinion in April 2022. The Habitats Directive requires member states to designate Sites of Community Importance as Special Areas of Conservation within six years, implementing necessary conservation measures. The Commission’s action is part of efforts to protect and restore biodiversity under the European Green Deal’s Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, with infringement cases pursued against 16 member states regarding conservation designations and measures.

Alcaraz, Sinner reach Indian Wells quarters

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Alcaraz, Sinner reach Indian Wells quarters

Carlos Alcaraz defeated Fabian Marozsan in straight sets, 6-3 6-3, at the Indian Wells quarter-finals. Jannik Sinner won his 18th consecutive match by defeating Ben Shelton with a score of 7-6(4) 6-1. Alcaraz’s victory was his 50th at a Masters 1000 event. Alexander Zverev progressed to the next round by beating Alex de Minaur 5-7 6-2 6-3. Jiri Lehecka reached his first Masters 1000 quarter-final by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2 6-4.

Saint Habakkuk involved in environmental scandal

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Saint Habakkuk involved in environmental scandal

– The hermitage of Saint Habakkuk was illegally erected and converted into the Holy Monastery of Saint Habakkuk by the Holy Synod on March 21, 2022.
– Efforts have been made for two years to legalize the monastery’s facilities through registration and road construction.
– Government departments have refused the retroactive legalization due to the monastery being built in a Natura 2000 Network area without environmental studies.
– Legal actions were initiated against the Monastery, the church committee, and Archimandrite Nektarios Georgiou for unauthorized constructions.
– The first inspection occurred in September 2022, and by March 2023, illegal buildings and lack of final approvals for various constructions were identified.
– On March 17, 2023, the Monastery was notified of the decision to take legal action, leading to a court case with 18 charges filed in July 2023, with a trial scheduled for March 26, 2024.
– Pressure was exerted to register a road leading to the monastery to grant legal access and obtain a license.
– The road falls within agricultural zone G3, protection zone Z1, the Special Protection Zone of the Natura 2000 Network named Madari – Papoutsa, and the Community Importance Area named Fountoukodasi Pitsilias, and is a known migratory bird corridor.
– The Department of Environment emphasized the negative impacts of road widening on the Natura 2000 Network areas.
– A meeting on March 21, 2023, discussed the road’s registration and construction, requiring an Environmental Impact Assessment study for approval.
– The Game and Fauna Service opposed the registration of roads through Nature Protection areas to prevent encouraging residential development in these areas.
– The Department of Environment had no objection to issuing a license for the legalization of the illegally erected cells and auxiliary spaces at the hermitage as of a month after the March 21, 2023 request for opinions.

Man held with cannabis at Larnaca Airport

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Man held with cannabis at Larnaca Airport

Days after finding two unclaimed bags with nearly 43 kilograms of khat at Larnaca Airport, Customs intercepted another unclaimed suitcase filled with marijuana. The suitcase, which had traveled from Singapore to Munich and then to Cyprus, contained 16 kilograms and 752 grams of cannabis. A 26-year-old man from Britain, who was the registered owner of the suitcase, was arrested upon trying to claim it. He admitted ownership of the drugs but did not disclose if he intended to deliver them to anyone in Cyprus. He is set to appear before the Larnaca District Court for a detention order.

Germany’s far-right AfD seeking to overturn extremist designation in court

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Germany’s far-right AfD seeking to overturn extremist designation in court

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party attempted to delay a court hearing regarding its classification as a suspected extremist organization by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), a German security agency. This classification, made in 2021, allows the BfV to use intelligence tools against the AfD. A ruling in favor of the BfV would permit continued surveillance of the AfD, impacting the party ahead of regional and European elections. The AfD, which holds 78 of the 735 seats in the Bundestag, claims to be a democratic, non-extremist party, despite some regional branches being declared extremist threats. The party’s lawyer sought to summon BfV leadership to discuss a report on the party, which the BfV states is incomplete. The court rejected the AfD’s request for more time and the dismissal of the judge panel. The AfD faces scrutiny after senior members attended a meeting discussing the “remigration” of “unintegrated” citizens, leading to protests and corporate concern. A broadcaster reported that AfD legislators employed over 100 people with extremist links, a claim the AfD denies. The court in Muenster is expected to issue a ruling after two days of hearings.