Nicosia:The European Commission has issued formal notices to Cyprus and several other EU member states for delays in implementing two key pieces of EU legislation. These laws pertain to justice and trafficking, as well as the classification of new psychoactive substances as drugs.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Cyprus is among 20 member states that have not fully transposed Directive (EU) 2024/1712. This directive amends the existing legislation on preventing and combating human trafficking and aims to enhance victim protection. The updated directive calls for stricter criminalization measures, improved investigation and prosecution tools, and better support systems for victims, including online exploitation cases.
The directive mandates member states to establish a National Referral Mechanism, appoint cross-border victim referral points, nominate National Anti-Trafficking Coordinators, and create National Anti-Trafficking Action Plans, which must be regularly updated. The compliance deadline passed on 15 July 2026, and Cyprus, along with 19 other member states, now has two months to complete the necessary processes.
In a separate issue, Cyprus has also not fully transposed Commission Delegated Directive (EU) 2025/2062. This directive incorporates three new psychoactive substances‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬2-MMC, NEP, and 4-BMC‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬¦¡¬€š¬…¡¬‚¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬€š¬¦¡¬¦¡¬into the EU's drug definition by amending the relevant Council Framework Decision. This inclusion requires these substances to be subject to EU rules on drug-related criminal offences and penalties, aiming to harmonize national regulations and bolster cross-border law enforcement and judicial cooperation.
The deadline for this transposition expired on 12 July 2026. The affected member states include Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, and Slovakia. The Commission has given these states two months to comply or risk advancing to the next stage of infringement procedures, which involves issuing a reasoned opinion.