Cyprus Unveils Comprehensive Reform of Civil Procedure Rules

Today, the Supreme Court of Cyprus revealed the results of a comprehensive reform of the nation’s Civil Procedure Rules, marking the culmination of several years of collaboration among legal experts, judges, and lawyers. This reform is expected to significantly improve the efficiency of the justice system and the management and resolution of disputes.

The current Civil Procedure Rules, in place since the 1950s, have undergone multiple unsuccessful attempts at revision. However, with technical assistance from the European Commission, the Supreme Court was able to establish a Rules Committee consisting of judges, lawyers, and a registrar, led by Mrs. Persefoni Panayi, the current President of the Supreme Court. The committee collaborated with a team of experts led by Lord Dyson to draft new rules, which were then translated into Greek and reviewed by the committee for practicality and workability.

The proposed rules address a wide range of legal areas, including the creation of new courts and the updating of Admiralty, Commercial Court, and Appeals rules. Public consultation was held throughout the review process, and feedback from legal professionals and ordinary citizens was taken into account.

The Supreme Court and the Rules Committee extended their gratitude to everyone who contributed to the successful completion of this project, including members who offered their expertise pro bono. Special thanks were extended to the European Commission’s DG Reform for funding the project and the Council of Europe for providing support and resources.

The proposed rules are expected to help the Cypriot justice system meet the challenges of the 21st century. To ensure that the rules remain up-to-date and effective, it has been suggested that the Rules Committee evolves into a Permanent Rules Committee responsible for ongoing review and problem-solving.

However, it was emphasized that the success of these new rules will also depend on a change in culture among both judges and lawyers. By adopting a new mindset and approach to the justice system, the proposed rules will have the best chance of achieving the desired improvements in efficiency and speed.