The process of taking depositions by the three-member Investigative Committee, appointed in March by Attorney General Giorgos Savvides, to investigate the distribution, on the Cypriot market, of vehicles from the EU, the import of vehicles from third countries, as well as the recall of these vehicles, begins on Thursday morning.
As has been announced, the first sessions will take place on April 3 and 9 at 9.30 a.m. and representatives of the Association of Motor Vehicle and Electric Vehicle Importers (SEMHO) will be invited to testify as the first group and, subsequently, representatives of the Pancyprian Automobile Dealers' Guild (P.A.S.E.A.) will be invited to testify as the second group on April 10 and 15, 2025 at 9.30 a.m.
Former Judge and President of the Research Institute, Michalakis Christodoulou, has been appointed as its President, and its members include the President of the Cyprus Bar Association, Michalis Vorkas, and the executive of the Audit Service, Theodosios Hadjimichael.
The Committee's meetings will be public and will be held in the YPEREIDIS Room of the Press and Information Office.
According to its terms of reference, the Investigative Committee is instructed to proceed with a full and thorough investigation aimed at ascertaining all those circumstances, events, actions, acts or omissions, decisions and responsibilities, as well as ascertaining EU and national law, in relation to the placing on the Cypriot market of vehicles from the EU and the import of vehicles from third countries, as well as the issues of recall of all the above vehicles, for the period commencing from the accession of the Republic to the EU, until the issuance of this Decree.
It will also investigate whether supervision was required to be exercised and whether it was exercised, either under EU law, over the placing on the Cypriot market of vehicles from other EU Member States, the import of vehicles from third countries, as well as over vehicle recalls, whether they carry type approval, whether they carry EU type approval, whether they have individual approval, or whether they do not carry any approval.
It will also investigate the legality and/or correctness and/or whether effective control and/or supervision mechanisms existed and/or were exercised and/or observed by the competent authorities, services and/or bodies and/or officials and/or employees of the public sector.
Its members will also be called upon to investigate the manner of reaction, actions or omissions of any person, including but not limited to distributors, manufacturer's representatives, importers, on new and used vehicles, which are available in the Republic, both on those originating from the EU and on those originating from third countries, whether they bear type approval, or bear EU type approval, or individual approval, or do not bear any approval, as well as on the recalls of the said vehicles.
Also, whether the findings of the investigation reveal any evidence or facts that may indicate liability to any person involved, arising from their actions or omissions.
An evaluation will also be made and recommendations will be made on how to improve and strengthen the legislative and regulatory framework, including existing legislation as well as how to implement it, in order to avoid similar issues in the future.
The Committee will also investigate any other relevant aspects or issues or topics related to the above, at the discretion of the Investigative Committee.
Source: KYPE
