Cyprus is facing a possible infringement procedure and two potential referrals to the Court of Justice of the European Union for non-compliance with Commission directives regarding insurance safeguards for the protection of entry visa documents, flood protection and compliance with digital rules in the corporate fair enough.
Visas are not barcode protected
The European Commission informed yesterday that it has initiated infringement proceedings by sending warning letters to Cyprus, as well as to Bulgaria, Greece and Lithuania for not applying the two-dimensional barcode to the single-type visas.
The 2D barcode was introduced to protect visa entries from falsification attempts.
As reported by the Commission, all Member States were informed of Commission Implementing Decision C(2020)2672 establishing a 2D barcode for the uniform visa format on 30 April 2020.
The deadline for implementation was May 2022. All four Member States concerned still do not print the 2D-barcode on the visa stickers they issue.
Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus and Lithuania now have two months to respond to the letter and address the shortcomings identified by the Commission. If there is no satisfactory answer, the Commission can proceed with the procedure.
Flood warnings also in place
The European Commission is warning 8 member states, including Cyprus, that if they do not comply with flood plans it will take them to the European Court of Justice.
Specifically, the Commission calls on Bulgaria, Cyprus, Ireland, Spain, Malta, Portugal, Slovakia and Slovenia to complete the revision of their river basin management plans, as required under the Water Framework Directive flood risk management plans.
Both directives require member states to review, update and report on these plans every six years. River basin management plans include a program of measures to ensure the good status of all water bodies and flood risk management plans are drawn up based on maps showing the possible adverse consequences associated with flood scenarios.
In February 2023, the Commission issued letters of warning calling on these Member States to comply with their obligations and complete the review of their water plans.
However, the Member States concerned still do not comply with their obligations under one or both Directives. Bulgaria, Cyprus, Spain, Malta and Portugal are late in reviewing, approving and reporting on their third river basin management plans and second flood risk management plans.
EU water legislation must be fully implemented to achieve the EU's circular economy, biodiversity, zero pollution and climate change ambitions, the Commission notes.
The Commission is therefore sounding the alarm to these 9 Member States, who now have two months to respond and take the necessary measures. If a satisfactory answer is not given, the Commission may decide to refer the Member States to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Non-compliance with technology use directive in company law
The European Commission has also yesterday sent a reasoned opinion to Bulgaria and Cyprus for failing to comply with EU rules on the use of digital tools and procedures in relation to legislation governing company law.
The directive requires member states to establish procedures for setting up certain types of companies, registering cross-border branches and submitting documents to business registers.
It also made more company data available for free from business registries through the Business Registries Interconnection System. In September 2022, the Commission sent letters of formal notice to Bulgaria and Cyprus for not communicating national measures to fully transpose the Directive by the deadline of 1 August 2022. Following their replies, the Commission concluded that both both Bulgaria and Cyprus failed to notify national measures ensuring full transposition of the Directive.
These Member States now have two months to address the deficiencies identified by the Commission. If there is no satisfactory answer, the Commission may decide to refer them to the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Source: Economytoday
