Reform of Cyprus Judicial System adopted in Parliament

The reform aims at accelerating decision-making and easing the workload of existing courts. The reform revises the courts structure. The judicial hierarchy is redefined through the establishment of distinct responsibilities of the two top-level courts:

• Under the Supreme Constitutional Court: the Administrative Court, the International Protection Administrative Court, and the new Administrative Court of Appeal.
• Under the Supreme Court: district courts, specialised courts (excluding administrative courts), and the Court of Appeal.

In detail, the amendments are:

1. The Twenty-First Amendment to the Constitution Law (No. 2) of 2025. The amendment of Articles 135, 146, 152 and 155 of the Constitution, by introducing provisions that provide for the establishment of a separate Administrative Court of Appeal, the subordination of the Administrative Court of Appeal and the first-instance Administrative Courts to the Supreme Constitutional Court, as well as the establishment of the Supreme Constitutional Judicial Council.
2. The amendment of the Administration of Justice ( Miscellaneous Provisions) Law, to introduce provisions for the establishment, operation and jurisdiction of an Administrative Court of Appeal and the operation of the Supreme Constitutional Judicial Council.
3. The amendment of the Law on the Establishment and Operation of the Administrative Court, so as to regulate the issues of appointments of judges of the Administrative Court by the Supreme Constitutional Judicial Council and the administrative subordination of the Administrative Court to the Supreme Constitutional Court, as well as the filing of an appeal against a decision of the Administrative Court to the Administrative Court of Appeal.
4. The amendment of the Law on the Establishment and Operation of the Administrative Court of International Protection, to regulate the issues of appointments of judges of the Administrative Court of International Protection by the Supreme Constitutional Judicial Council and the administrative subordination of the Administrative Court of International Protection to the Supreme Constitutional Court, as well as the filing of an appeal against a decision of the said court to the Administrative Court of Appeal.   
    

For further information on the reform : Courts’ Reform – Strengthening the Justice System - Ministry of Justice and Public Order - Gov.cy