The Plenary of the Cypriot Parliament has approved the 2025 budget of the Digital Security Authority (DSA), despite it being submitted with significant delay and projecting a budget deficit. The approved budget outlines total expenditures of €18,974,267 and projected revenues of €11,358,520.

During the debate, all MPs who spoke reproached the Ministry of Finance for the extensive delay in submitting the budget, which resulted in staff going unpaid. This delay led employees to stage a work stoppage in protest.

>>Unpaid Employees at Cyprus’s Most Critical Cybersecurity Authority<<

The projected deficit of €7,615,747 is expected to be covered by the DSA’s reserves and available cash.

According to figures submitted to the Parliamentary Committee on Finance, DSA’s revenues for 2025 will derive from the following sources:

• Administrative fees from operators of critical infrastructure: €6,865,575

• EU co-funded programs: €4,485,445

• Deposit interest: €7,500

The reduction in revenues compared to the previous year is attributed to a €2,546,668 decrease in administrative fees, following Ministry of Finance instructions aimed at reducing the financial burden on technical users of DSA services.

Meanwhile, total expenditures for 2025 are up by €4,784,891 compared to 2024. This increase is primarily due to:

• Higher payroll expenses, driven by general salary increases and the payment of the cost-of-living allowance

• Increased spending on consulting services for an actuarial study related to the staff pension fund

• Rising costs associated with shift allowance payments

The budget delay caused serious operational problems at the Authority, as wage payments were not made on time—a situation that was noted as legally noncompliant.

Lawmakers emphasized the critical role of the DSA, particularly in the context of defending against cyberattacks. Concerns were also raised about staff resignations, an issue that had been discussed earlier during the Finance Committee’s proceedings.