EU Issues Fresh Warning to Cyprus Over Renewable Energy Permitting Delays
EU Commission Warns Cyprus Over Delays in Renewable Energy Permit Rules
The European Commission has sent a supplementary reasoned opinion to Nicosia, giving Cyprus a two-month deadline to streamline its green energy permit rules or face potential financial penalties at the EU Court of Justice.
The European Commission has sent an additional reasoned opinion to Cyprus, urging the country to complete the transposition into national law of EU rules aimed at accelerating and simplifying permit procedures for renewable energy projects. The Commission announced that it had decided to issue a supplementary reasoned opinion to Nicosia after concluding that Cyprus has not yet fully incorporated into its national legislation the provisions of the revised Renewable Energy Directive, which entered into force in November 2023.
The relevant provisions were required to be transposed by all Member States by 1 July 2024. They include measures designed to streamline and speed up permitting procedures for both renewable energy generation projects and the energy infrastructure needed to connect additional capacity to the electricity grid. Among other measures, the Directive introduces clear deadlines for permit-granting procedures, strengthens the role of single contact points for applications, and establishes a presumption that renewable energy projects and related grid infrastructure are of overriding public interest.
The Commission had already launched infringement proceedings against Cyprus in September 2024 by sending a letter of formal notice. In February 2025, it followed up with a reasoned opinion after the country failed to notify any measures transposing the Directive. Although the Cypriot authorities subsequently notified a number of measures and provided explanations to the Commission, Brussels concluded that significant gaps remain in the full implementation of the legislation.
Cyprus now has two months to respond to the Commission’s concerns and complete the transposition of the outstanding provisions. Failure to do so could lead the Commission to refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union and request the imposition of financial penalties.
