Having served in in senior military roles for decades – he retired as Rear-Admiral – and as the principal architect of Cyprus’ national crisis-management plan, Costas Fytiris has brought a fresh mindset to the post of Minister of Justice & Public Order.
Here, he talks to GOLD about the ongoing reforms to the justice system, the drive to increase public trust and the fight against organised crime, which was one of the priorities discussed during Cyprus’ recent six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
You were appointed Minister of Justice & Public Order after a distinguished career in the military and crisis management. How has that previous experience influenced your leadership and approach to reforming the justice system?
My career in the military and in crisis management has profoundly shaped my approach to leadership and public service. It taught me that effective leadership is built on strategic thinking, discipline, accountability and teamwork. In times of crisis, you learn to remain calm under pressure, make informed decisions based on evidence, set clear priorities and focus relentlessly on delivering results.
I have brought the same mindset to my role as Minister of Justice & Public Order. Reforming the justice system is not a short-term or isolated exercise – it requires a clear strategic vision, close cooperation among all stakeholders (Courts, Cyprus Bar Association, Law Office, etc.) and a commitment to continuous evaluation and improvement. Our objective is to build a justice system that is more efficient, more transparent and more accessible to every citizen.
At the same time, as Minister of Justice & Public Order, I see justice and public safety as two closely interconnected pillars of a well-functioning state. Strengthening the rule of law goes hand-in-hand with enhancing public security and reinforcing our citizens’ sense of safety in their daily lives. This requires effective policing, modern crime prevention policies and institutions that respond promptly, fairly and transparently to the needs of society.
My past experience has also reinforced my belief that public trust is the foundation of strong institutions. Trust is earned through integrity, transparency, consistency and a steadfast commitment to serving the public interest. These principles guide our work as we implement meaningful reforms that strengthen the administration of justice, enhance public safety and foster greater confidence in the institutions that serve and protect our citizens.
When you took up your post as Minister of Justice & Public Order, you said that reforming the justice system was not an option but a duty. Which reforms have made the greatest progress over the past year and what are your priorities for the months ahead?
From the outset of my tenure, I made it clear that reforming the justice system is not a matter of choice – it is a responsibility we owe to our citizens, our businesses and the rule of law itself. A modern, efficient and accessible justice system is essential for public confidence, economic growth and the effective protection of fundamental rights. The most recent significant institutional reform has been the restructuring of the administrative justice system through the establishment of an Administrative Court of Appeal. This Court, like the first-instance administrative courts, operates under the administrative supervision of the Supreme Constitutional Court, while the Court of Appeal and all the other courts of first instance remain under the administrative supervision of the Supreme Court. This important reform has created a more specialised and effective framework for the adjudication of administrative disputes and represents a major step towards strengthening the independence, efficiency and quality of administrative justice. In parallel, a new Supreme Constitutional Council of Judicature has been established with responsibility for matters relating to the appointment, promotion, transfer and disciplinary procedures of judges serving in the Administrative Court of Appeal and the first-instance administrative courts. This further reinforces the institutional safeguards surrounding judicial governance and contributes to greater transparency and accountability within the justice system.
We have also continued implementing the broader package of judicial reforms adopted in recent years, working closely with the Judiciary and all relevant stakeholders to ensure that these changes deliver meaningful results for citizens and businesses. Looking ahead, our priority is to consolidate these reforms and focus on measures that will improve the speed, quality and accessibility of justice. A key area of focus is the promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms, particularly arbitration and mediation. These methods can provide faster, more flexible and cost-effective solutions for individuals and businesses, while helping to reduce the workload of the courts. Expanding the use of ADR is an important elemen of our broader strategy to enhance access to justice and improve the overall efficiency of the justice system. Justice reform is a continuous process rather than a single event. Our objective is to build a justice system that is faster, more resilient, more transparent and better equipped to meet the expectations of citizens and the needs of a modern economy.
The latest compliance report by the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) recognises significant progress but also identifies that further reforms are needed to achieve an adequate level of compliance with the recommendations. Which aspects is the Government focusing on?
The latest GRECO Compliance Report acknowledges that substantial progress has been achieved. Six of the 22 recommendations have been implemented satisfactorily, 13 have been partially implemented and three remain outstanding. Our efforts are, therefore, now focused on transforming the partially implemented recommendations into measures that are fully and effectively implemented. We are advancing the revision of the framework governing access to public sector information, the regulation of post-public employment of former public officials, and the modernisation of the “declaration of assets” system through more effective verification mechanisms and meaningful sanctions. At the same time, we are working to further strengthen the Independent Authority Against Corruption and to improve coordination among all institutions responsible for the prevention of and the fight against corruption.
With regard to the police, our priorities include strengthening its integrity and professional ethics, establishing more objective and transparent procedures for promotions and transfers, increasing the representation of women at all levels, conducting regular re-screening of personnel serving in high-risk positions, and broadening the scope of financial interest declarations. We are also working towards a more effective system for handling citizens’ complaints, as well as faster and more consistent disciplinary procedures. Our objective is not merely formal compliance or the enactment of legislation. It is to ensure the effective implementation of these measures in practice, thereby strengthening transparency, accountability and public trust in institutions. The Government is monitoring the implementation of each recommendation against specific timelines and will continue its close cooperation with GRECO until the required level of compliance has been achieved.
Legislation established the Commercial Court and the Admiralty Court, yet neither is currently operational. What is causing the delays and how can they be resolved?
The establishment of the Commercial Court and the Admiralty Court represents a significant milestone in the modernisation of the justice system and reflects our shared commitment to creating a more efficient and business-friendly judicial framework. The operationalisation of both courts falls within the competence of the Judiciary. Nevertheless, the Government has worked closely with the Judicial Authority to provide the necessary legislative framework and to support the implementation process wherever required. I am pleased to say that the Admiralty Court is expected to become operational within this year, marking an important step in strengthening Cyprus’ position as a leading maritime and commercial centre.
With regard to the Commercial Court, its commencement is dependent on the resolution of a number of practical and procedural matters that are currently being addressed by the Judiciary. These include the recruitment of the necessary administrative personnel and the challenge of identifying suitably qualified candidates for judicial appointment, given the highly specialised nature of the Court.
The Government remains committed to supporting the Judiciary in every possible way to facilitate the successful implementation of this important reform. Our common objective is to ensure that the Commercial Court becomes operational with the appropriate infrastructure, resources and expertise, enabling it to provide the high-quality, efficient and specialised judicial services that businesses and investors expect.
In January, you told the European Parliament that a central pillar of Cyprus’ EU Council Presidency would be dealing with organised crime. How did this issue progress during the six months of the Presidency?
Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the European Union placed the fight against organised crime among its key Justice and Home Affairs priorities, with an emphasis on strengthening police cooperation, improving information exchange and enhancing the EU’s internal security architecture. The Presidency’s approach focused on translating political priorities into practical cooperation between Member States, EU agencies and national law enforcement authorities. The main achievements were operational and institutional rather than the adoption of major new legislative instruments.
Cyprus advanced the organised crime agenda through several Council preparatory bodies, notably the Law Enforcement Working Party (LEWP), the Working Party on JHA Information Exchange (IXIM), the Frontiers Working Party (FWP) and the Terrorism Working Party (TWP). The Presidency’s work was conducted at both the Brussels and national levels, combining formal Council negotiations and technical discussions in Brussels with a programme of meetings hosted in Cyprus, where thirteen Presidency meetings were organised. This dual-track approach enabled strategic policymaking to be complemented by operational dialogue among Member States, EU institutions, agencies and national law enforcement authorities. Across these forums, the Presidency prioritised the more effective use of existing EU instruments, closer coordination between Member States and stronger cooperation between national authorities and EU agencies.
Can you explain what each of those preparatory bodies did?
Within the LEWP, Cyprus promoted operational cooperation against organised criminal networks, drug trafficking, human trafficking, firearms trafficking, crime enabled by digital technologies and trafficking in cultural property. The Presidency encouraged intelligence-led policing through closer cooperation with Europol and other partners. This work reinforced the importance of coordinated operational responses against criminal networks operating across borders and contributed to maintaining organised crime as a central EU security priority.
The IXIM focused on improving the effectiveness of EU information-sharing mechanisms. Cyprus supported continued progress on interoperability between EU information systems, improved coordination between national authorities and more efficient exchange of law enforcement information.
Within the FWP, Cyprus concentrated on Schengen governance, integrated border management and preparations for the implementation of new EU border management systems. The Presidency supported stronger coordination between Member States, improved external border resilience and the effective implementation of EU border and migration-related measures. This work contributed to the wider internal security objective of preventing cross-border criminal activity and disrupting organised crime networks that exploit border vulnerabilities.
The TWP complemented the organised crime agenda by addressing the increasing links between terrorism, organised crime, illicit finance, online platforms and hybrid threats. Cyprus promoted closer cooperation between law enforcement and security authorities, improved information exchange and stronger resilience against evolving security challenges. The discussions reflected the growing convergence between counter-terrorism efforts and broader action against serious and organised crime.
What other significant events related to your ministerial portfolio were held in the context of the EU Council Presidency?
A significant element of Cyprus’ contribution to European law enforcement cooperation was the hosting of the 148th meeting of the Europol Management Board in Nicosia. The meeting brought together representatives of Member States, Europol leadership, institutional partners and law enforcement stakeholders to discuss the future direction of EU policing cooperation. Discussions highlighted the need to strengthen Europol’s operational capabilities, improve intelligence sharing, enhance analytical support to national authorities and make greater use of technology in combating serious and organised crime, terrorism and cybercrime. The meeting also demonstrated Cyprus’ active role in supporting the strategic development of Europol and reinforcing cooperation between national police services and the EU agency.
As part of its efforts to combat organised crime, Cyprus also placed particular emphasis on strengthening operational cooperation against the smuggling of migrants, recognising the increasing role of organised criminal networks in facilitating irregular migration through both maritime and land routes to the European Union.
In June 2026, the Presidency hosted a high-level meeting of senior law enforcement officials from the Mediterranean Member States under the auspices of Europol, bringing together police leaders and specialised operational services from Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Spain, Malta and France. The discussions focused on emerging migratory routes, intelligence sharing, operational coordination, cooperation with third countries and the enhanced use of Europol’s analytical and operational capabilities. The meeting also included specialised workshops addressing evolving smuggling methods, cross-border investigations and coordinated responses against criminal networks engaged in migrant smuggling. By facilitating the exchange of operational experience and best practices among frontline Member States, Cyprus reinforced regional cooperation and contributed to strengthening the European response to one of the most significant forms of serious and organised cross-border crime.
Furthermore, the Informal Discussion Dinner of European Police Chiefs provided a high-level platform for European law enforcement leaders to exchange views on emerging security challenges and the future priorities of police cooperation. The meeting strengthened direct communication between senior police officials, encouraged the sharing of operational experiences and reinforced the importance of trust-based cooperation in addressing increasingly complex cross-border criminal threats.
What do you see as the lasting impact of Cyprus’ EU Council Presidency on the issue of organised crime?
The lasting impact of Cyprus’ Presidency can be assessed primarily through strengthened cooperation structures and improved operational coordination. Cyprus succeeded in maintaining political attention on organised crime, reinforcing cooperation with Europol, supporting better information exchange and strengthening links between European police authorities. While the Presidency did not result in a major new legislative framework on organised crime, it contributed to a more coordinated and resilient EU response by improving the mechanisms by which Member States work together against evolving cross-border security threats.
This interview first appeared in the August edition of GOLD magazine. Click here to view it.
