The Legal 500

by Christos Floridis

EU leader Member States agreed on a new Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Convergence in the Economic and Monetary Union. The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) Treaty was signed by euro area Member States on 2 February 2012 and ratification is pending by the 17 euro area Member States. The target date of its operation is July 2012, a year earlier than expected.

which Cyprus

Directive 2009/109/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009, regarding the simplification of the rules on merger and divisions, has not been yet implemented in some Member States of the EU. Cyprus is one of those Member States which failed to fulfil their obligations and commitments under the relevant Directive. 

The House of Representatives has ratified on January 27 of 2012 the Framework Agreement between the Republic of Cyprus and the Arab Republic of Egypt relating to the development of cross-median line hydrocarbon resources signed in 2006.

Geostrategic and financial interests regarding gas exploration and exploitation

by Christos Floridis

Regarding the natural Gas Production Prospects in the East Mediterranean, Cyprus, the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, is located at the crossroads of big international energy routes unifying Europe with the Middle East, Africa and the countries of the Gulf. 

In December 2011 the Parliament of Cyprus voted on certain amendments to various Tax Laws aimed at increasing the revenues of the government as well as reducing government expenditure. Most of the amendments affect residents of Cyprus and were designed in such a way so not to affect Cyprus’ position as an international business center.

- Kinanis LLC

January 2012 – Tax Department of Kinanis LLC

EU labor law in offshore gas-drilling operations has been recently challenged in the case of Salemink v. Raad van bestuur van het Uitvoeringsinstituut werknemersverzekeringen, in the judgment of the Court’s Grand Chamber in January, 17, 2012.

The Cyprus government has announced that the relevant documentation is being prepared for the second licensing round for the remaining blocks of Cyprus’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and that expressions of interest will be invited shortly. The exploration area within Cyprus’s EEZ covers approximately 51,000 square kilometres and is divided into 13 blocks. An exploration licence for one block (Block 12) was awarded to Noble Energy International Limited in 2008 and initial results of test drilling are expected before the end of 2011.

Amendments announced to Cyprus-Italy agreement on maritime navigation

The Department of Merchant Shipping has announced that the 2004 agreement between Cyprus and Italy on maritime navigation has been amended by an exchange of notes between the two countries. The amendments took effect on November 23 2011. 

Norwich Pharmacal orders may be sought in the Cyprus courts by an injured party in order to obtain an order for the discovery and disclosure of information as to the identity of a wrongdoer. It has proven an extremely useful tool for deconstructing the corporate nominee structure.

The Council of Europe Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism has published its latest report on measures to combat money laundering and terrorist financing in Cyprus. The main conclusions of the report are as follows: