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The 5^th Annual Conference of the Procedural Law Unit at the University of Nicosia brought renewed attention to the growing pressures on judicial independence and democratic institutions, as academics, policymakers and legal experts from Europe, the United States and Cyprus gathered to assess emerging challenges in justice systems worldwide.

Held from 10-12 December in collaboration with the International Association for Judicial Independence and World Peace (JIWP), this year’s symposium focused on the theme: “Judicial Independence and Liberal Democracy Under Threat: The Challenge of Implementing the ELI Mt Scopus Standards.”

Institutional pressures in a shifting democratic landscape

The main conference day, held at the University’s UNESCO Amphitheatre on 11 December, featured interventions that underscored a shared concern: judicial independence is increasingly strained by political, social and technological forces reshaping governance globally.

Speakers highlighted how these pressures are testing the resilience of democratic systems, noting rapid institutional shifts and the heightened visibility of justice in public debate.

The event was addressed by: Michalis Vorkas, President of the Cyprus Bar Association; Despina Kyprianou, Head of the Academy, Law Office of the Republic; Prof. Pascal Pichonnaz, former President, European Law Institute; Nicolaas Bel, Deputy Head of Unit, Justice Policy and Rule of Law, European Commission; Prof. Shimon Shetreet, President of JIWP; Prof. Achilleas Emilianides, Dean of the School of Law, University of Nicosia.

Selection, accountability and public trust

Discussions focused heavily on procedures for the selection, promotion and evaluation of judges, with speakers calling for clear and independent accountability mechanisms to safeguard impartiality. Maintaining public trust through consistent judicial ethics was described as a prerequisite for stable democratic governance.

Participants stressed that Europe’s justice systems face common structural pressures, from political interference to digital-era misinformation, that require stronger institutional safeguards.

Implementing the ELI-Mount Scopus standards

A significant portion of the programme examined the challenges involved in applying the ELI-Mount Scopus European Standards of Judicial Independence, a framework designed to harmonise judicial protections across EU member states and beyond.

Comparative examples from different jurisdictions illustrated the uneven levels of institutional resilience across Europe, as well as the specific obstacles faced by courts in environments of political or social polarisation.

Cross-sector collaboration and judicial training

Academics and practitioners from leading European and American universities emphasised the need for continuous judicial training, cross-sector collaboration, and strengthening of institutional checks and balances, elements they said are indispensable for safeguarding the rule of law.

Alongside the academic programme, participants were offered cultural activities showcasing Cypriot heritage, integrating local context into the wider international gathering.

“Judicial independence is more critical than ever”

Assistant Professor Nikolas Kyriakides, Director of the Procedural Law Unit and Organiser of the symposium, said the event aimed to contribute to an informed national discussion on justice reform.

“Judicial independence and institutional soundness are foundational to any democratic system,” he said. “This year’s symposium once again sought to highlight developments shaping the judiciary and to support the ongoing improvement of justice administration in Cyprus.”

The symposium was supported by Scordis & Papapetrou LLC, Lellos P. Demetriades Law Office, Christos Georgiades & Associates LLC, Harris Kyriakides, Oxygen for Democracy, CRoLEV, and FIDE CY.

The sixth annual Cyprus Forum 2025 concluded successfully, taking place from 1–3 October in Nicosia. Political leaders, European officials, academics, business representatives and members of civil society came together to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of Cyprus, Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean.

The Forum opened at the Old Town Hall of Nicosia, with welcoming remarks by Nicolas Kyriakides, Executive President and Founding Member of the Cyprus Forum.

President of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides highlighted the need for reforms that strengthen the rule of law and transparency, while European officials including Costas Kadis and Marta Kos presented the EU’s strategic priorities.

The first day concluded with the Peace & Democracy Award, posthumously presented to Xenophon Kallis and Türkan Aziz for their contribution to democracy and peace.

The second day focused on artificial intelligence, digital transformation, social policy and sustainable development.

Deputy Minister of Research and Digital Policy Nikodimos Damianou and Flavio Arzerello (Meta) discussed the role of technology companies in democratic societies, while Minister of Labour and Social Insurance Yiannis Panayiotou and Minister of Finance Makis Keravnos analysed the prospects for the labour market and fiscal reform.

The third day centred on strengthening democratic institutions, citizen participation, and the strategic importance of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Speakers included Annita Demetriou, President of the House of Representatives, as well as Giorgos Papanastasiou, Minister of Energy, Commerce and Industry, Athena Michaelidou, Minister of Education, Sport and Youth, and European and international officials from the United Kingdom, India and Israel.

Discussions covered education, female leadership, the energy transition, and bicommunal cooperation as a foundation for peaceful development.

The Cyprus Forum 2025 reaffirmed Cyprus’ role as a hub for dialogue, innovation, democracy and sustainable growth, further strengthening its position on the international stage.

Nomoplatform recently presented statistics on the activity of members of the House of Representatives, focusing on the number of bills and parliamentary questions they have submitted.

These figures relate exclusively to the current parliamentary term and aim to highlight the work of elected representatives with transparency and measurable data.

A common question that arises is: What is more important? To have more legislative proposals or more questions? The truth is that these are different but equally important tools.

The legislative proposals express the will of a member of parliament to promote institutional changes and contribute to improving legislation.

Questions, on the other hand, are a key mechanism of parliamentary control, through which members of parliament seek answers and explanations from the executive branch.

So, value isn't just about numbers, but also about the content, seriousness, and impact of each initiative.

A second point that is often raised is: Are all legislative bills and questions useful? The answer i no.

Some legislative proposals have a decisive social impact, while others are more procedural in nature. Similarly, some questions raise serious issues of transparency or management, while others are limited to formal information.

Therefore, although the figures reflect the mobility of MPs, they do not always reveal the whole picture.

For this reason, Nomoplatform is proceeding with the creation of the Member of Parliament Evaluation Index. This Index will combine quantitative and qualitative data: not only the number of proposals and questions, but also other data that will be evaluated with different weights.

The methodology is based on international practices and corresponding indicators applied in the European Parliament, in order to provide a fairer and more comprehensive picture of each member's actual contribution.

The bottom line is that numbers have value, but they never tell the whole story. Our mission is to provide citizens with a reliable assessment tool that goes beyond statistics and captures real effectiveness and accountability.

Only in this way can citizens have a clear picture of how Parliament works and how their representatives respond to the task entrusted to them.

The following images show the ranking of MPs based on the quantitative data we collected, i.e. the number of bills and written questions they have submitted during the current parliamentary term.

 New collaboration for Oxygen for Democracy!

We are delighted to announce that we have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Cyprus Investigative Reporting Network (CIReN).

Through this collaboration, we are strengthening investigative journalism in Cyprus by promoting the exchange of content, knowledge, and best practices, with the aim of accountability and transparency.

A central role will be played by Policypress, a new political journalism platform supported by Oxygen for Democracy, where CIReN content will be hosted.

#OxygenForDemocracy #CIReN #Democracy

The collaboration with UCLan Cyprus is focused on the areas of student internships, research and academic expertise, collaboration on events, strengthening each other’s business and pursuing knowledge transfer projects and public outreach. 

We look forward to working with the university to enhance our expertise in the areas of democracy, civil society and rule of law and bring increased opportunities to students of the university. We would like to thank Professor Stéphanie Laulhé Shaelou for her positive response.

Through its MoU with the EPC, Oxygen for Democracy has become a member of the EPC, allowing for participation in high-level meetings, collaboration on events and exchange of knowledge and experiences in the interest of promoting the organisations’ common values of transparency and democratic governance. 

This cooperation also enables us to strengthen the voice of civil society and contribute more actively to shaping policies for a stronger and more participatory democracy in Europe. We would like to thank Amanda Paul and Johannes Greubel for their assistance in making this happen.

In her FastForward interview, Georgina Athanasiou, President of the Board, Oxygen for Democracy, calls for urgent democratic renewal and transparency in Cyprus. Despite growing debate, she warns of backsliding in democracy, rule of law, and press freedom.

Oxygen for Democracy responds with initiatives like the Cyprus Forum, Nomoplatform (the island’s first independent parliamentary tracker), and citizen-focused efforts at local and international levels.

Georgina’s message is clear: real reform goes beyond digital tools; it needs stronger oversight, inclusive policymaking, and reengaged youth. Democracy requires constant care and collective action.

Read the full interview: https://fastforward.com.cy/…/georgina-athanasiou-oxygen…