Cyprus proposes legalizing illegal boreholes amid EU water permit compliance pressure
Cyprus’s Water Development Department is moving to retroactively legalize approximately 20,000 boreholes operating without permits, following mounting pressure from the European Commission. An amendment to the Integrated Water Management Law, currently under discussion by the Agriculture Committee, aims to introduce mandatory periodic reviews of water permits to align with EU requirements.
The European Commission warned Cyprus of possible sanctions after identifying non-compliance with the Water Framework Directive, which mandates periodic permit reviews—a requirement not currently reflected in Cyprus’s national law. The proposed bill includes provisions for higher fees on retroactive licensing and mandates closure or demolition of unauthorized water abstraction structures if legalization is denied.
Additionally, the bill establishes out-of-court fines of up to €3,000 for violations and requires restoration of affected watercourses. It also enables licensing water works for energy production and strengthens local government involvement in water management decisions. This legislative update is part of Cyprus’s efforts to ensure sustainable groundwater and surface water use and avoid escalation to the EU Court of Justice.
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