Cyprus approves bill for gender balance in listed company boards

On July 2, 2026, the Cypriot Council of Ministers approved a bill to incorporate the EU Directive 2022/2381 into national law. The legislation mandates that the underrepresented gender must hold at least 33% of directorship positions in listed companies. While the government aims for parliamentary approval between September and October 2026, critics point out that the transposition was originally due in December 2024. In May 2026, the European Commission initiated legal action against Cyprus before the European Court of Justice for failing to meet the deadline. Even if the bill passes, the state may still face daily fines for the period of non-compliance. Commissioner for Gender Equality Josie Christodoulou stated that the move promotes corporate governance and meritocracy, although the legal implications for companies currently not meeting the quota remain unclear.