European Commission issues warnings to Cyprus over failure to transpose directives

On September 25, 2026, the European Commission issued warning letters to Cyprus and several other EU member states for failing to transpose two major directives related to justice and internal security. The infringements concern Directive (EU) 2024/1712, which updates the 2011 regulations on preventing and combating human trafficking, and a separate mandate regarding the integration of new psychoactive substances into the official legal definition of narcotics.

Cyprus is among 20 member states that missed the July 15, 2026, deadline for notifying the European Commission about the full transposition of the revised human trafficking directive. This updated legislation introduces stricter criminalization measures and provides law enforcement with enhanced investigative tools, particularly for addressing online exploitation. It also mandates that states establish a national referral mechanism, appoint a cross-border contact point for victims, name national anti-trafficking coordinators, and adopt regular national action plans.

The issuance of these letters marks the beginning of the formal infringement procedure initiated by Brussels against member states failing to meet their legislative obligations. Affected countries must now address these shortcomings to align their national laws with the established European standards to avoid further legal escalation.