Cyprus government advances major civil protection reform and ministry renaming

The Cyprus Parliamentary Committee on Interior began discussing a legislative package on October 8, 2026, aimed at establishing a comprehensive National Civil Protection Mechanism. The reforms include renaming the Ministry of Interior to the Ministry of Interior and Civil Protection and creating a new General Directorate of Civil Protection. A central role of National Coordinator will be instituted to oversee crisis management, including natural disasters like fires, floods, and earthquakes, and to mobilize state services. The Fire Service will be integrated into this new structure, while the Department of Forests will remain outside it.

The initiative follows a June 4, 2025, decision by the Council of Ministers to improve disaster management efficiency. During the parliamentary debate, the Ministry of Defense expressed reservations, suggesting that the crisis mechanism should report directly to the Council of Ministers rather than to the new ministry. Representatives for the National Guard emphasized that their primary mission of national defense must not be compromised by civil protection tasks during peacetime or emergencies. The Ministry of Interior, led by Minister Constantinos Ioannou, maintains that the new structure is essential for coordinating responses to all non-military crises. Ongoing discussions will address these institutional concerns as the government seeks to finalize the legislative framework.