An efficient exchange of information on criminal convictions referred to as the European Criminal Records Information System has been introduced between Member States in order to help improve the security of citizens within the European Area of Freedom, Security and Justice. The national courts when passing sentences refer to the past convictions in their national register and fail to have any knowledge of possible convictions of the particular defendant in other Member States. This particularly benefited the defendants as they could easily escape their past convictions by moving between EU Member States. As a result in 2009 Members of the European Union took a decision to introduce a system of exchanging information on criminal records with one another.

Bank of Greece Chief Yannis Stournaras said recently that Cyprus is the closest example of social and political consensus and one Greece must follow.

The government has tried to convince energy giant Total to relocate their logistics base from Larnaca port to Limassol, after Larnaca’s municipal council voted against granting a six-month extension to the base’s operation.

The Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) is aiming for arrivals in 2016 of 2.9 million following last year’s record of 2.7 million, MPs at the House Finance Committee heard recently.

The share of renewables in energy consumption for Cyprus rose to 9% in 2014 from 8.1% in 2013 and just 3.1% in 2004, but it still well below the EU average of 16%.

The Paphos regional board of tourism is pushing for direct flights connecting the town with Israel as part of a wider plan to increase overseas visitor numbers to the popular coastal town.

The government-owned Natural Gas Public Company, widely known by its Greek acronym DEFA, said that it concluded the tender process for short-term natural gas supply to the Vasilikos power plant without reaching an agreement with any bidder.

Following the Larnaca municipal council’s rejection of a request to allow the temporary operation of a company that provides logistics for hydrocarbon exploration, the government is now looking to find alternative venues.

Two of the most popular and internationally recognized ISO standards have been revised and reissued in September 2015. The new ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems and ISO 14001 Environmental Management System standards are featuring important changes and adopt a new and interesting perspective.

Applications for the registration of new companies in Cyprus increased by 15.5% in January 2016 compared to January 2015.