Central Bank Updates Rules On Loan Collateral And E-Money Institutions

Updated Loan Securitization Guidelines

The Central Bank has amended its directives governing loan collateral management and property revaluation costs during loan restructuring. Published in the Official Gazette of the Republic, the changes update the regulatory framework for credit institutions and apply to both new lending and modifications of existing credit facilities.

Under the revised rules, collateral linked to a secured loan must be released immediately once the facility has been repaid, except in cases involving mortgaged real estate. In those instances, the release of collateral remains subject to the procedures and timelines set out in legislation governing property transfers and mortgages. Title deeds must be returned to the borrower or the holder of the collateral unless written consent has been provided to keep the mortgage in place. If that consent is later withdrawn, the mortgage holder must remove the mortgage within the timeframe established under the relevant legislation. Recent amendments also clarify responsibility for property revaluation costs during loan restructurings. Appraisal expenses will generally be borne by the lending institution unless the loan agreement specifies otherwise.

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Evolving Framework For Electronic Money

A separate directive published by the Central Bank introduces updated governance requirements for electronic money institutions. New rules set out standards for internal controls, risk management procedures and compliance monitoring. Institutions will be required to establish systems for identifying, assessing and reporting risks, including those related to regulatory compliance.

Additional provisions strengthen internal audit requirements and compliance procedures aimed at preventing money laundering and terrorist financing. Together, the measures form part of the Central Bank’s broader effort to update regulatory standards across the financial sector and strengthen oversight of credit and electronic money institutions.

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Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

July 24, 2026

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

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Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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