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Central Bank of Cyprus Imposes Significant €350,000 Fine on Payabl. Cy Ltd

Central Bank Enforces AML Compliance

The Central Bank of Cyprus has sanctioned Payabl. Cy Ltd, formerly known as Powercash21 Ltd, with a fine totaling €350,000. This penalty comes as a direct consequence of the company’s failure to comply with specific provisions of the 2007 legislation governing the Prevention and Suppression of Money Laundering from Illegal Activities.

The Basis for the Decision

Grounded in Article 59 of the relevant law, the decision was finalized on September 30, 2025, following a 2020 audit. The regulatory process was conducted in strict accordance with administrative law procedures, ensuring that Payabl. Cy Ltd was afforded the opportunity to submit a defense prior to the final ruling.

Regulatory Oversight and Strategic Enforcement

In exercising its supervisory mandate, the Central Bank of Cyprus is empowered to implement administrative measures and impose penalties for lapses in compliance with applicable laws and directives. This enforcement action reinforces the bank’s strategy to promote transparency and combat money laundering within the financial sector.

Corporate Response and Future Steps

A representative of Payabl. Cy Ltd remarked that the fine pertains to an investigation conducted in 2020, linked to customer relationships from the period 2014–2018—a period during which the company had already ceased relations with those clients. The spokesperson emphasized that the current operations, leadership, and client base remain unaffected by these historical findings. Additionally, the company has significantly bolstered its AML compliance framework since then. Payabl. Cy Ltd has indicated its intention to appeal the decision before the Administrative Court, contesting the ruling as disproportionate given the historical nature of the case.

EU Moderates Emissions While Sustaining Economic Momentum

The European Union witnessed a modest decline in greenhouse gas emissions in the second quarter of 2025, as reported by Eurostat. Emissions across the EU registered at 772 million tonnes of CO₂-equivalents, marking a 0.4 percent reduction from 775 million tonnes in the same period of 2024. Concurrently, the EU’s gross domestic product rose by 1.3 percent, reinforcing the ongoing decoupling between economic growth and environmental impact.

Sector-By-Sector Performance

Within the broader statistics on emissions by economic activity, the energy sector—specifically electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply—experienced the most significant drop, declining by 2.9 percent. In comparison, the manufacturing sector and transportation and storage both achieved a 0.4 percent reduction. However, household emissions bucked the trend, increasing by 1.0 percent over the same period.

National Highlights And Notable Exceptions

Among EU member states, 12 reported a reduction in emissions, while 14 saw increases, and Estonia’s figures remained static. Notably, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Finland recorded the most pronounced declines at 8.6 percent, 5.9 percent, and 4.2 percent respectively. Of the 12 countries reducing emissions, three—Finland, Germany, and Luxembourg—also experienced a contraction in GDP growth.

Dual Achievement: Environmental And Economic Goals

In an encouraging development, nine member states, including Cyprus, managed to lower their emissions while maintaining economic expansion. This dual achievement—reducing environmental impact while fostering economic activity—is a trend that has increasingly influenced EU climate policies. Other nations that successfully balanced these outcomes include Austria, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia, and Sweden.

Conclusion

As the EU continues to navigate its climate commitments, these quarterly insights underscore a gradual yet significant shift toward balancing emissions reductions with robust economic growth. The evolving landscape highlights the critical need for sustainable strategies that not only mitigate environmental risks but also invigorate economic resilience.

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