Breaking news

Christodoulides Weighs 12 Laws Ahead Of Parliament Dissolution Deadline

President Nikos Christodoulides is expected to decide early next week on 12 legislative reforms approved by Parliament, covering asset dispossession, bankruptcy procedures, and guarantor protections. With an April 21 deadline approaching, he must choose whether to sign the laws, return them for revision, or refer specific provisions to the Supreme Court.

Decisive Deadline Ahead Of Elections

Parliament is set to dissolve on April 23 ahead of elections scheduled for May 24, placing additional urgency on the decision-making process. Timing is critical, as the President’s choices will determine how key financial and legal frameworks evolve during a sensitive political period.

Mixed Reactions To Legislative Proposals

A mixed approach is expected. Some provisions are likely to be returned to Parliament due to practical or political concerns. Other measures, particularly those raising constitutional or EU law questions, may be referred to the Supreme Court for review.

Enhanced Debt Confirmation And Financial Oversight

Two draft laws focus on strengthening the role of the Financial Ombudsman in debt confirmation. Proposed changes include expanded restructuring options and binding decisions on complaints involving amounts up to €20,000. Borrowers would gain clearer pathways to verify and challenge outstanding debts under revised procedures.

Constitutional Concerns And Practical Implications

Concerns have been raised by the Ministry of Finance regarding overlapping provisions and potential conflicts with constitutional principles, including freedom of contract and separation of powers. Legal reviews have been completed, and the Presidential Legal Office is now assessing the proposals. The Attorney General is also expected to guide the next steps.

Judicial Workload And Retroactive Legislation

Questions remain about the judiciary’s capacity to handle an increased caseload. Some proposals would allow district judges to resolve financial disputes within 12 months, with a possible one-year extension. Another contentious provision restricts banks from charging additional interest once the total debt reaches double the original amount. This measure may apply retroactively, raising concerns about compatibility with existing contracts and EU law.

Legislative Remissions And Broader Regulatory Impact

Five laws related to asset dispossession are set to be reviewed again during an upcoming parliamentary session. The broader package also includes provisions addressing abusive contractual terms, though uncertainty remains around retroactive enforcement and legal alignment. A separate proposal on compensation for surplus electricity from photovoltaic systems is also under review due to its fiscal and constitutional implications.

President Christodoulides’ decisions will shape the balance between immediate financial reforms and longer-term legal and institutional considerations.

payabl. Launches Click To Pay With Visa To Help Merchants Improve Checkout Conversion And Reduce Fraud

payabl. has launched Click to Pay with Visa, a new card payment experience designed to help merchants reduce checkout friction, improve authorisation rates, and deliver a faster, more secure online payment journey.

WhatsApp Image 2026 04 16 at 10.37.46

Click to Pay replaces manual card number entry with a token-based checkout experience. Once a customer’s card is enrolled, they can complete purchases in just a few clicks, without re-entering card details. The result is a faster checkout that mirrors the ease of contactless payments in-store, while maintaining strong security standards.

For merchants, the impact is measurable. According to Visa, Click to Pay can deliver up to a 11% uplift in authorisation rates compared to manual card entry, alongside significant fraud reduction through network tokenisation. Faster checkout also helps reduce cart abandonment, particularly on mobile, where typing card details remains a major source of friction.

“With online checkout, every extra step costs conversion,” said Breno Oliveira, Chief Product Officer at payabl. “Visa Click to Pay removes one of the biggest points of friction at the moment of purchase. It helps merchants approve more legitimate transactions, reduce fraud exposure, and give customers the experience they already expect.” 

Visa Click to Pay is available through payabl. checkout, enabling merchants to activate the service without additional integration complexity. The solution works across devices and supports existing security flows, including 3D Secure where required.

“Consumers have come to expect a highly personalised, intuitive, and seamless payment experience, whether they’re buying a coffee, shopping online, or applying for a loan. Visa Click to Pay aims to meet these expectations by removing the need to manually enter card details, thus enhancing both security and the consumer experience in online card payments. With the support of network tokens, Visa Click to Pay enabled a more secure and smoother transaction process, available in many countries around the world. According to European VisaNet data, Visa Click to Pay may allow a 4.5% uplift in merchant sales, meaning a possible annual increase of €51 bn in SMB eCommerce sales in the UK and EU,” said Michael Ioannides, Country Manager, Visa Cyprus.

The launch forms part of payabl.’s broader focus on checkout optimisation, helping merchants improve conversion, approvals, and payment reliability at scale. Click to Pay with Visa is now live for eligible merchants across Europe. 

Checkout expectations are rising across Europe 

Insights from payabl.’s State of European Checkouts report underline why frictionless checkout experiences are becoming a commercial priority. The research found that consumers cite speed (46%), convenience (44%), and security (41%) as the top reasons for choosing a payment method. More than half of consumers (53%) are open to switching to newer payment methods and nearly half (48%) are open to one-click checkouts, provided the solution is backed by a trusted brand such as Visa.

“Checkout is no longer just the final step of a transaction,” said Oliveira. “It is a critical part of the overall customer experience. Our research shows that 43% of European consumers will not return to a site after a poor checkout experience. For merchants across the UK and Europe, that translates directly into lost customers and lost revenue.”

The launch forms part of payabl.’s broader focus on checkout optimisation, helping merchants improve conversion, approvals, and payment reliability at scale. Click to Pay with Visa is now live for eligible merchants across Europe.

eCredo
The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties
Aretilaw firm
Uol

Become a Speaker

Become a Speaker

Become a Partner

Subscribe for our weekly newsletter