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Comprehensive Overhaul Ushers In New Era For Cyprus Taxi Industry

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

June 22, 2026

Cyprus is preparing changes to its taxi service framework, in what would be the first major update in more than two decades. According to details published by PhileNews, the proposed amendment to the Road Transport Law could increase the number of taxi licences from the current total of around 1,800 to between 3,200 and 5,600 over the coming years.

Aligning Regulation With Industry Realities

The initiative by the Licensing Authority aims to address issues that have been at the centre of public debate over the past three years. Among them are unauthorized operations, high licence rental fees, and shortages in taxi services. Those concerns led to protests, including a strike by professional drivers in March 2026. The proposal also draws on findings from a 2025 study conducted by Frederick University.

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Foundation Of The Reform: Five Strategic Pillars

The draft legislation introduces several measures aimed at reshaping the sector:

Combatting Unlawful Operations: Illegal passenger services will face administrative fines of €750 for drivers, €1,500 for owners, and €1,500 for intermediaries. Courts will also be able to temporarily suspend vehicle registrations.

Revamping License Allocation: A new formula would link the number of licences to population levels and tourist occupancy. The proposal also includes a 10% social quota for large families and parents of people with disabilities.

State Ownership Of Licenses: Taxi licences would move to state ownership, replacing the current system under which licences are often rented privately.

Legalizing Specialized Passenger Vans: The proposal introduces a category of “special rental vehicles” for group and hotel transfers.

Enhancing Digital Platform Accountability: Electronic intermediaries, including Bolt, would be required to register with the Department of Road Transport, appoint compliance officers, and ensure that only licensed taxis are used. Violations could result in fines of up to €50,000.

Transforming The Customer Experience

The proposed changes are also intended to affect the passenger experience:

Shortened Wait Times In Urban Centers: Additional licences are expected to address shortages in cities, including Nicosia and Limassol.

Modern And Eco-Friendly Fleets: The proposal calls for the use of new Euro VI or fully electric vehicles.

Enhanced Passenger Protection: Measures targeting illegal operators are intended to ensure that taxis operate legally and carry the required insurance.

Regulated Airport Services: Mandatory fare documentation for airport pickups would aim to address pricing concerns.

Streamlined Digital Bookings: Ride-hailing platforms would operate under a regulated framework.

Identified Gaps And The Road Ahead

Several issues are not addressed in the current proposal. No provisions have been included for wheelchair-accessible vehicles or specialised driver training for passengers with disabilities. The draft also does not include requirements for electronic payments or digital receipts.

Although the proposal calls for the use of electric vehicles, it does not provide for subsidies or charging infrastructure. The draft also stops short of addressing integration into broader Mobility as a Service (MaaS) frameworks. The proposed changes would represent a major update to Cyprus’ taxi sector. Further revisions, however, may be needed to address accessibility and other consumer-related issues.

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Cyprus Fuel Prices Jump 20.5% As Energy Costs Rise Across The EU

Cyprus recorded a 20.5% year-on-year increase in the prices of fuels and lubricants for personal transport in May 2026, according to Eurostat data released on Monday.

The increase was broadly in line with the European Union average of 20.7%, with fuel and lubricant prices rising across all EU member states during the period.

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Cyprus Tracks The EU Average

Among EU countries, the largest annual increases were recorded in Bulgaria (33.9%), Luxembourg (32.2%), Lithuania (30.8%) and Romania (30.4%). At the other end of the scale, Hungary registered the smallest increase at 3.5%, while annual growth ranged from 12.7% in Poland to 29.2% in France across the remaining member states.

Eurostat noted that fuel and lubricant prices generally declined across the EU until February 2026 before moving higher in subsequent months.

Diesel And Petrol Follow Different Paths

Across the European Union, diesel prices increased by 29% in May 2026 compared with the same month a year earlier, while petrol prices rose by 16.2%. Monthly trends, however, were more mixed. Between April and May 2026, diesel prices across the EU fell by 5.8%, whereas petrol prices increased by 0.8%.

In Cyprus, diesel prices declined by 1.5% over the same period. Although lower than in April, the decrease was less pronounced than in Germany (-11.9%), Greece (-8.5%), Estonia (-8.4%) and Ireland (-8.1%).

Petrol prices moved in the opposite direction, rising by 2.1% between April and May. A similar pattern was observed across much of the EU, with 23 member states reporting monthly increases. Italy recorded the largest monthly rise in petrol prices at 6.9%, while decreases were reported in Germany (-5.6%), Ireland (-2.0%) and Sweden (-0.7%).