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Cyprus Embraces Tax Reforms, Yet Enforcement Improvements Remain Critical

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

September 19, 2025

Cyprus has emerged as a focal point in Europe’s evolving tax policy debate following a strategic two-day visit by the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Tax Matters (FISC). High-level discussions with key government figures and industry leaders underscored both positive reforms and ongoing challenges in regulatory enforcement.

European Scrutiny and Strategic Engagement

During their visit on September 16 and 17, the FISC delegation met with House Speaker Annita Demetriou, members of the finance committee, and senior officials, including the Assistant Tax Commissioner. Interactions with prominent business associations—including the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Employers and Industrialists Federation, the Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Cyprus, and the Cyprus Bar Association—highlighted the depth of the dialogue on reform and accountability.

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Prioritizing Tax Evasion Prevention and Competitiveness

The delegation, led by Danish MEP Kira Marie Peter-Hansen, commended Cyprus for its recent efforts to align with European standards by dismantling complex corporate structures prone to tax evasion. However, Peter-Hansen emphasized that without robust resource allocation for enforcement, legislative changes alone are insufficient. She noted serious concerns regarding the potential misuse of tax residency rules and the golden visa scheme, reaffirming the need for a balanced approach that attracts investment while curtailing financial malpractices.

Legislative Reforms Aligned With EU Directives

Cypriot MEP Michalis Hadjipantelas has pushed for reforms aimed at simplifying the EU tax framework, particularly to ease the burden on small and medium-sized enterprises. He stressed that streamlining compliance and reducing bureaucracy are critical to enhancing competitiveness. Similarly, Christiana Erotokritou, President of the House Finance Committee, reiterated that Cyprus remains fully aligned with EU directives on tax evasion and anti-money laundering, while also addressing broader socioeconomic challenges, including affordable housing and high energy costs.

Future Outlook: Collaborative European Integration

Looking forward, Cyprus is poised to build on its recent reforms as it prepares for its EU Council Presidency. The FISC delegation expressed optimism about the country’s commitment to ongoing adjustments and sanctions that fully meet EU rules. With discussions already underway on critical topics such as green taxation and tobacco regulation, Cyprus has the opportunity to position itself as a transparent, competitive, and responsible hub for business and investment in Europe.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

by News Editor

August 24, 2026

Courts Are Still Applying Old Copyright Rules To AI

AI companies train models on enormous amounts of published material, including books, articles and academic research. Whether using that content without authors’ permission violates copyright law remains unresolved.

Much of the debate centres on fair use, which allows copyrighted material to be used without permission in certain circumstances. Courts consider factors such as the purpose of the use, how much material was involved and its impact on the original market.

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Anthropic Case Sets An Important Precedent

A major case involving Anthropic and a group of authors provided one of the clearest rulings so far. Judge William Alsup found that using copyrighted books to train AI models was lawful, comparing the process to people reading and studying literature before creating something new.

Anthropic was nevertheless ordered to pay $1.5 billion in a settlement. The penalty concerned books the company had obtained from illegal online libraries rather than the AI training itself.

For AI companies, that distinction could prove significant because it separates studying copyrighted material from directly copying it.

Competition Could Be The Key Issue

A case involving Thomson Reuters and Ross Intelligence offers a different perspective. A court ruled that Ross could not claim fair use after using Reuters’ copyrighted material to develop a competing AI-powered legal research platform.

The decision suggests courts may be less willing to consider AI training fair use when copyrighted content is used to build a product that directly competes with the original.

For authors, an unresolved question is whether AI-generated content should be considered competition for the works used to train these models.

The Law Has Yet To Catch Up

US copyright law predates generative AI by decades, leaving courts to apply old principles to new technology. Questions also remain over copyright protection for AI-generated works. In Thaler v. Perlmutter, a court ruled that material created entirely by AI cannot receive copyright protection.

Major AI companies remain involved in copyright litigation, and different courts could reach different conclusions. For now, there is no universal rule: the legality of AI training will depend on the circumstances of each case and how courts ultimately interpret copyright and fair use.