Cyprus Hotels Pledge Fully Staffed Operations Amid Improved Foreign Worker Permitting

In a significant development for Cyprus’s tourism industry, hotel associations PASYXE and STEK announced that hotels are set to operate without staffing shortages this year. This assurance follows a series of effective actions by the Ministry of Labour, which expedited the work permit process for foreign workers. Labour Minister Yiannis Panayiotou highlighted that, by the end of May, over 95% of applications had been processed, reducing the average permit processing time from over five months to less than two.

This accelerated process is a result of enhanced IT systems and strategic international agreements, addressing the critical labour needs of the tourism sector. The Ministry’s proactive measures ensure that the industry’s staffing requirements are met, allowing businesses to maintain high service standards during the peak season. Additionally, efforts to utilise local labour have contributed to a decrease in unemployment, though the domestic workforce alone cannot meet the sector’s extensive demands.

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The successful collaboration between the Ministry, tourism associations, and other stakeholders has led to these improvements. The agreement for better coordination among social partners played a crucial role, demonstrating the effectiveness of collective efforts in resolving labour market challenges. The Deputy Minister of Tourism, Kostas Koumis, also acknowledged the broader significance of these improvements, noting that labour issues affect tourism industries globally.

This development is expected to help Cyprus achieve another successful tourism season, following a record-breaking year in 2023. The continued focus on efficient permitting processes and collaboration between the public and private sectors will be essential for sustaining growth and ensuring the competitiveness of Cyprus’s tourism industry.

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Banks Required To Refund Unauthorized Transactions Immediately, Confirms EU Prosecutor

by THEFUTURE.TEAM

March 7, 2026

Introduction

Advocate General Athanasios Rantos of the Court of Justice of the European Union stated that banks must refund customers without delay for unauthorized transactions, even when the client may have acted with gross negligence. The opinion clarifies how European legislation should be applied in cases involving payment fraud.

Case Overview

The case concerns a Polish bank customer who became the victim of a phishing attack. A fraudster posed as a buyer on an online auction platform and sent the customer a link that closely resembled the bank’s official website. After entering her login credentials, the customer unintentionally gave the attacker access to her account. The fraudster subsequently carried out unauthorized transactions.

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The bank refused to reimburse the funds, arguing that the client had demonstrated gross negligence by entering her banking details on the fraudulent website. The dispute was later brought before the Polish courts.

Legal Implications

The Polish national court asked the Court of Justice of the European Union to clarify whether European law requires banks to refund unauthorized payments immediately, even when the customer may have acted negligently.

Advocate General Rantos stated that EU legislation requires banks to restore the funds without delay unless the institution has reasonable grounds to suspect fraud and has formally reported the matter to the competent authorities. The opinion also explains that an immediate refund does not prevent the bank from later seeking compensation if it can prove that the customer failed to comply with their obligations under payment services regulations.

Consumer Protection And Regulatory Outlook

European payment legislation places strong emphasis on protecting consumers from financial fraud. The regulatory framework aims to ensure that users of payment services receive prompt reimbursement when unauthorized transactions occur. Banks may still investigate individual cases and pursue legal action if they believe the customer breached their responsibilities under payment service rules.

Conclusion

The Court of Justice of the European Union will now consider the Advocate General’s opinion before issuing its final ruling. Such decisions are often influential in shaping the interpretation of EU law. A ruling in line with the opinion could have significant implications for banks across the European Union and for how financial institutions handle reimbursement claims in cases of payment fraud.

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