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Cyprus To Establish Special Arbitration Court For Economic Disputes

At the initiative of the Cyprus Bar Association, plans are underway to create a Special Arbitration Court dedicated to economic disputes. This initiative aims to significantly enhance both the judicial and economic landscape in Cyprus.

The proposal, which needs approval from the Ministry of Justice, the Council of Ministers, and the House of Representatives, will be officially implemented upon passing these stages. Michalis Vorkas, President of the Cyprus Bar Association, stated that the objective is to establish Cyprus as a regional centre for resolving economic disputes of any scale, without restrictions. This court will cater to foreign nationals with permanent residences in Cyprus or abroad, as well as Cypriots involved in financial disputes.

Mr. Vorkas emphasized that disputes will be resolved swiftly, conserving valuable court time. The arbitrators, chosen by the Cyprus Bar Association, will be specialized legal professionals from both Cyprus and abroad.

Economically, Cyprus stands to benefit as foreign nationals opting for the Special Arbitration Court will contribute foreign exchange and significant financial inflows.

The final decisions of the Special Arbitration Court will be recorded in the District Courts, thereby gaining full judicial authority.

Functionally, the Arbitration Court will resemble the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Lausanne, an international semi-judicial body established to resolve sports-related disputes.

Only 1% Of Cyprus Farms Use Precision Farming Technologies

Cyprus remains one of the European Union’s least digitised agricultural economies, with just 1% of farms using precision farming technologies in 2023, according to Eurostat.

The findings come as the EU continues to encourage the adoption of digital tools aimed at improving agricultural productivity, efficiency and sustainability.

Internet Access Expands, But Digital Uptake Lags

Internet access has improved across the bloc, although adoption remains uneven. Eurostat found that 43% of EU farms had internet access in 2023, with northern and central European countries leading the way.

Denmark, Germany, Slovakia, Latvia, the Czech Republic and Austria all reported internet access rates above 90%.

Greater connectivity, however, has not translated into widespread digital adoption. Farm management information systems, which help farmers manage day-to-day operations, were used by only about 11% of EU farms. France was a notable exception, with around 60% of farms using the technology.

Precision Farming Concentrated In Larger Operations

Robotics adoption also remained relatively limited, with only about 7% of EU farms using robotic technologies. Overall, around 18% of farms with utilised agricultural area employed at least one precision farming technology or practice in 2023.

These included robotics for plant protection, band spraying, variable-rate application, precision crop monitoring and soil analysis. Despite representing fewer than one in five farms, these holdings accounted for around 44% of the EU’s utilised agricultural area.

The figures suggest that precision farming remains concentrated among larger agricultural businesses, where investment in digital technologies is typically easier to support.

Cyprus Lags Behind EU Leaders

Luxembourg, Finland and Estonia recorded the highest shares of utilised agricultural area managed by farms using precision farming technologies, each exceeding 75%.

At the other end of the ranking, Cyprus recorded just 1%, while Greece and Romania reported between 10% and 15%. The results indicate that Cyprus remains at an early stage of digital adoption in agriculture, even as precision farming becomes more widespread across parts of the European Union.

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