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Urgent Call For Telework Measures Amid Heightened Security Risks At British Bases In Cyprus

The British Base Personnel Sector of PASYDY has requested the introduction of telework arrangements for employees working at British bases in Cyprus. The request was submitted to Stephen B. Dougan, Deputy Command Secretary of the Sovereign Base Areas Administration (SBAA), through the union’s General Secretary.

Rationale Behind Telework Implementation

According to PASYDY, the administration of the British bases has instructed personnel at the Akrotiri base to leave the area, with operations continuing only with essential security staff. No similar directive has been issued for facilities in Episcopi, Dhekelia and Agios Nikolaos. Employees at those locations continue to work on site, according to the union.

Telework Directive: A Proactive Strategy

In its letter titled “Urgent Recommendation For Immediate Telework Implementation,” PASYDY said it is concerned about the security situation in the region. The union wrote: “We express our concern regarding the current situation and the military developments in the region, which may pose risks to personnel working at British bases in Cyprus.” PASYDY suggested that employees whose duties do not require a physical presence should temporarily move to telework arrangements.

Operational Safety And Leadership Accountability

Continuing on-site operations under current security conditions could expose staff to additional risks, the letter states. PASYDY argues that introducing telework arrangements for roles that do not require a physical presence would help reduce potential exposure while allowing operations to continue.

The union also urged the administration to consider the request with urgency and introduce the necessary adjustments where possible. According to the letter, such measures would prioritize employee safety while maintaining operational continuity.

PASYDY noted that similar remote-work arrangements have been adopted by organisations and institutions during periods of heightened uncertainty, particularly when security or operational conditions affect normal workplace activity.

Cyprus Crypto Users Face New Risks As MiCA Rules Take Effect

Why Investors Need To Check The Company Behind Their Crypto Platform

Crypto users in Cyprus are being urged to verify exactly which company holds their assets after the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) transition period ended on July 1, 2026.

MiCA rules for crypto-asset service providers have applied since December 2024, but Cyprus allowed companies operating under its previous national framework to continue temporarily. CySEC required providers wishing to remain in the market to apply by February 27, 2026.

The end of the transition means that appearing on an old national register is no longer enough. Investors must check the specific legal entity providing the service and the activities it is authorised to perform.

Two Regulatory Routes

CySEC maintains separate registers for providers authorised under Article 63 and companies using the Article 60 notification route.

The lists should not simply be treated as a count of licensed crypto exchanges. Providers have different regulatory statuses and may be authorised for different services, including custody, transfers, exchanges or operating trading platforms.

Companies authorised elsewhere in the EU can also serve Cypriot customers through MiCA passporting. Investors should therefore check the wider ESMA register.

Familiar Brands Can Still Be Used In Scams

MiCA authorisation applies to a specific legal entity, not automatically to every website, subsidiary or service using the same brand. Fraudsters can copy a legitimate company’s name, logo and licence number while changing its website or payment details.

The regulatory transition creates another opportunity for scammers. They can imitate legitimate notices about account closures or transfers and claim that customers must urgently move their assets to a new “regulated” platform.

In its July announcement, CySEC warned that customers using unauthorised providers do not receive MiCA protections and advised investors to verify providers through ESMA.

A Wider European Shake-Up

The changes affect the broader European crypto market. VASPnet estimated that more than 1,700 unlicensed crypto companies could face closure, relocation or restructuring after the transition period.

ESMA’s register contained 323 authorised providers at the end of July, while TRM Labs identified 1,343 operating providers in the European Economic Area on July 1, including 281 with MiCA authorisation. The different figures reflect different methodologies, but point to a substantial number of providers operating without the new authorisation.

ESMA instructed unauthorised companies to stop accepting new EU customers, opening accounts and marketing their services, while allowing limited activity needed for an orderly withdrawal.

What Investors Should Check

MiCA introduces common requirements for areas such as governance, disclosures and safeguarding client assets, but it does not make crypto investments risk-free.

For Cyprus users, the key questions are which legal entity provides the service, what it is authorised to do and whether the website or contact details are genuine.

Requests to transfer assets urgently, pay recovery fees, reveal private keys or install remote-access software should be treated as red flags. MiCA may bring greater clarity to the market, but the transition has also created a new opportunity for criminals to exploit a very real regulatory change.

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