Standoff over new law for bars, restaurants and entertainment establishments
Standoff over new law for bars, restaurants and entertainment establishments
In the Cypriot parliament, the discussion on the planned law to regulate bars, restaurants, clubs and other entertainment venues is still deadlocked.
This was confirmed on Tuesday after a meeting by the chairman of the trade committee, Kyriakos Hadjiyiannis.
This was confirmed on Tuesday after a meeting by the chairman of the trade committee, Kyriakos Hadjiyiannis.
He explained that around 80 change requests, statements and objections have now been submitted – but that the positions of the actors involved are so far apart that no viable compromise is currently foreseeable.
Lack of coordination within
Hadjiyianni's government criticized that there had been no serious coordination at government level. This massively blocks the work of the parliamentary committee.
Despite the large amount of feedback, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism in particular shows no willingness to give in to controversial points or to cooperate constructively.
Despite the large amount of feedback, the Deputy Ministry of Tourism in particular shows no willingness to give in to controversial points or to cooperate constructively.
The chairman warned that the further course of the legislative process was open. Of all things, in a phase in which cooperation would be crucial, the responsible ministry is withdrawing.
What the new law actually provides for
The draft law contains a total of seven significant changes compared to the current legal situation. These include, but are not limited to:
- Different opening hours for different types of venues (e.g., restaurants, bars, clubs).
- Relaxation of strict building law requirements, which have so far burdened many operators.
- Abolition of the obligation to submit price lists for official approval.
- Modernization and clearer definitions of what types of entertainment are allowed.
- Simplified procedures for permits and operating licenses.
- Better control of noise pollution – according to research, this is also a point of contention, as residents and operators have opposing interests.
- Digitisation of certain processes, e.g. online registrations for operators.
These points are intended to modernize the industry, reduce bureaucracy and create a more uniform legal framework. Critics, however, see the danger that too much freedom will exacerbate the noise situation in tourist areas.
Dispute also in the energy sector: Renewable energies blocked
Since the committee is also responsible for energy issues, Hadjiyiannis used the meeting to point out problems in the field of renewable energies.
He spoke of a targeted "slowdown" of several actors that slow down the expansion of renewable energy sources – such as photovoltaics, wind power and energy storage. According to his own statements, these actors include
- : investors or applicants,
- grid operators,
- the energy regulator CERA,
- other government agencies and departments.
From his point of view, the main problems are
- : long waiting times until projects are connected to the power grid,
- cumbersome approval procedures,
- overloading of the power grid due to a lack of storage solutions.
These delays would have a direct impact on electricity prices because less cheap solar energy is fed into the grid and the market remains dependent on expensive conventional energy.
The committee is therefore working to remove hurdles and accelerate the integration of new projects. Ongoing delays are particularly damaging to households and businesses – both financially and in the expansion of a secure, sustainable energy supply.
Additional research background (not included in the original article):
- Cyprus is currently below the EU average in terms of the share of renewable energies – around 17–19 %, the EU demands significantly more.
- The "net metering" sector (solar power for private households) is overloaded; many applications have been waiting for months to be connected.
- For years, the catering industry has been calling for a modernization of the outdated legal situation; parts of the existing law date back to the 1990s.
- Hoteliers and tourism associations are pushing for clear rules for clubs and outdoor entertainment to reduce conflicts between tourist resorts and residential areas.
Author: Redaktion
Source: Cyprusmail.com with kind permission for editorial use
