Litigation Update: Proposed Reform of the Brussels Regulation

On 14.12.2010, following a consultation process, the European Commission published a draft revised (recast) Brussels Regulation. The key areas addressed in the Commission’s legislative proposal are as follows: New rules concerning third state (non-EU) matters and defendants The Brussels Regulation provides jurisdiction rules mainly with respect to defendants domiciled in the EU Member States. The Commission proposes to extend…

Litigation Update: Are arbitrators employees or independent providers of services?

In the case of Jivraj v Hashwani [1], the U.K. Court of Appeal held that an arbitration agreement which provided that only persons of a certain religious belief could act as arbitrator was void because arbitrators fall within the scope of English anti-discrimination employment legislation in relation to religion and belief (the Employment Equality (Religion…

Tax Law Update: Cyprus – Luxembourg talks on DTA

On the 19th July 2011,  Luxembourg’s Finance Minister Luc Frieden conducted an official visit to Cyprus. According to the Luxembourg government Mr Frieden exchanged views with his Cypriot counterpart Charilaos Stavrakis, on recent developments in their respective financial sectors and on European and national legislation in this area. Within this context, Cyprus and Luxembourg agreed…

Banking Law Update: Memorandum of Understanding between the China Banking Regulatory Commission and the Central Bank of Cyprus

The China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) and the Central Bank of Cyprus, expressing their mutual interest and willingness in promoting further the bilateral ties in the domain of supervision of credit institutions, concluded on 15 July 2011 a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU has been signed on behalf of the CBRC by its Chairman…

Cyprus Property Law Update: Planning Amnesty

The Ministry of Interior issued the following bulletin regarding the Town Planning Amnesty legislation which came into force on April 8 2011. The legislation aims at  simplifying and modernising the procedures  and legal provisions that eventually lead to the securing of updated title deeds by respective property owners. PLANNING AMNESTY BULLETIN LEGISLATION FOR THE MODERNISATION…

Tax Update: EU Commission requests Cyprus to modify excise duty rules for imported second-hand motorcycles

The European Commission has formally requested Cyprus to amend its legislation on depreciation scales for the calculation of excise duties on second-hand motorcycles because the current rules discriminate against imported motorcycles. Under current Cypriot legislation, owners of second-hand motorcycles have to pay an excise duty depending on the depreciation of these vehicles, i.e. their loss…

Banking Law Update: Stability fund set up

On the 14th of April 2011, the Cyprus Parliament unanimously passed the Bank Levy Legislation. The law establishes an Independent Financial Stability Fund for financial institutions. Provided that the totalamount of the  levy does not exceed 20% of the total taxable profits of the financial Institution, as these are assessed by the Director of Inland…