Philenews

Cyprus Coast Guard Proposal to be Presented to Cabinet Today

Published March 16, 2026, 12:14
Cyprus Coast Guard Proposal to be Presented to Cabinet Today

The creation of the Cyprus Coast Guard is nearing completion, with the proposal for its establishment to be presented to the Council of Ministers today by the Minister of Justice, Kostas Fytiris. The Coast Guard will operate as an independent Service and will take over the surveillance, control, and enforcement of legislation along the entire coastline and maritime borders of the Republic of Cyprus. The proposal involves the merger of existing services from various ministries, such as the Port Police, the Police Helicopter Squadron, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, and the Hydrographic Service. A Committee will also be established with officials from all involved departments to facilitate the smooth transition of assets. The main goal of creating the Coast Guard is to strengthen coordination and the effectiveness of maritime surveillance and security operations, aiming to achieve maximum results in the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible cost. The project will be largely funded by European funds. The Minister of Justice had announced the initiative after an inter-ministerial meeting, emphasizing its importance for protecting maritime borders and addressing challenges related to illegal immigration and other criminal activities.