Cyprus was obliged to pass rules governing the certification of small-scale renewable energy sources (RES) systems installers as part of an EU directive. House commerce committee member and DIKO MP Angelos Votsis warned that failure to pass the bill would result in a hefty daily fine of €11,000 per day imposed on Cyprus by the EU. According to Votsis, the rules should have been passed several years ago, instead of being submitted to parliament at the last minute by the relevant government service, leaving virtually no time for consultation with stakeholders or a proper debate.

The plenum unanimously passed the rules, including two amendments tabled by the Greens. MPs called on the government practice of leaving the tabling of harmonisation bills to the last second before an EU deadline, effectively “blackmailing” MPs into voting through the bill or else see fines imposed on Cyprus.

Source: Cyprus Mail