On 3 March 2021, the online Conference for Lawyers ‘’New Rules of Civil Procedure: A Step Forward’’ took place with a view to providing a better understanding of particular provisions and forthcoming changes in the civil procedure in Cyprus.
The Conference was held in the framework of the reform process aimed at improvement of the court system and strengthening the efficiency of justice. One of the elements of which is revision of Cypriot Rules of Civil Procedure, which are going to be fundamentally revised for the first time during the last 60 years. This process is facilitated under a joint project of the Council of Europe and European Union in collaboration with the Supreme Court of Cyprus.
The President of the Supreme Court, Justice Persefoni Panayi, highlighted the potential positive impact of this ambitious step on the legal as well as economic sector in Cyprus. The President of the Permanent Rules Committee, Justice Yiasemis N. Yiasemi presented the main changes of the proposed Rules. The President of the Cyprus Bar Association, Dr. Christos Clerides, explained the philosophy behind them and explained how the new Rules will affect lawyers.
The New Rules are expected to reinforce the rule of law and social justice in Cyprus, stressed Mr Daniele Dotto, Acting Director at DG-Reform of the European Commission.
More details about the draft Rules and the work on them were provided by Lord John Dyson, Former Justice of the UK Supreme Court, Former Master of the Rolls and Chairperson of the Expert Group on Guiding Drafts for new Civil Procedure Rules in Cyprus.
Honourable Justice Peter Kelly, former President of the High Court of Ireland presented the Irish experience in reformation of the civil procedure rules, which is still ongoing.
Respective experience related to similar reform processes in the UK and Ireland from the point of view of practicing lawyers was shared by Mr Darragh Connell (from the UK) and Mr Eoin Martin (from Ireland).
