Government advances creation of independent Cyprus Coast Guard

The Cypriot government intends to establish the Cyprus Coast Guard as an independent service. A formal proposal is expected to be submitted to the Council of Ministers in early March 2026, and following approval, will be sent to Parliament as a draft law.

The decision follows an inter-ministerial meeting at the Ministry of Justice and Public Order, where a detailed plan for the new structure, its organizational model, and implementation phases were presented. The project is expected to be largely funded by European Union grants.

The new service will hold full powers for monitoring, controlling, and enforcing legislation—spanning from the coastline to the limits of the Republic of Cyprus's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and its Search and Rescue (SAR) region.

The plan involves consolidating existing units from various ministries that currently possess maritime and aerial assets. This includes the Port and Marine Police, the Police Aviation Unit, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research, the Hydrographic Service, and other relevant bodies.

According to the Ministry of Justice, the reform's primary goal is to strengthen coordination and enhance operational efficiency by utilizing existing resources to ensure faster response times with minimal additional cost to the state.