European parliament committee adopts amendment on Cypriot property rights

On April 15, 2026, the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgets (BUDG) approved an interim report on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028-2034, which included an amendment proposed by MEP Michalis Hatzipantelas. The amendment, supported by 65% of the committee, formally acknowledges that legal landowners in areas of the Republic of Cyprus where the government does not exercise effective control have been deprived of access to their property for decades. It references Protocol No. 10 of the Cyprus Accession Treaty, noting the suspension of the EU acquis in these areas, and identifies this situation as a violation of Article 17 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. While this inclusion marks a significant political recognition of the issue within the budgetary framework, it does not currently establish a binding legal mechanism for financial compensation or implementation. Further legislative steps will be required to translate this political recognition into practical policy tools. The development is considered a milestone by local stakeholders, as it integrates the issue of displaced persons' property rights into the EU's fiscal planning for the first time.