5.10 Current debates and reforms
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Forthcoming policy developments
The evaluation of the First National Youth Strategy 2017-2022 and the adoption of the Second National Youth Strategy 2030 is two of the upcoming policy developments in the field of youth.
It is worth noting that the President of the Republic, during the State of the Union 2024, expressed his intention to reduce the voting age to 17 and establish the automatic voter registration. The proposal has already been adopted by the Council of Ministers and it will be submitted for voting to the parliament. This proposal is a significant topic within the current debates surrounding electoral legislation.
Ongoing debates
There is an ongoing discussion regarding the operation of the institution of Municipal and Community Youth Councils, as a results of the Local Government Reform that took place within 2024.
The Council of Ministers has approved on February 2025, the 'Citizen's Initiative Law of 2025' (Ο περί της Πρωτοβουλίας Πολιτών Νόμος του 2025), enabling Cypriot citizens to actively participate in public life and influence policymaking based on societal needs. Under this law, proposals with 500 signatures will require a justified response from the relevant Ministry, outlining governmental actions or plans. Proposals with 5,000 signatures will trigger a public consultation process, with the Ministry providing updates on developments and procedures related to the issue. It will be submitted for voting to the Parliament. This law is not specifically dedicated to youth, however, it will also support their participation.