Description:

Failure to follow EU law in Cyprus has lead to a record number of applications to European citizens’ advice services, it was recently revealed.

Europeans citizens’ who are not satisfied with decisions by the Cypriot Authorities regarding EU rights can contact SOLVIT or Citizens Signpost Services (CSS).
 

SOLVIT was founded in 2002 to help citizens and businesses overcome practical problems due to incorrect application of EU law by national administrations whilst CSS provides free legal advice on internal market rights.

Internal Market and Services Commissioner Michel Barnier said: "To truly take advantage of the Internal Market, citizens and businesses must be able to exercise their rights in practice. SOLVIT and the Citizen Signpost Service are two indispensable tools for empowering Europeans to understand, use and defend their EU rights more effectively."

The most common areas where problems arise are residency rights, social security and recognition of professional qualifications.

CSS helped 12,000 citizens in 2009, an increase of 8.5 per cent compared to the previous year. Most of the questions received concerned social security, residence right, work, entry procedures, motor vehicles and taxation.

The EU Commission now plans to offer a high-quality ‘one-stop shop’ package of services, which will integrate the two services and enable citizens and businesses to better know, understand and defend their rights in the EU.