Letter from Mr George S. Yiangou, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the Council of Europe, to Ms Despina Chatzivassiliou, Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, dated 8 December 2025.
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Dear Secretary General,
New list of candidates for election as Judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Cyprus
I have the honour to submit here below, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, the names of the three candidates for the election of the Judge to the European Court of Human Rights in respect of Cyprus, following the withdrawal of Ms. Elena Efrem, for your further actions:
Please note that the names are submitted in alphabetical order. The curricula vitae of the three candidates are enclosed.
As regards the national procedure followed for the selection of the three candidates, I wish to inform you that the nomination of candidates was based on the pre-determined procedure that had been outlined in detail in the previous official correspondence with regard to the initial list of candidates.Note
It should be indicated that the new candidate proposed by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, following the withdrawal of Ms. Efrem, was next in line on the list of candidates, as evaluated and ranked by the Selection Body, and the President of the Republic of Cyprus has fully endorsed the recommendations and assessment of the Selection Body in this case as well.
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Name: EMILIOU, Nicholas
Gender: male
Date and place of birth: 14 June 1963 in Famagusta, Cyprus
Nationality: Cypriot
Advocate General at the Court of Justice of the European Union (since 7 October 2021).
As an Advocate General, I am a Member of the EU Court of Justice and I serve under the same terms and conditions as the Judges. Under Article 252(2) of the TFEU: “It shall be the duty of the Advocate-General, acting with complete impartiality and independence, to make, in open court, reasoned submissions on cases which, in accordance with the Statute of the Court of Justice of the European Union, require his involvement”.
In this context, I have delivered approximately 80 reasoned Opinions in a wide range of legal issues, a number of them touching upon fundamental rights such as: interpretation of provisions of the EU Charter on Fundamental Rights (including: right to effective remedy/fair trial/ne bis in idem); asylum and immigration (refugee status, procedures for granting and withdrawal international protection/stateless persons/safe third country); protection of personal data/right of access to data; judicial cooperation in criminal matters/European Arrest Warrant; general principles of EU law (mainly legal certainty and proportionality; judicial independence and promotion of judges; procedure for nomination of judges for EU courts; the legality of national restrictive measures in the face of Covid; freedom of establishment of Churches and religious communities.
Other issues of EU law I have dealt with include: powers of EU institutions in drafting legal acts; protection of national identity; social policy; competition law and mergers; Brexit; the Schengen Agreement; approximation of laws (protection of human and animal health); limitations on the freedom to provide services; judicial cooperation in civil matters; private international law/enforcement of civil judgments; enforcement of judgments in matrimonial matters/ return of the child; horizontal direct effect of directives; consumer protection/unfairness of contractual terms; social security; taxation/free movement of capital; banking –prudential supervision of banks; free movement of workers/recognition of professional qualifications; air passengers’ rights/cancellation of flight/repatriation due to Covid; patents for medicinal products.
My experience in the field of human rights reflects a broad engagement with legal practice, education, research, and advocacy.
As an Advocate General, I have delivered opinions on issues touching on fundamental rights under EU law, including, inter alia, asylum and migration policy and data protection, linking EU law to ECHR benchmarks as interpreted by the ECtHR.
In the course of my diplomatic career, I held major diplomatic posts that intersected with human rights policy directly or indirectly. In my diplomatic career, I held major posts intersecting with human rights policy. As Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the Council of Europe, I chaired the Rapporteur Group on Human Rights (GR-H) of the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies (2003-2004), and participated in the Committee of Ministers’ Deputies (DH), overseeing the execution of ECtHR judgments. I also acted as a delegate to the Government Agent in proceedings before the Court. Additionally, I was a member of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) from 1994 to 1997. Furthermore, I was a member of the legal team formed by the then Attorney General for the handling of the seminal Loizidou case and the Fourth Interstate Recourse Cyprus v. Turkey before the Court. As a Permanent Representative to the EU, I was actively involved in high level discussions on rule of law, democracy, asylum policy and fundamental rights as part of EU Council deliberations and policy-making.
At the UN, I engaged with human rights and international law issues and I participated in global diplomatic dialogue on human rights and rule of law themes.
Beyond my formal posts, my academic and professional work in European law seeks to contribute to the conceptual legal framework supporting human rights. In my opinions on the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, I have intentionally aimed to link EU law, human rights protection, and judicial reasoning.
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Chairman of the United Nations Committee on Relations with the Host Country (2012-2017). Co-Chair of the 17th Meeting of the UN Open-ended Informal Consultative Process on Oceans and the Law of the Sea (2016). Chair, Special Committee on the Charter of the United Nations and on the Strengthening of the Role of the Organization (2016-2017). One of the Vice-Presidents of the 69th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations (2014-2015). Served periodically as Acting President of the GA. |
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Member on the Panel of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, The Hague (30/11/1995-16/05/2016). Member of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance, Council of Europe (1994-1997). Chairman, Rapporteur Group on Human Rights (GR-H) of the Committee of the Ministers’ Deputies, Council of Europe (2003-2004). |
I have authored and edited more than thirty books, articles in refereed law journals, chapters in books, book reviews and comments on cases in various field of law. Below find an indicative list:
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Language |
English |
French |
Greek |
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Reading |
Fluent |
Confident |
Mother tongue |
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Writing |
Fluent |
Good |
Mother tongue |
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Speaking |
Fluent |
Good |
Mother tongue |
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How acquired? |
Education |
Education |
Mother tongue |
In parallel with my diplomatic duties, I acted as legal advisor to three Presidents of the Republic of Cyprus on issues of EU and public international law in the talks for the solution of the Cyprus problem, preparing around 200 legal briefing papers for the purposes of the negotiation.
I feel that my proven legal and diplomatic record of accomplishment and my continued interest and involvement in legal matters make me the right match for the position requirements. I have always been attracted by the prospect of an opportunity to serve in the European Court of Human Rights. I believe that this post will enable me to use my education, experience and skills in the most challenging and intellectually stimulating way.
In the event that you do not meet the level of language proficiency required for the post of judge in an official language, please confirm your intention to follow intensive language classes of the language concerned prior to, and if need be also at the beginning of, your term of duty if elected a judge on the Court.
Yes, I confirm
Please confirm that you will take up permanent residence in Strasbourg if elected a judge on the Court.
Yes, I confirm
Name: MAVRONICOLA, Natasa
Gender: female
Date and place of birth: 21 September 1985 in Nicosia, Cyprus
Nationality: Cypriot
2014: PhD in Law, University of Cambridge.
Thesis title: ‘Delimiting the Absolute: The Nature and Scope of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights’.
Supervisor: Professor David Feldman KC FBA.
Examiners: Professors Liora Lazarus (University of Oxford) and Mark Elliott (University of Cambridge).
2010: Passed the Cyprus Bar Examinations: Distinction (Άριστα), First Place in National Examinations.
Courses completed: Article 146 (Administrative Law); Civil Litigation; Civil Wrongs; Company Law; Constitutional Law; Contract Law; Courts/Lawyers/Ethics; Criminal Law; Criminal Litigation; Evidence.
2009: College of Law's Linklaters Legal Practice Course (solicitors’ qualification): Distinction.
2008: BCL (Masters in Law), University of Oxford: Distinction, recipient of Bruce Reynolds Prize for Worcester College's highest performance on the BCL and Worcester College Prize for Distinction on the BCL.
2007: LLB (Hons), University College London: First Class, Dean’s List and recipient of Faculty of Laws’ Andrews Medal and Prize for the highest performance on the LLB degree and the Agha Abdur-Rashid Prize for high standard of overall performance in undergraduate study.
2004: Graduate of The English School, Nicosia. A Levels: Classical Greek; English Literature; French; History; Mathematics; Modern Greek (all As). AS Level: Economics (A).
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Activities as Legal Academic:
Since August 2022: Full Professor of Human Rights Law, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham.
I lecture in subjects including Decolonising Legal Concepts; European Human Rights Law; Human Rights and Criminal Justice; and International Human Rights Law. I have supervised 5 PhDs to completion.
August 2019 – July 2022: Reader in Law, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham.
September 2016 – August 2019: Senior Lecturer in Law, Birmingham Law School, University of Birmingham.
July 2013 – September 2016: Lecturer in Law, Queen’s University Belfast School of Law.
October 2016 – 2024: Guest Lecturer, University of Oxford.
July 2023: Lecturer, Koufa Summer Courses on International Law and Human Rights, Kalliopi Koufa Foundation, Thessaloniki.
October – November 2021 and 2022: Diaspora Faculty, University of Cyprus.
June 2013 – June 2015: Visiting Lecturer in English Administrative Law, University of Osnabrück.
August 2012 – October 2012: Doctoral visitor at Harvard Law School.
October 2011 – January 2013: Graduate Teaching Assistant in Civil Liberties and Human Rights (LLM), University of Cambridge.
October 2010 – December 2012: College Tutor in Constitutional Law and Administrative Law, University of Cambridge.
September 2008 – August 2012: Teaching Fellow in Public Law and Human Rights, UCL Faculty of Laws.
2010-2012: Trainee Lawyer at Chryssafinis & Polyviou LLC (criminal law and public law): practising in criminal law and public law; junior advocate for the defence in negligent manslaughter case.
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Knowledge Exchange – Selected Activities:
I work primarily in the field of human rights law and nearly all of my professional activities are linked to human rights. My Master’s degree at the University of Oxford focused on human rights and international law, and my PhD at the University of Cambridge closely examined Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. For over fifteen years, I have researched and taught on many aspects of human rights law at the national, regional and international level, with extensive focus on the European Convention on Human Rights. I have delivered teaching on human rights at Queen’s University Belfast, the University of Birmingham, the University of Cambridge, University College London, the University of Cyprus, the University of Oxford, and other institutions. My publications in the field of human rights law span various topics, from the interpretation of absolute rights to the delineation of positive obligations and various facets of the relationship between human rights and criminal justice.
I have presented my research on human rights by invitation at academic and policy-making institutions and at numerous international conferences. I have served on the Editorial Board of the Cyprus Human Rights Law Review and the Human Rights Law Review and I am a reviewer for multiple human rights journals including the ECHR Law Review, the European Human Rights Law Review, and the Nordic Journal of Human Rights. I have organised a number of conferences and workshops on human rights law, and I am a founding member of the Transitional Justice and Human Rights Network established by the University of Birmingham and the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in 2025.
In addition to my research, teaching and wider academic work in the field, I have conducted a range of legal consultative work on human rights law with, and for, various stakeholders. These have included the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, and a number of lawyers and civil society organisations litigating or investigating particular human rights issues.
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Consultancy work for the United Nations and the Council of Europe on the right not to be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and its application in various contexts, specifically:
Thematic work of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Nils Melzer:
Under contract with the Council of Europe, I prepared a concept note and follow-up report on the (ill-)treatment of apprehended persons in Greece and on pathways to eradicating patterns of torture and ill-treatment, and participated in a stakeholder roundtable on these issues in Athens in January 2019.
[Total publications: 2 books, 24 articles and book chapters, 10 blog posts, 15 reports.]
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Language |
Reading |
Writing |
Speaking |
How acquired? |
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Greek |
Fluent |
Fluent |
Fluent |
Mother tongue |
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English |
Fluent |
Fluent |
Fluent |
Education and work (teaching and research) |
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French |
Advanced |
Confident |
Confident |
Education (A Level) and usage |
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Spanish |
Basic |
Basic |
Basic |
Education |
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German |
Basic |
Basic |
Basic |
Education |
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Italian |
Basic |
Basic |
Basic |
Education |
In the event that you do not meet the level of language proficiency required for the post of judge in an official language, please confirm your intention to follow intensive language classes of the language concerned prior to, and if need be, also at the beginning of, your term of duty if elected a judge on the Court.
Yes, I confirm.
Please confirm that you will take up permanent residence in Strasbourg if elected a judge on the Court.
Yes, I confirm.
Name: PAPANTONIOU, Margarita
Gender: female
Date and place of birth:23 May 1984 in Nicosia , Cyprus
Nationality: Cypriot
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October 2014 –December 2023 |
Doctorate in Professional Studies (Law) |
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Middlesex University, London, U.K. |
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Doctoral thesis topic «Cyber fraud: Investigating substantive, procedural and evidentiary legal issues in Cyprus» |
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December 2013 – Mediation Training Program (40 hours)
September 2009 – European Certificate on Cybercrime and Electronic Evidence – Basic Level for judges, lawyers and prosecutors
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September 2006 – July 2007 |
Master 2 «European Union Law, Direction: Human Rights» |
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University of Strasbourg, France |
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September 2005 – June 2006 |
Bar Vocational Course |
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BPP Law School, London, U.K. |
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September 2002 – June 2005 |
L.LB (Hons) |
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University of Bristol, U.K. |
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Since June 2019, I have been serving as a judge at the International Protection Administrative Court (IPAC) of Cyprus, and since September 2022, I have had the honor of serving as the administrative president of the Court, overseeing its judicial and administrative functions. My journey at the Court, from its very establishment—as one of the first three judges appointed—has been marked by significant challenges. Spearheading the organisation of a newly founded court, navigating the limited domestic case law on international protection, and addressing the sharp increase in asylum applications in Cyprus have been among the most pressing ones.
This pioneering role presented significant challenges, including drafting groundbreaking decisions, establishing the Court’s jurisdiction, and interpreting relevant instruments and provisions of the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) without prior guidance from higher courts. In this regard, the case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) provided valuable interpretative insights.
During this period, I have handled over 4 300 cases, of which I completed over 3 600 (2 049 revocations, 1 660 issued decisions) primarily in the fields of International Protection and Immigration law. Several of these rulings, have played a pivotal role in shaping domestic jurisprudence and setting key legal precedents. To address the volume of cases, I applied accelerated procedures for manifestly unfounded applications and collaborated with research experts to gather and assess country of origin information related to the applicants’ allegations. I issued decisions on sensitive and complex matters, particularly in cases involving vulnerable applicants and minors, while addressing novel legal questions related to the interpretation of EU Directives and the Court’s jurisdiction.
In a significant development, I referred the first preliminary ruling request to the CJEU, seeking clarification on critical points of EU law (C-454/23). I was also the first judge to grant refugee status to a Palestinian applicant residing in the Gaza Strip, following a thorough legal analysis under the Geneva Convention’s exclusion clauses. Additionally, I awarded refugee status to applicants from non-safe countries based on the grounds outlined in national legislation.
I adopted a proactive judicial approach by conducting in-person interviews with applicants in the courtroom to assess their credibility and conduct an ex nunc evaluation of their applications for international protection. My judicial duties further encompassed assessing new evidence submitted by applicants, determining its admissibility, and evaluating its probative value under the rules of evidence law.
Throughout the judicial proceedings, I remain steadfast in safeguarding applicants’ human rights, ensuring a safe environment where access to justice is upheld, and procedural rights are rigorously protected. My adjudicatory responsibilities span all aspects of international protection, including reviewing decisions issued by the Asylum Service and other administrative bodies, adjudicating recourses against detention orders, and evaluating legal aid applications.
In addition to my judicial duties, I actively participate in ongoing judicial training and legal conferences to stay abreast of evolving jurisprudence and best practices in international protection law and human rights.
From 2008 to 2019, I practiced law in Cyprus, where my responsibilities encompassed advising clients on civil and criminal law matters and representing them before the courts. I drafted court pleadings and other legal documents, and provided legal opinions on administrative and corporate law issues in Cyprus. During this period, I was a member of the Cyprus Bar Association. Concurrently, I served as a part-time Legal Consultant at Tipik (www.tipik.eu), specializing in EU-related matters. In this capacity, I conducted conformity assessments of national legislation transposing EU Directives on behalf of various Directorates-General of the European Commission. Notably, I evaluated the transposition of Directive 2010/64/EU (right to interpretation and translation in criminal proceedings), Directive 2009/52/EC (sanctions against employers of illegally staying third-country nationals), and Directive 2013/36/EU (Capital Requirements Directive IV) for Cyprus.
Between 2012 and 2019, I held the position of Scientific Collaborator and Instructor at European University Cyprus, where I was responsible for designing course syllabi and teaching undergraduate courses on criminal law, evidence law, criminal procedure, juvenile delinquency and prisons/corrections law. Additionally, I lectured on Economic Crimes at the postgraduate level. I also served as an external legal advisor to the Cyprus Securities and Exchange Commission (2018–2019), providing counsel on administrative law matters and overseeing the recording of meeting minutes.
Since 2019, in my capacity as a judge, I have also acted as a trainer and presenter on various legal topics. In February 2023, I delivered a presentation on international protection law to lawyers at a conference organised by the Cyprus Bar Association. In March 2023, I participated as a Judicial Expert in a European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) workshop in Cairo, Egypt. I also gave a lecture to law students at European University Cyprus in November 2023, titled "Methodology of Law: A Judge’s Perspective."
Moreover, I contributed as a trainer in the CHILDfront project, co-funded by the European Union, where I developed materials on child-friendly procedures in administrative justice for cases involving children or where their interests were involved. This included comprehensive texts, source materials and presentations, which were uploaded to a specialised platform and delivered to judges through online sessions and in-person training in Greece.
I am currently serving as the administrative president of IPAC, therefore combining my judicial duties with administrative duties and the overall management of the Court. In this capacity, I am also charged with the responsibility of engaging with representatives from the European Commission, the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
I have been appointed the national contact point (NCP) of Cyprus to the EUAA by the Supreme Court of Cyprus. This position entails participating in information sharing, consultation, and knowledge exchange, as well as attending the annual meetings of the EUAA Courts and Tribunals Section.
In my dual roles as Administrative President and NCP, I have actively contributed to the organization of Judicial Conferences in Cyprus, collaborating with the EUAA and the Association of European Administrative Judges (AEAJ), and facilitating the participation of numerous judges from the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), and various member states.
I pursued my postgraduate studies in Human Rights at the University of Strasbourg in France. During this time, I had the privilege of completing a three-month traineeship at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), where I became acquainted with the Court’s environment, its procedures, and had the opportunity to attend several significant hearings. Throughout my professional career, human rights have been central to the cases I have handled, influencing both the substance of the matters and the procedural aspects of hearings.
Additionally, I have had the opportunity to present and analyse human rights issues through teaching various undergraduate courses at European University Cyprus, particularly in the areas of criminal law and evidence law. Furthermore, as a judge at the International Protection Administrative Court (IPAC), I ensure that the human rights of applicants are upheld throughout all stages of the proceedings, from court hearings to the assessment of applications for international protection. In cases where applications are rejected, I diligently safeguard compliance with the principle of non-refoulement, ensuring that individuals are not returned to their home countries in violation of their fundamental rights.
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a. First language: |
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Greek |
YES |
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YES |
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YES |
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b. Official languages: |
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– English |
YES |
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YES |
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YES |
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– French |
YES |
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YES |
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YES |
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I believe I meet the level of language proficiency required for the post in both English and French, but I confirm my intention to follow intensive language classes prior to my term of duty if elected judge of the Court.
I confirm I will take up permanent residence in Strasbourg if elected a judge on the Court.