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 4 July 2025.
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Dear Secretary General,
I have the honor to submit here below, on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, the names in alphabetical order of the 3 (three) candidates for the election of the Cypriot judge to the European Court of Human Rights, for your further actions:
The curricula vitae of the said candidates are enclosed.
[…]
With regard to the national procedures followed for the selection of these candidates, I would like to inform you that the nomination of candidates was based on a pre-determined procedure. The latter had been established by a decision of the Council of Ministers in 2015. This decision sets the fundamental guidelines of the procedure and establishes a Selection Body. The mandate of the Selection Body is to assess the applications and make recommendations to the President of the Republic of Cyprus, who is constitutionally competent to take the final decision concerning the list of candidates to be transmitted to the relevant bodies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In 2023, the aforementioned decision was amended, as regards the composition of the Selection Body, taking into consideration a recent change in the national administration of justice, with the establishment of the Supreme Constitutional Court of the Republic of Cyprus.
As per recent guidelines of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Selection Body was comprised of members whose technical knowledge, integrity, impartiality, reasonableness and respectability, as well as their freedom from any influence, are well-founded.
More specifically, the Selection Body was comprised of:
The announcement of the nomination procedure was initiated via official channels, i.e. the Official Gazette of the Republic of Cyprus published on 27 December 2024. It was also published and reproduced by the daily Press, on websites of Ministries, Courts, Legal Service, the Commissioner for Administration and Human Rights, as well as other relevant fora.
For the submission of applications, an adequate timeframe exceeding two months (until 28 February 2025) had been given. In total, 12 (twelve) applications were received.
At a meeting of the Selection Body on 4 March 2025, where an initial examination of the applications took place, one of the members of the Selection Body decided not to participate in the selection process, due to conflict of professional interest with at least one of the applicants. The rest of the members of the Selection Body accepted the above decision and decided to continue the selection process without that member, since the Selection Body had already been established since 19 December 2024. To that end, the legal opinion of the President of the Supreme Constitutional Court and of the Attorney General of the Republic of Cyprus was endorsed unanimously.
All the applicants were invited for an interview before the Selection Body. Prior to the interviews, 2 (two) of the applicants informed about their decision to withdraw their application for personal reasons. On 4 April 2025, the Selection Body interviewed the remaining 10 (ten) applicants. One of the applicants did not appear for the interview, despite confirming receipt of the invitation for the interview.
In order to apply a structured, pre-determined and standardised procedure for the facilitation and evaluation of the interviews, the Selection Body asked similar questions to all candidates and assessed candidates’ suitability on the basis of elements through the information provided in sections III (relevant professional activities), V (other activities), VIII (other relevant information) of the model of the curriculum vitae used.
The candidates’ responses to the relevant questions posed during the interviews was also assessed. Questions were also raised to assess candidates’ past and actual experience, activities and acquaintance with human rights, the functioning of the European Court of Human Rights, the challenges the Court is confronted with and the applicability of the European Convention of Human Rights on domestic legal orders.
The applicants’ linguistic abilities were likewise assessed on the basis of the certificates provided, as well as during the interviews with questions and answers in both official languages of the Court.
The Selection Body decided to recommend 5 (five) applicants – in order of preference and after a secret voting had taken place – to the President of the Republic of Cyprus for consideration and final decision.
The President of the Republic of Cyprus made the final decision by nominating 3 (three) applicants, with no deviation from the order of recommendation set out by the Selection Body.
All 3 (three) candidates satisfied the requirements of Article 21 of the European Convention on Human Rights either as regards being appointable to high judicial office or be jurisconsults of recognized competence. One of the candidates was unanimously assessed to be a jurisconsult of recognized competence.
It is also necessary to underline that – as mentioned beforehand – the national Selection Body included in its composition the President of the Supreme Constitutional Court, the Attorney General of the Republic of Cyprus and the President of the Cyprus Bar Association, with all of them being members of the selection panel for appointments to the Supreme Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court.
It has, therefore, been the clear and unanimous conclusion of the Selection Body, including the above-named officials, that in accordance to national law and selection criteria, that two candidates are clearly appointable to perform the highest of judicial functions in Cyprus.
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Name: EFREM, Elena
Gender: female
Date and place of birth: 20 February 1969 in Nicosia, Cyprus
Nationality: Cypriot
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Judicial Service, Supreme Court – Republic of Cyprus (1997 until present)
Junior and Senior School Board of Governors – Member (2009 –2011)
During that time, I served as the Chairperson on the Senior School Committee and the Teachers’ Provident Fund Committee. This invaluable experience granted me an insider’s view on the establishment and development of a school to the highest academic standards. It has also enhanced my leading, organisational and communication skills.
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Language |
Greek |
English |
French |
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Reading |
Fluent |
Fluent |
Good |
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Fluent |
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School and higher education |
Private tuition (ongoing) |
In my 27-year tenure as a Judge, upholding fundamental human rights has been paramount. I've presided over diverse cases where human rights issues emerged, often influencing the case's outcome. Addressing these issues entails a comprehensive analysis of international and European human rights instruments and caselaw. Some cases even necessitate the establishment of new legal principles within national caselaw. As a Supreme Court Judge, considerations of human rights, particularly in Prerogative Orders applications, remain prominent. Given the dynamic nature of human rights, the courts must continually adapt to society's evolving values, ensuring that caselaw progresses to safeguard human rights across all aspects of life for all, especially vulnerable groups. This commitment reflects my enduring dedication to the ever-evolving landscape of human rights jurisprudence.
Yes, I confirm
Name: MAVRONICOLA, Natasa
Gender: female
Date and place of birth: 21 September 1985 in Nicosia, Cyprus
Nationality: Cypriot
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Activities as Legal Academic
Education & Research Posts (permanent and full-time)
Education & Research Posts (Part-Time or Visiting)
Research Community Activities
Activities as Legal Practitioner
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Knowledge Exchange – Selected activities
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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:
[Total publications: 2 books, 24 articles and book chapters, 10 blog posts, 15 reports]
Books
Articles/book chapters
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Greek |
Fluent |
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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 |
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Education |
Yes, I confirm
Yes, I confirm
Name: PAPANTONIOU, Margarita
Gender: female
Date and place of birth: 23 May 1984 in Nicosia, Cyprus
Nationality: Cypriot
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 ground breaking 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 organisation 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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Conferences and presentations
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Greek (Please specify) |
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– English |
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– French |
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.