The personal intervention of the President of the Republic to resolve the issue that has arisen with the implementation of the decree on tankers is requested by the Pancypriot Association of Liquid Fuel Tankers, which held a protest event outside the Presidential Palace on Tuesday.
A delegation of the Association submitted a relevant memorandum to the Deputy Government Spokesman, Yiannis Antoniou, who stated that the Government will consider the requests of the Association with a spirit of understanding and will respond as soon as possible. The Association warned that if there is no solution, it will proceed with new mobilizations.
About 50 tankers participated in the protest march. The march started from the GSP parking lot and ended outside the Presidential Palace.
In the memorandum, the Association states that a problem has been created “by the de facto decision of the Minister of Transport to paralyze and immobilize the tankers”, noting that it is necessary to establish a transitional adjustment period.
Specifically, the Association requests the issuance of an amending decree with a reasonable transitional period, the suspension of the enforcement of the measures until the end of the transitional period, the establishment of a technical working group with the participation of the involved bodies and the determination of a realistic implementation schedule.
It is added that the risk to the viability of service stations and to the uninterrupted delivery and supply of oil to the consumer public are, according to the Association, factors that must be taken very seriously and ensured by the state and government.
“We will give the memorandum to the President of the Republic. What I can convey to you is that the PtD will see it. If there is a way to find a solution that helps you deal with the problem and, at the same time, ensure the issue of security, which is very important to us, then I think we will be very close to reaching a situation of mutual benefit”, said the Deputy Government Spokesman, Yiannis Antoniou, addressing the protesters outside the Presidential Palace.
“Anything that can be done, we will look at it with a spirit of understanding. You will have our answer as soon as possible”, he concluded.
“A memorandum was given today to the President of the Republic of Cyprus regarding the issue of last year’s decree of the Minister, dated 08/08/2025, which refers to the dangerous goods transported by our tankers”, said the President of the Pancypriot Association of Liquid Fuels Storekeepers, Savvas Prokopiou.
“It is a matter that should have been settled with some timetable. We do not disclaim any responsibility for security,” he said
He noted that “the Minister’s decree must be amended and give us a timetable for some checks to be carried out” in order to examine “which tankers can circulate”.
As he said, “the majority of tankers with some minor modifications will be able to circulate on the basis of European directives”.
Referring to the tankers that need to be replaced, he said that “the state itself must contribute through subsidies to make this replacement”.
At the same time, he emphasized that “we have no qualms about implementing the decree, but a timetable is needed”.
In relation to the meeting with the Deputy Government Representative, he said that “I believe Mr. Giannis Antoniou has fully understood the problem, he understands that it takes time to implement the decree. As he told us, he will be back very soon.”
Asked when he expects an answer from the Government, he estimated that “it won’t be more than a week”.
At the same time, he warned that “if necessary we will proceed with other mobilizations, which we avoid”.
“We want a solution, which is very easy when the President of the Republic of Cyprus wants it. Mr. Vafeadis should also be released from the decree through a small amendment”, he added.
Answering a question as to whether the ADR legislation has been in force since 2008, Savvas Prokopiou stated that “the legislation exists” and that “meetings are held with the Ministry of Transport at regular intervals”.
As he said, “since 2011 it had been decided that any tanker re-registering with the Department of Road Transport would be ADR-compliant”, adding that this “never happened”.
“So, we see that there is also a share of responsibility in some others, because if it was done then gradually, little by little, this regulation would be implemented,” he continued.
He added that “there were also exceptions through the European directive and legislation”, noting that “today, in Greece, until June 30, 2027 there are these exceptions and derogations”.
According to Mr. Prokopiou, “there is an intention from the Greek government, as well as from the governments of the member states of the European Union, to extend the derogations and exceptions until the tankers that do not meet the prescribed specifications are replaced”.
“Why should we be an exception?” he asked in conclusion.
Source: KYPE