Design of an environmental inspection agency for effective enforcement in Cyprus

Abstract

Several international networks for environmental enforcement propose different principles for application by environmental inspection authorities. There have been, also, empirical studies about the performance of environmental inspection systems (both agencies and processes), mainly per environmental medium (air, soil and water). Still, a methodological framework is needed, so as to design new inspecting bodies or to upgrade existing ones. Cyprus, a new Member State of the European Union, is currently in the process of establishing an environmental inspection agency that will monitor and enforce compliance with environmental legislation. This paper focuses on the institutional structure; the design of the Inspection Agency that would perform inspection in Cyprus. The objective of the research1 is to develop a methodological framework for designing an Environmental Agency applicable to Cyprus as a case study.