MPs outraged by attempt to “push through” airport fine-check system via supplementary budget

Members of the parliamentary finance committee criticised the fact that the 2025 supplementary budget once again includes around €4 million for a system to check unpaid fines at airports — the so-called “photo-radar list”, which, they say, the police are promoting without legal grounds.

AKEL MP Aristos Damianou reminded that the police are already stopping passengers over unpaid fines without having explicit legal authorisation. He stressed that the parliamentary legal affairs committee had previously unanimously refused to approve funding for this system, and the attempt to reintroduce the amount through an amending budget looks like bypassing the will of parliament. According to him, there are reasons to believe that the system is already operating “in the shadows”, although the parliament has not given formal approval, raising questions about compliance with financial discipline.

The meeting also raised the issue of the photo-tag system — traffic cameras that record violations and automatically transmit data to a private company for fine processing. MPs demanded clarifications on why additional funds are again being requested, what the real cost of contractor services is, how transparent these expenses are, and whether the growing number of complaints will lead to extra pressure on state authorities.

The committee requested detailed financial information, copies of contracts and clarifications from the relevant ministries, as well as clarification on the timing of the next supplementary budget before considering new appropriations for the controversial systems.