The Council of Ministers is an independent collective Body with independent power.

The Council of Ministers is appointed, under Article 46 of the Constitution, by the President of the Republic and is the main Body for exercising executive power.

According to Article 54 of the Constitution, the Council of Ministers shall exercise executive power over all matters except those expressly conferred by constitutional provision to the President of the Republic or other Political Body.

The executive power exercised by the Council of Ministers, in accordance with Article 54 of the Constitution, includes among others, the following areas:

(a) The general direction and control of the government of the Republic and the direction of general policy;

(b) The direction of foreign affairs as in set out in Article 50 of the Constitution;

(c) The defense and security, including questions thereof as in set out in Article 50;

(d) The co-ordination and supervision of all public services;

(e) The supervision and disposition of property belonging to the Republic in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the law;

(f) Consideration of Bills and the Budget of the Republic to be introduced to the House of Representatives.

According to Article 55 of the Constitution, the President of the Republic convenes the meetings of the Council of Ministers while the preparation of the agenda’s meetings, as stated in Article 56 of the Constitution is undertaken by the President of the Republic at his discretion and is communicated to all Council of Ministers Members prior to such meeting.

The Decisions of the Council of Ministers shall be taken by an absolute majority and usually the meetings of the Council are made under plenary session. Special or Ad Hoc Ministerial Committees entrusted by the plenary of the Council, may be set up to deal with specific matters.

According to Article 57 of the Constitution, if a Decision relates to foreign affairs, defense or security, the President of the Republic has the right of veto and the right to return of such Decision to the Council of Ministers for reconsideration.


Currently in Cyprus there are the following 11 Ministries:

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2. Ministry of Finance
3. Ministry of Interior
4. Ministry of Defence
5. Ministry of Education and Culture
6. Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works
7. Ministry of Energy, Commerce and Industry
8. Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment
9. Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance
10. Ministry of Justice and Public Order
11. Ministry of Health

It is mentioned that, originally, ten Ministries existed in Cyprus. The decision was made within the Transitional Committee meeting, on 17 March 1959, in Nicosia, and attended the last Governor of Cyprus, Sir Hugh Foot, Archbishop Makarios and Dr. Fazil Kucuk. The Ministries were the following:

1. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
2. Ministry of Finance
3. Ministry of Interior
4. Ministry of Defence
5. Ministry of Communications and Public Works
6. Ministry of Commerce and Industry
7. Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources
8. Ministry of Labour
9. Ministry of Justice
10. Ministry of Health