Cabinet on Friday approved a bill amendment requiring people involved in civil disputes worth up to €10,000 to attend a mandatory mediation session before filing a lawsuit in court.

The move is part of efforts to reduce the number of court cases, cut costs, and save time, Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis said after the cabinet meeting.

He explained that mediation is the first step, followed by a new arbitration law currently being drafted.

“This measure, as is evident, will greatly help reduce the number of lawsuits filed and the time required to resolve cases. We believe that businesses and the general public, who previously had to take significant or minor disputes to court, will now have the opportunity to resolve such disputes through this mediation process,” the minister added.

This approach, he highlighted, avoids additional costs and lengthy judicial procedures. He urged the public to embrace the mediation institution, which, as he stressed, is now mandatory for civil disputes up to €10,000.

The decision essentially follows a previous announcement by President Nikos Christodoulides to promote alternative dispute resolution methods.