The Cyprus Integrity Forum (CIF), the country’s largest non-profit promoting transparency, marked its 15th anniversary this week with a call for “deeper institutional reform and collective accountability” in 2025. 

Speaking at the organisation’s annual general meeting at the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Keve), CIF president Marios Skandalis described the forum as “the guardian of our collective conscience,” insisting that its work is about systemic change, not slogans. 

“Fifteen years after our foundation,” he said, “we are more mature, stronger and more committed than ever to making a real and practical contribution to transparency across society, business and government, with greater persistence and care.” 

Skandalis underlined that 2025 “is not a year of start-up – it is a year of deepening and institutional consolidation.”  

He said the forum would ramp up monitoring efforts, enhance data analysis and apply pressure for meaningful outcomes both locally and abroad, “not for communication consumption, but for substantive results.” 

Key initiatives for the year ahead include publishing a new Business Ethics Manifesto, launching a ‘business transparency barometer’, and rolling out a national campaign titled Tell the Truth, Stay Safe.  

CIF will also continue work with ministries on embedding integrity audits and implementing clinical audits in the healthcare system. 

Reflecting on 2024, Skandalis noted Cyprus’ three-point rise in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index to 46th place, describing it as progress but warning that “continuous vigilance and action” are needed to sustain improvements. 

The forum’s recent efforts, he said, include supporting the creation of a Single Supervisory Authority and the strengthening of the Financial Sanctions Advisory Committee (SEOK), both of which have helped bolster the country’s credibility. 

He also pointed to CIF’s long-standing push for the ISO 37001 anti-bribery standard, which has now been implemented by the Ministry of Justice.  

Still, he argued that adoption must become mandatory across all sectors. “The suppression of bribery is not an advantage that adds value to businesses,” he said, “but their basic obligation.” 

In the health sector, CIF coordinated a major campaign under the Ministry of Health’s auspices, which culminated in a Health Manifesto centred on effective clinical audits to protect the Gesy system.  

Its principles were recently adopted in the new Patient Advocate framework. 

Education remained a key focus in 2024. At the 60th Meeting of the European Platform of Regulatory Authorities (EPRA), Lefteris Adilinis presented a paper on transparency in media ownership and independence.  

Meanwhile, the forum expanded its outreach to schools through the children’s book Flying Hats, promoting values of honesty and fairness among primary pupils. Over 5,000 copies have already been distributed, with a student competition underway. 

On the business front, Skandalis said CIF had expanded its Business Integrity Forum (BIF), whose members include PwC, Deloitte, Grant Thornton, KPMG, Ancoria Bank, Bank of Cyprus, CDB Bank, Pyrgou Vakis, Kendris, Logicom, NetU and Infocredit.  

These companies, he said, “demonstrate in practice their focus on the principles of business integrity.” 

This year’s BIF programme includes a special publication titled BIF Leaders in Integrity with IMH media group.  

CIF will also invite the 1,000 largest companies in Cyprus to sign a national declaration reaffirming their commitment to transparency. Events scheduled include Leading with Integrity in July, Reclaiming the Meaning of Integrity in September, and AI, Data and Ethics in November. A new ethics-focused newsletter and targeted executive training are also planned. 

International partnerships remain central to CIF’s mission. Skandalis pointed to ongoing collaborations with ACCA, the , the Institute of Business Ethics, Transparency International and others.  

He also announced an upcoming memorandum with the Cyprus Compliance Association and continued work with the Cyprus Fiduciary Association. 

“We want a Cyprus,” he said, “where reporting corruption is encouraged, where state procurement is open and digital, where children learn values such as honesty and fairness as part of their basic education, and where businesses are distinguished for their ethics, not for governance bypasses.” 

Closing the meeting, Skandalis reiterated that combating corruption “is not the job of one agency or individual.”  

To make real progress, he said, “we must participate collectively, focus holistically, act proactively, and ensure any punishment for corruption is exemplary.” 

Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis, Keve’s secretary general Philokypros Rousounides, Independent Authority Against Corruption board member Tatiana Zachariadou, and CGI UK and Ireland president Victoria Penrice attended the event.