The Cyprus Times revealed that MEP Feidias Panayiotou’s €2,300 rental, publicly described as an office, is officially a residential property with strict clauses forbidding frequent visitors.
Residential property, not office
The lease clearly states the property is for “residential purposes only,” directly contradicting Panayiotou’s claims of using it as a working office for his team. The residence includes four bedrooms, a pool, and a garden in Kato Polemidia, Limassol.
Payment and transparency questions
Panayiotou has publicly stated he pays €700 while €1,600 is covered by the European Parliament, but no documentation supports this breakdown. The contract makes no mention of office use, collaborators, or EU-related activities.
He justified his €700 contribution by saying the space is also used for podcast production, which he claims has been communicated to the European Parliament services.
The contract does not help, as it does not make any mention of professional use. If it were truly an “office,” one would expect at least one clause allowing use as a workplace. Instead, there are clauses that clearly indicate it is a home, not an “office.”
There is also a matter concerning the authorities of the Republic of Cyprus. For a space to operate as a professional workplace, it must meet specific requirements. Which public service checked whether the space is suitable for staff? Are employment contracts in place for that staff, and are social security contributions being paid?
He must give a clear answer to the fundamental political issue: how public money is protected when the same property is presented at times as an “office” and at other times, in the contract, as a “home.”
Contract restrictions
- Clause 9(b): Property exclusively for residential use.
- Clause 9(c): Public access prohibited. Frequent visits by collaborators are not allowed, making it impossible to function as a standard office.
- Clause 5(iii): €100 daily fine for late payment beyond 10 days.
- Clause 8(b): Landlord can terminate lease with two months’ notice without cause.
EU funds usage
The European Parliament provides €4,950 monthly for operational expenses like office rent, supplies, and administrative activities. The lease raises concerns whether funds are used for private comfort rather than official parliamentary work.
Calls for transparency
Critics demand Panayiotou release:
- Lease agreement and correspondence with EU authorities.
- Bank records showing rent payments.
- Justification for declaring a residential property as a professional office.
The situation raises serious questions about public fund protection, contractual compliance, and political accountability.
Source: Cyprus Times
Also read: Disabled groups criticise Fidias Panayiotou apology
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