Cyprus was a British colony until 1960, when the island became an independent republic. Until independence the legal system was based on the English legal system. The laws enacted for the colony applied to Cyprus the principles of common law and equity. Many of those laws are still in force today.
After independence in 1960 the English legal system was largely preserved. The laws applicable are the following:
- The Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus
- The laws retained in force by virtue of Article 188 of the Constitution
- The principles of Common Law and Equity
- The Laws enacted by the House of Representatives.
Following the accession of The Republic of Cyprus to the European Union in 2004, the Constitution was amended so that European law has supremacy over the Constitution and national legislation.