Filenews 15 January 2025
In 2024, departures of irregular migrants exceeded 10,000 (either through voluntary returns, deportations, or relocations to other European countries), placing Cyprus in first place among the 27 EU member states in the ratio of departures to arrivals, said the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nicolas Ioannides, in his speech at the DIKO Conference "Migration – Realities".
Mr. Ioannidis said that for the same period, the new asylum applications submitted to the Asylum Service of the Deputy Ministry were less than 7,000, specifically 6,769, recording a decrease of 41% compared to the applications submitted in 2023, while it is about 1/3 compared to the applications received in 2022.
He said that this number is the lowest since 2017, while in 2024, as he said, "we had fewer asylum applications even than during the pandemic" and added that "this enables pending applications for international protection to be examined faster and reduces the burden created on the Republic of Cyprus by thousands of applications submitted abusively".
He also said that in the second half of 2024, the Migration Department of the Deputy Ministry, despite serious understaffing problems, issued more than 48,000 immigration permits of various categories.
"In addition, we found solutions regarding the provision of facilities to Lebanese nationals, due to the war in the neighbouring country, and we proceeded with actions to facilitate activities that have and will bring economic benefit to the Republic," he added.
An important achievement, according to the Deputy Minister of Migration, has been the elimination of flows by sea in recent months due to increased surveillance, but also cooperation with neighbouring states, as well as European and international authorities. At the same time, he said that irregular crossings from Turkey and the occupied territories through the Green Line have been drastically reduced, while "our policies aim to ensure that the Green Line does not become a gateway for smugglers."
He said cracking down on migrant smuggling networks was "a key pillar of our strategy".
He also said that recent developments in Syria, "although the situation in the country still remains fluid, have created a significant flow of Syrian nationals who have withdrawn their applications for international protection, while others have renounced their refugee and/or subsidiary protection status as they intend to be repatriated."
Specifically, Ioannides said that as of 09/12/2024, more than 900 Syrians have withdrawn applications/withdrawn status, while about 300 have already departed from Cyprus, adding that additional flights are also planned to facilitate the repatriation of Syrian nationals.
He also said that the Government has invested in the creation of new infrastructure, as well as in the upgrading of existing ones through co-financing from European funds, which ensure decent living conditions for asylum seekers.
He said that the Accommodation Center in Limnes, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025, will be a model center for temporary accommodation with a capacity of 1,000 or more people, while the substantial upgrade of the Pournara First Reception Center is also considered important.
Mr. Ioannidis said that the migration issue is one of the biggest challenges facing our country, but also the whole of Europe.
At the same time, he said that it is also an issue that "touches on our principles and values, such as solidarity, respect for human rights and our international obligations, but at the same time the protection of social cohesion, as well as public order and security."
Mentioning that the establishment of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection in 2024 by the Christodoulides Government was a turning point, Mr. Ioannides said that in the first six months of operation of the Deputy Ministry, and building on the "excellent work" that had already been done by the Ministry of Interior since the beginning of the assumption of government by the current Government, "We have made significant progress."
"In the six months that I have been at the helm of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, we have set as a priority the organization and streamlining of procedures, the enhancement of transparency and accountability, and the promotion of a fair and humane migration policy," he added.
He also said that in addition to the administrative and organizational restructuring of the Deputy Ministry, we also attach particular importance to the rationalization of the legal migration system, as legal migration is an equally crucial pillar of our efforts.
He added that today, the Government of the Republic of Cyprus manages migration through two main policy pillars: tackling irregular migration and improving the legal migration framework.
The Deputy Minister of Migration said that addressing the migration issue requires a collective effort and added that "the Government, in cooperation with political parties, social partners, local government and civil society, is making every effort to effectively manage this challenge."
"It is important to have consensus and cooperation with all parties involved so that we can meaningfully address this complex issue," he added.
Recognizing the importance, but also the dynamics that the proper and effective management of legal migration can give to the economy and development of our country, according to Mr. Ioannidis, "we are working to simplify and digitize procedures in order to better serve the public."
In addition, he said that "we aim to further staff the Migration Department to accelerate the relevant procedures."
He also said that "we have taken measures to protect the rights of migrants working in our country, ensuring that their presence strengthens our economy, while protecting them from abusive practices."
At the same time, he said that in cooperation with other ministries/services, measures are being taken to protect employers from any problematic behaviours of foreign workers.
The Deputy Minister of Migration said that "we also place particular emphasis on the integration of legal immigrants" and added that the aim is "to create an environment conducive to the integration of legal immigrants into Cypriot society".
He said that Cyprus, as an EU member and being a strategic point in the Eastern Mediterranean, is at the forefront of migratory flows and "therefore, the formation of a fairer and more equal common European asylum and migration policy is our key priority."
"We are working intensively to strengthen cooperation with EU Member States, the European Commission and neighbouring Mediterranean countries," he concluded.
N. Papadopoulos: Migration management the best "success story" in Cyprus
The current management of migration is the best "success story" of our country, said DIKO President Nikolas Papadopoulos at the party's conference.
As he said, the migration problem for many years was not managed, until it was completely out of control. Mr. Papadopoulos referred to "outrageous allowance policy, barbed wire, 'border guards'", which not only did not touch the essence of the problem, as he said, but exacerbated it.
Therefore, he welcomed with satisfaction the creation of the Deputy Ministry of Migration, the establishment of which, as he said, shows the determination of the current Government to deal comprehensively and effectively with the migration issue.
"We have seen what good policies can achieve in 20 months," he said, adding that in March 2023 the current government received 30,000 pending asylum applications, 3,500 people were housed in Pournara in deplorable conditions, Cyprus, in proportion to population, had five times more asylum seekers than the next European country, which was Austria. We also had continuous flows from the occupied areas through the green line and the sea.
Today, the DIKO President said, we see a completely different picture, as the EU pushed for agreements to contain migration flows with Turkey and Lebanon and President Christodoulides' visit to Lebanon and the mediation of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Commission for the financial aid package to Lebanon succeeded.
In addition, he noted that the Government engaged in a dissuasive and effective information campaign in the countries of origin, twice as many officials were appointed to examine asylum applications, applications were processed within days, not months and years, with 95% rejected and benefits immediately interrupted upon rejection.
As a result, he continued, since April we have zero arrivals by sea, we have 37% reduced arrivals in general, we have a 75% decrease in asylum applications compared to 2022, a 93% decrease in asylum applications from African countries, describing the information campaign as successful, while adding that in 2024 there were more than 10,000 returns and deportations.
"In absolute numbers, not in proportion to population, Cyprus in 2024 achieved more deportations and returns than the whole of the UK!" he said, adding that for the first time in the history of migration "Pournara" has been emptied.
He noted that if it were not for Syrians, who make up 70% of all applicants, Cyprus would have already returned to migration rates of 15 years ago.
"Cyprus is the only country in the EU that shows a decrease in migratory flows, while the rest of Europe shows an increase," he said, underlining that migration is now manageable and that is why, he noted, it is no coincidence that the Vice-President of the European Commission has stated that Cyprus is an "example of migration management".
Papadopoulos pointed out that proper management must continue, as the new accommodation centers and pre-removal centers must be completed, while, as he said, strict implementation of the law on smugglers and those who incite and profit from migration is required. "And of course, we must encourage Syrian applicants to return home now that the civil war in Syria is over," he added.
In conclusion, he noted that despite the positive course of migration, important risks remain to be taken into account, such as ongoing wars that create uncertainty and may continue to affect migratory flows in the region. "It is therefore more crucial today than ever that our migration policy is effective, immediate and based on the right data," he said, adding that it is for this reason that workshops and forums such as this one are important, "because they will help us continue the 'success story'".
CNA
