in-cyprus 3 January 2025
Cyprus will begin dismantling its controversial border fence next week, following an October assessment by the Immigration Service that found the barrier ineffective at controlling migration flows.
The government’s decision to remove the fence, which was erected during Nicos Nouris’s tenure as minister, comes after migration flows decreased due to other measures, with officials noting the barrier had created more problems than it solved.
The Department of Public Works will begin removing the fence in early next week, working alongside the National Guard. Usable sections of the fence will be repurposed for military camp perimeters and police facilities. Additional unused fencing supplies that were ordered will also be allocated to military installations.
For security reasons, authorities have not disclosed the starting point of the dismantling operation. Local communities west of Nicosia, which were affected by the fence, have supported its removal.
Meanwhile, Deputy Migration Minister Nicholas Ioannides announced that 560 Syrian refugees in Cyprus have withdrawn their asylum applications, expressing intentions to return home due to developments in Syria. He suggested this number could increase if the situation in Syria stabilises.
Ioannides outlined goals for 2025, including further reducing illegal migration and improving legal work permit procedures across various economic sectors. He reported that 18,000 people have been deported since March 2023, with reception centres currently housing 900 individuals—a significant decrease from previous figures.
The minister also disclosed that 21,000 asylum applications are currently pending, with 14,000 of these from Syrian nationals.
