Filenews 6 February 2025 - by Theodora Nicolaou
The Republic of Cyprus ranks first among EU Member States in relation to the ratio of departures to arrivals of migrants, which in 2024 amounted to 179%. Specifically, last year, 10,941 people departed from Cyprus, while a total of 6,102 asylum seekers arrived. Meanwhile, after the fall of the Assad regime, a total of 1367 Syrians have withdrawn their asylum applications since December 9, 2024.
These data were presented today at a joint press conference hosted by the Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection, Nikolas Ioannides and the Minister of Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou.
In his statement, the Ministry of Migration referred to an important work that has been done in addressing and managing the migration issue in 2024, initially by the Ministry of Interior, as the competent authority, and later by the Deputy Ministry of Migration.
For 2024, according to him, the voluntary return scheme was further strengthened with a financial incentive, provided by the EU, and implementation of the relocation mechanism. "Specifically, in 2024, 8213 third-country nationals were repatriated through the programme. It is noted that in 2022, a total of 4636 people had been repatriated through the same program. From the beginning of our administration until 31/12/2024, a total of 18055 third-country nationals have departed from the Republic of Cyprus. This includes 977 nationals who have joined and departed through FRONTEX's EURP (European Reintegration Programme) and 2348 nationals who have departed at their own expense. Regarding the number of relocations, according to the Asylum Service, 2517 people have been relocated to other Member States from 01/03/2023 until 31/12/2024."
As the Deputy Minister noted, "an important role in the intensification of deportations and voluntary departures of illegally staying third-country nationals was also played by the strengthening of the staffing of the Aliens and Immigration Service of the Cyprus Police. In addition, in 2024, FRONTEX's joint forced-return flights, in which the Cyprus Police participated, doubled compared to the same period in 2022. Specifically, from 8 flights in 2022, the Republic of Cyprus participated in 16 such flights in 2024."
As a result, the total departures for 2024, including deportations, voluntary returns and relocations, amounted to 10,941 people. "In combination with the significant reduction in irregular arrivals and the reduction in the number of new asylum applications, due to the measures taken by the Government since the beginning of its investiture, the Republic of Cyprus ranks first among EU Member States in the ratio of departures to arrivals, with 179%."
90% reduction in the number of residents at "Pournara"
The effectiveness of the measures taken by the Government since taking office -as he said-, is also shown in the significant decrease recorded in the number of new admissions to the "Pournara" First Reception Center in 2024 compared to 2022. Specifically, the number of residents at the "Pournara" First Reception Center was drastically reduced by 90%, from 3,145 people (highest number of residents in 2022) to just 274 (lowest number of residents in 2024). It is noted that on 31/12/2024 the number of residents was 359.
1367 withdrawals of asylum applications by Syrians after the fall of Assad
The Deputy Minister of Migration pointed out that the numbers of departures are expected to increase further, due to the significant flow of Syrian nationals who come to the offices of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, after the fall of the Assad regime, to withdraw the applications for international protection they had submitted or to revoke the refugee and/or subsidiary protection status granted to them.
"From December 9, 2024 onwards, we have an average of 40 requests per day from Syrians to withdraw their application or revoke their status. Specifically, from December 9, 2024 to January 31, 2025, 1367 Syrian nationals have expressed their intention and desire to be repatriated. As a result, 944 withdrew their applications for international protection, 11 renounced their refugee status and 412 revoked their subsidiary protection status. Of these, 755 have already left Cyprus."
According to Mr. Ioannidis, "although the situation in Syria is still fluid, we believe that as time goes by and if stability is achieved in the country, the number of people who will attempt to be repatriated will increase. Some had already done so privately from the early days."
From the beginning, he said, "instructions were given for the creation of special teams at the Deputy Ministry in order to facilitate Syrians who wish to be repatriated. These persons are included in the voluntary return scheme, in order to receive the sponsorship of the European Union together with the air ticket. It is worth pointing out, however, that forced return to Syria is not possible until there is stability and the conditions prevailing in the country are clarified, so that a decision can be taken at European Union level. This discussion has already started at EU level, while the flow of Syrians from our country back to their homeland has aroused the interest of our European partners who asked to be informed about our handling of the issue."
19,900 asylum applications pending
Today, according to the competent Deputy Minister, a total of 19,900 are pending, while in March 2023, when the Government took over, about 34,000 were outstanding. In the last 10 years, about 18,000 have been granted protection status, most of whom are Syrians.
Regarding the National Strategy for the integration of these permanent residents, as he said, it will be ready by the end of the first half of 2025. "The strategy, among other things, aims at decentralization, their distribution into geographical spaces in order to deal with the overconcentration observed in some areas. This will also relieve the burden on schools. By the end of 2025 it will start to be implemented and early 2026 it will also be able to address the issue of education," he added.
The measures that have brought about an improvement in the situation
On his part, the Interior Minister referred to the suffocating pressure that Cyprus, like other EU states in the Eastern Mediterranean, was under due to the disproportionately massive flows of irregular migrants. Indicatively, the Minister noted the record number of asylum applications (21,565) recorded in 2022, as well as the large number of persons arriving in 2022 (17,280), saying that 95% of them arrive through the Green Line from sub-Saharan African countries. At the same time, the number of residents at the "Pournara" Center was three times its capacity at the time.
These facts, Mr. Ioannou said, "imposed the holistic intervention of the Government and, from the outset, a new strategy was adopted based on four central pillars and dozens of individual actions that approached the issue at all levels. The measures taken focused on reducing arrivals, speeding up application procedures, improving infrastructure and increasing the number of returns."
Enumerating the measures implemented, the Minister of Interior pointed out the démarches made to Turkey through diplomatic channels, in cooperation with the European Commission, to improve the degree of control reaching Cyprus through Istanbul Airport, as well as the information campaign conducted in the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa on the realities prevailing on the island in relation to irregular migrants.
In addition, the Minister referred to the intensification of controls in workplaces and in the community to identify illegal immigrants, as well as the immediate cutting of benefits for persons whose application is permanently rejected.
At the same time, aiming to reduce the processing time of asylum applications, the Asylum Service was strengthened with additional staff, resulting in the shortening of the processing time of applications from 12-24 months to a period of one to three months and, on the other hand, the processing of a significant number of pending applications.
Speaking about the field of returns, the Minister referred to the revision of the voluntary return program and the inclusion in it of a financial incentive ranging from €1,000 to €1,500. The result of the Government's actions, he continued, was the multiplication of persons who left our country in 2023 and 2024 compared to 2022. "For the first time in the history of migration in Cyprus, more people are leaving than are coming. I am very pleased that we have also received praise from European Union officials for these actions, especially with regard to returns. Commissioner Johansson referred to Cyprus as an example to follow, as did the Vice-President of the European Commission who described Cyprus as a champion in returns," Ioannou stressed.
Reversing the negative image – "No room for complacency"
All the measures taken resulted in the reversal of the negative image on migration, the Minister of Interior explained. "We achieved our initial target of reducing the number of asylum seekers by 69% between 2022 and 2024. Specifically, the decrease in African applicants exceeded 85% compared to 2022, while the increased arrivals by sea of Syrian nationals, which were recorded especially after the geopolitical developments in our neighbourhood, were effectively addressed with the decision to suspend the examination of applications and, from May onwards, arrivals via sea routes are zero", the Minister characteristically stated. In this context, as Mr. Ioannou noted, "lower arrivals contributed to better management of the reception system and helped reduce the time taken to complete the examination of asylum applications to three months or even one for specific categories of applicants."
Concluding, the Minister of Interior reiterated the Government's commitment to the goal of keeping the situation under control, stressing that "there is no room for complacency or celebration on migration, given the volatile situation prevailing in our region."
At the end of 2025, the Accommodation Center in the Lakes is completed
Mr. Ioannides stressed that "the Republic of Cyprus has certain possibilities in relation to hosting migrants, which, if exceeded, can create a serious problem for the economy, society, health and public order."
At the same time, efforts are focused on ensuring decent living conditions for asylum seekers, through the creation of new infrastructure, as well as the upgrading of existing ones through co-financing from European funds, such as the substantial upgrade of the Pournara First Reception Center, the completion of which is expected in 2025.
The Lakes Accommodation Center, which they visited immediately after the end of the press conference, is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. According to the Deputy Minister, "it will be a model center for temporary accommodation with a capacity of 1,000 or more people. In the same area, the new pre-removal center of the Police is also being built, the operation of which will allow us to increase both the rates and the numbers of repatriations."
