Nicosia, Cyprus. The justice ministry and the deputy ministry of migration on Thursday pledged to improve the efficiency of deportations of migrants residing illegally in Cyprus. The two ministries said they have created a working group to examine cases of irregular migrants who refuse to leave voluntarily.
Working group and government stance
In separate statements, the ministries said the working group will examine individual cases and promote procedures to expedite the return of third-country nationals who are not legally permitted to remain in the Republic.
Government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining the decline in arrivals and the rise in deportations of undocumented migrants, saying close coordination between authorities was essential to sustaining this trend.
Coordination between authorities
The justice ministry said a meeting had already been held at its premises to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation among the authorities involved in return procedures, including the two ministries, the Cyprus police and other relevant services.
The deputy migration ministry said multiple authorities are involved at different stages of the deportation process, which can sometimes lead to gaps in information. It said the new working group was established to improve communication and coordination.
Legal framework and reported focus
According to the justice ministry, the group’s main objective is to ensure the effective execution of return procedures in compliance with national legislation and the international obligations of the Republic.
Philenews reported earlier on Thursday that the group would focus on cases where migrants have challenged detention or deportation orders in court but remain in the country after their appeals have been rejected.
How do you think improved coordination among authorities could affect the deportation process in Cyprus?
