Nicosia, Cyprus. A bill amending the Refugee Law is entering its final stage before a vote after the House interior committee completed its examination, aiming to fully align Cyprus with the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum ahead of its June 2026 start.
Bill moves to House plenary
Deputy Minister for Migration Nicolas Ioannides described the committee discussion as highly constructive and said the legislation is critical because it incorporates the new European pact into Cyprus’ legal order, which enters into force on June 12, 2026.
He said the Republic must be ready by then to implement the new framework and thanked the House interior committee for its cooperation, noting the bill’s length and the pre-election period. He said the legislation will now be forwarded to the House plenum for a vote.
Key provisions and impact for Cyprus
Ioannides said the bill provides for stricter border controls, faster asylum procedures and a comprehensive, unified and coherent migration framework intended to help the European Union respond effectively and avoid being caught unprepared as happened a decade ago.
He said the new framework is particularly important for Cyprus as a frontline state and will help prevent mass inflows, speed up asylum procedures and increase returns.
Funding and solidarity mechanism
Ioannides said more than 60 per cent of migration-related costs are co-financed by the European Union, while the upgrading and construction of reception centres is funded at a rate of 90 to 100 per cent.
He said Cyprus will benefit from the solidarity mechanism, including the relocation of asylum seekers to other member states, financial support and technical assistance from the European Commission.
Committee review and timing
House interior committee chairman Akel MP Aristos Damianou said the bill, which runs to around 250 pages, was examined in two lengthy sessions and that the article-by-article discussion has been completed.
He said that in consultation with the House president, the bill will be brought before the plenary on April 23, the day of parliament’s self-dissolution.
What do you think the bill’s proposed changes will mean for asylum procedures in Cyprus?
