Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus has a total of 200,000 legal migrants, Migration Deputy Minister Nicholas Ioannides said on Thursday during a meeting of the House interior committee. He also said 30,000 people are currently in receipt of international asylum, while around 13,500 asylum applications remain pending.
Irregular migration and returns
Ioannides said 12,029 irregular migrants departed Cyprus last year, placing the ratio of arrivals to departures at around one to five. He added that irregular arrivals have decreased by 92 per cent since 2022.
He said the government’s central goal is to turn migration from what he described as a problem of previously uncontrolled flows into a solution by reducing illegal flows, increasing returns, and emphasising the developmental role of migration.
Policy framework and legal changes
Ioannides said the protection of human rights remains at the core of his deputy ministry’s policy. He added that the European Union’s migration pact largely reflects Cyprus’ policies by providing protection to those entitled to it while safeguarding the interests of frontline states such as the Republic of Cyprus.
He also said Cyprus has recently amended its law on refugees to allow asylum to be revoked in cases of delinquent behaviour, in accordance with criteria set by international and European law.
Reception and detention capacity
Ioannides said upgrades to the Pournara reception centre were fully funded by the European Union. He added that, together with the migrant detention centre in Limnes, Cyprus’ capacity for returns has increased sixfold.
Syrian nationals
On Syrian nationals, Ioannides said more than 5,200 Syrians have withdrawn their asylum applications or renounced their asylum status, and that most of them have returned to their country of origin.
He added that nearly 2,000 asylum applications submitted by Syrian nationals have been rejected, after noting that the regime led by Bashar al-Assad was overthrown almost 20 months ago.
Ioannides also told MPs about a new scheme under which Syrian nationals can receive cash payments from the Cypriot government if they renounce their asylum status and return to their country of origin.
