Changes in Cyprus’ Approach to Syrian Migrants
In a significant shift in policy, Cyprus has decided to alter the way it handles incoming Syrian migrants. Loizos Hadjivasiliou, the permanent secretary of the interior ministry, has confirmed that Syrian migrants will no longer receive stipends or have their asylum applications processed immediately upon arrival. Instead, they will be accommodated in designated reception facilities.
The Kophinou reception centre is set to be the initial housing location for these individuals. However, with the anticipation of the center reaching capacity, arrangements have been made to utilize Pournara in Kokkinotrimithia as an overflow facility. Despite the cessation of financial aid, Hadjivasiliou assured that the migrants would be provided with food during their stay.
Asylum applications from Syrian nationals will still be accepted by the Cypriot government, but they will not be reviewed until the EU’s maximum time limit of 21 months is reached. This delay is a departure from previous practices where asylum seekers would be integrated into the community and granted subsidiary protection status due to Syria’s classification as an unsafe country.
The underlying strategy behind this policy change is to afford Cyprus time to advocate for certain regions within Syria to be recognized as safe by the EU. This would potentially enable Cyprus to repatriate Syrian migrants back to those areas. Hadjivasiliou acknowledged the dual purpose of this approach, which includes creating a deterrent by introducing uncertainty for those considering Cyprus as a destination.
President Nikos Christodoulides echoed the gravity of these decisions, emphasizing their legality and the necessity to protect Cypriot interests. He also hinted at the upcoming informal European Council in Brussels as a venue for further discussion and potential decision-making on the matter.
Earlier efforts by Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou focused on deterring sub-Saharan migrants from coming to Cyprus. It appears that these efforts are now being extended to migrants from the Middle East, reflecting a broader campaign to manage migration flows into the country.
The latest boat carrying 22 migrants arrived on Sunday and will be subject to these new governmental directives, marking a new chapter in Cyprus’s migration policy.
