President Christodoulides Announces New Deputy Minister for Migration
In a decisive move to address the escalating migration challenges, President Nikos Christodoulides has declared the appointment of a deputy minister for migration to be a matter of immediate action. This announcement comes as Cyprus intensifies its efforts to manage the influx of new arrivals, particularly from Syria.
During the recent EU Council session, President Christodoulides took the initiative to propose a reassessment of safety designations for parts of Syria. While he refrained from detailing which EU member states are in favor of this proposal, the president emphasized the gravity of the situation for Cyprus. To further demonstrate the country’s proactive stance, Christodoulides is set to visit Lebanon alongside EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on May 2, an initiative originating from Cyprus itself.
The Cypriot government has taken a firm stance on immigration, signaling that it has reached its capacity for accommodating more migrants. As part of this toughened approach, President Christodoulides announced that asylum applications from new Syrian arrivals will be put on hold. These individuals will be placed in camps and prohibited from working, with the government providing food supplies. The overarching goal is to deter future migration to Cyprus.
However, this policy has not been without controversy. Legal experts have voiced concerns, especially as Elam, a far-right party, appeared to endorse Christodoulides’ proposals, raising questions about their alignment on immigration issues.
The establishment of a migration and asylum deputy ministry, approved by Parliament in February, was hailed by Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou as a significant development. Ioannou believes that consolidating services under one department will yield “substantive and practical” benefits. This move is expected to streamline processes for those who
The Ministry of Interior Civil Registry and Migration Department is poised to work closely with the newly appointed deputy minister to ensure that the needs of those who say “I want to move to Cyprus” are balanced with the nation’s capacity to integrate new residents effectively.
