Cyprus calls on EU to reconsider Syrian migration policy due to growing number of refugees
The country said it has limited resources to accept further migrants
Cyprus is calling on the European Union to review its migration policy due to the growing number of Syrian refugees entering the island.
This is reported by Reuters.
Nicosia has called for the recognition of some areas of Syria as safe for repatriation. The Minister of the Interior of Cyprus, Constantinos Ioannou, emphasizes the need to start discussions on revising the EU's policy towards Syria, stressing the strategic importance of this issue for the country.
Minister Ioannou identifies several key aspects that he believes are important to include in the discussion. While noting the importance of discussing Syria's status and the possibility of refugee return, he also expresses the need to better support Lebanon, which is bearing a heavy burden in hosting Syrian refugees. The Minister refers to the report of the European Union Asylum Agency, which indicates that there is no real risk to civilians in some Syrian provinces.
Cyprus emphasizes that despite expanding its capacity to receive refugees, it is important that EU partners review their policies. Minister Ioannou indicates that the arrival of Syrian refugees on the island is growing rapidly, which is increasing the strain on resources. Ioannou expressed fears that Cyprus could become an even bigger landing point for migrants, as the Turkish route to the Greek islands was closed as part of the EU's 2016 deal with Ankara.
Noting the sharp rise in asylum applications in Cyprus, he emphasizes the need to discuss and develop strategies to address this challenge. The idea of creating "safe zones" outside the EU and proposals to support Lebanon are part of his proposals to respond to this complex migration challenge. The Cypriot government hopes that a joint discussion on these issues at the EU level will help to find appropriate and effective solutions for all parties, while the refugee situation may be further deteriorating as a result of the conflict in Gaza and possible large population movements in the region.
