Cyprus has seen a 92% decrease in irregular arrivals compared to 2022, according to Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nikolas Ioannidis, in an interview published in the “Sunday Mail” newspaper. Regarding the activities of human traffickers in the occupied areas, he said that “we have videos showing activity in the occupied areas, in which people can be seen guiding them (the migrants) to come.”
At the same time, Mr. Ioannidis noted that Cyprus needs foreign workers to fill positions that cannot be filled by the domestic workforce.
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Mr. Ioannidis referred to the reduction in migration flows, returns, the policy toward Syrians, and the need to address legal immigration as part of the solution to labor shortages.
As he said, the reduction in irregular arrivals is not due to a single measure, but to a combination of actions, including the strengthening of surveillance along the Green Line, the installation of cameras, maritime patrols, the acceleration of asylum application processing, and returns.
“Previously, someone could file an asylum application and remain here for years until it was reviewed,” he said, noting that applications are now reviewed within weeks or a few months.
According to the Deputy Minister, more than 4,000 people have been repatriated or deported since the beginning of 2026. At the same time, pressure on the Pournara Reception and Accommodation Center has decreased significantly, as there are now 142 people staying there, down from more than 3,000 previously.
Mr. Ioannidis also said that the Green Line, which in the past was a major route for irregular arrivals, is no longer used to the same extent, and he cited data that, he said, indicate the activities of smugglers in the occupied areas.
“We also have videos showing movements in the occupied areas, in which people can be seen guiding them to come here,” he said, clarifying that the issue concerns the activities of smugglers and not the profile of the migrants.
Regarding possible cooperation with Turkey to curb the flows, the Deputy Minister said there had been no direct contact, noting that the European Commission had made representations. He also mentioned that Turkey has tightened its own immigration policy.
Referring to Syrians, Mr. Ioannidis said that approximately 5,500 have voluntarily returned to Syria. As he explained, the cases vary, as some withdrew their asylum applications or renounced their protection status, while others had their applications rejected or their protection status revoked.
The Deputy Minister emphasized that difficult living conditions in Syria do not, in and of themselves, constitute grounds for granting asylum.
“Living conditions are difficult, but living conditions do not in themselves constitute a right to asylum,” he said.
At the same time, he noted that Cyprus supports the lifting of EU sanctions against Syria and maintains contacts with Damascus, while cooperating with the International Organization for Migration on the reintegration of returnees.
The Need for Foreign Labor
Mr. Ioannides described the presence of a foreign workforce in Cyprus as “essential,” given the economy’s needs and low unemployment.
“We want to fill positions in sectors that are important for the country’s economy and competitiveness and which cannot be filled by Cypriots,” he said.
As he noted, with unemployment hovering around 4% or lower, Cyprus needs workers from abroad to fill positions in sectors where there is a labor shortage.
“Therefore, it is absolutely essential to have a foreign workforce,” he said.
The Deputy Minister also rejectedthe view that Cyprus applies different immigration policies depending on the economic situation or religion of immigrants, noting that Egyptians, Syrians, and Muslims are already working in the country.
Integration and Digitization
Mr. Ioannidis also referred to the need for better integration of legally residing immigrants through learning the Greek language, skill development, and familiarity with Cyprus’s institutions and way of life.
He also said that the government aims to handle legal immigration with less bureaucracy and more digitization, as the goal is for the majority of procedures related to legal immigration to be processed electronically by the end of 2027.
Referring to the government’s policy as a whole, he said the goal is to change perceptions about immigration. “We want to turn immigration into a solution,” he said.
“Most immigrants are here to work. They abide by the law, contribute to society, and contribute to the economy,” he said.
The Deputy Minister also said that Cyprus will continue to support Ukrainians in the country, with the goal of enabling those who remain after the end of temporary protection to gradually transition to other forms of legal residence, including through work-related permits.
Finally, he described the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum as important for frontline states, noting that Cyprus has faced disproportionate pressure from migration flows.
Source: CNA
