The Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection presents the Cyprus Presidency's achievements and the results of the government's migration policy

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Mr. Ioannides indicated that in the six months of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, Cyprus contributed to: 

  • the conclusion of negotiations on the new Returns Regulation as the most important and politically demanding achievement of the Cyprus Presidency. 
  • strengthening the CEAS through the adoption of the first common EU list of safe countries of origin and the revision of the concept of a safe third country. 
  • the political coordination of discussions on the future of temporary protection for people displaced from Ukraine.
  • the promotion and adoption of a European Action Plan on returns to Syria.
  • restrictive visa measures imposed on Somalia to send a clear message that cooperation on readmission is an integral part of the Union's relations with third countries.
  • enhanced coordination among member states and promotion of expertise exchange and practical solutions ahead of the new European framework on migration and asylum through a number of important high-level meetings.

Turning into the results of the Cyprus government migration policy during the first half of 2026, Mr. Ioannides remarked that Cyprus:

  • moved from the passive management of arrivals to the decisive and firm management of migration flows.
  • through a stable and coherent policy blending surveillance of the maritime borders and the Green Line, cooperation with countries of transit and origin, action against migrant smuggling networks and measures to prevent the abuse of the asylum system, made irregular arrivals fall by 92% between the first half of 2022 and the first half of 2026.
  • implemented the revised Assisted Voluntary Return Scheme for Families to Syria, open until end of October 2026, and will be carrying out forced returns of Syrians that do not legally qualify to reside in Cyprus.
  • returned 5,031 third country nationals from January till 30 July 2026.
  • enacted the new Refugees Law 2026, fully aligning Cyprus legislation on international protection with the European legal framework on asylum.
  • will gradually digitalise the Deputy Ministry's services as part of the government's management of legal migration.
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