Cyprus Urges EU to Tighten Criteria for Syrians Seeking International Protection

Cyprus Advocates for Designating Syria as a Safe Country of Origin

Cyprus has urged the EU authorities to classify Syria as a safe country of origin, a move that would make it more difficult for Syrians to obtain international protection in Cyprus and elsewhere in the bloc.

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The call was made by Cyprus’s Minister of Interior Constantinos Ioannou, during a meeting with the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson. Minister Ioannou expressed deep concern about the migration flows from Syria, citing the significant influx of undocumented migrants due to the country’s proximity to Syria.

By designating Syria as a safe country of origin, Cyprus hopes to be able to return Syrians who do not hold the required documents to remain in the country. Minister Ioannou emphasized that this categorization would help end irregular migration and make space for those in need of protection.

However, Commissioner Johansson noted that changing the status of a country for migration purposes is a complex process and that the matter will continue to be discussed before any measures are taken. She also stressed the importance of EU countries working together to manage irregular migration flows.

To address irregular migration, Cyprus has implemented various measures, which have reportedly proven to be effective. Minister Ioannou revealed that the stricter measures led to a 50% drop in migrant arrivals in 2023 compared to 2022, with the most significant decrease seen in arrivals from African countries – a reduction of 60%.

Due to growing migration concerns, the EU has reached an agreement to reform its asylum and migration policy. The agreement includes five regulations that outline how asylum and migration flows will be shared among EU member states. These proposals cover screening, Eurodac, asylum procedures, asylum migration management, and crisis and force majeure.

The agreement between MEPs and national governments now needs to be formally adopted to become law. This step reflects the ongoing efforts within the EU to address migration and asylum challenges and to create a more coordinated approach among its member states.