Decision makers must tackle the migration crisis as whole, focusing on the reasons that lead people to migrate, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Sunday.
Speaking to the media from Rome, where he is participating in the International Conference on Migration and Development, the president emphasised the importance of Cyprus presence at this summit.
This meeting, bringing together key stakeholders from various nations, marks a significant occasion for discussing what the president considers the most crucial aspect in comprehensively addressing the issue of migration its root causes.
These are the underlying factors driving citizens to migrate towards Europe.
Recent examples, such as Italy, where the Italian Prime Minister has taken initiatives with neighbouring countries, present successful models on which to build, the president said.
I believe that an open and honest discussion is crucial to addressing the most important aspect of migration its root causes. We must work together to tackle the underlying issues that lead to this phenomenon, he noted.
The president highlighted the importance of the presence of European and international economic organisations during the discussions. He said the aim is to explore how they can support these countries and help build the necessary infrastructure to put an end to these migratory flows.
The President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, along with heads of states and governments from countries with the largest numbers of migrants participated in the conference.
The Cypriot president attended the conference upon the invitation of the Prime Minister of Italy.
According to Eurostat, in April 2022, 54,145 third-country nationals applied for international protection in EU Member States, an increase of 66 per cent compared to April 2021 when applications reached 32,570.
In Cyprus, about 6 per cent of the population are asylum seekers or persons under protection (asylum) compared to other frontline countries where the figure is 1 per cent and other EU countries where it is lower than 1 per cent.
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