Tuesday, 28 March 2023
The 12th Meeting of the Joint Parliamentary Control Group (JPC) of Europol took place yesterday in Stockholm, as part of the parliamentary dimension of the Swedish Presidency of the European Union (EU).
The head of the Cypriot delegation to the JCC, Mr. Dimitris Demetriou, in his intervention following a speech by EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson, asked whether preventive measures are being taken to address possible migrant flows that may result from the current instability in Libya and Tunisia.
Concerning Cyprus, Mr Demetriou noted that significant progress has been made on the issue of returns of irregular migrants and thanked the Commission and Europol for their contribution to the management of migration flows to Cyprus. Demetriou deplored the systematic channeling of irregular migrants from Turkey, through the occupied territories, to the free areas of the Republic of Cyprus, stressing that as long as the instrumentalisation of the migration issue is not addressed, any measures to arrest traffickers and return irregular migrants will have limited effectiveness.
In response to Mr Demetriou, Commissioner Johansson referred to the efforts made by both the European Commission and the current Swedish Presidency to make progress on the adoption of the New Deal on Immigration and Asylum, as well as efforts to reduce migration flows from Tunisia and Libya.
Recognising that the Republic of Cyprus is under extreme pressure as the Member State receiving the highest number of asylum seekers in proportion to its population, the Commissioner noted that the Action Plan for the Eastern Mediterranean, which is currently being developed, will contribute to reducing migration flows to Cyprus.
In a private discussion with Ms Johansson, Mr. Demetriou pointed out, among other things, that Turkey's refusal to cooperate with the Republic of Cyprus and to implement the Readmission Agreement in relation to Cyprus, at the same time as it receives significant funding from the EU, is a European issue. Demetriou noted that the accession of Cyprus to the Schengen Information System is an important development, especially for the law enforcement authorities in Cyprus.
For her part, Ms De Bolle said that the accession of Cyprus to the Schengen Information System will enhance the security of the entire EU and is expected to have a particularly positive impact on the fight against illegal trafficking of migrants, trafficking in persons, cybercrime and the fight against terrorism.
For her part, Ms De Bolle said that the accession of Cyprus to the Schengen Information System will enhance the security of the entire EU and is expected to have a particularly positive impact on the fight against illegal trafficking of migrants, trafficking in persons, cybercrime and the fight against terrorism.
In a brief meeting with Ms. De Bolle, Mr. Demetriou pointed out, inter alia, that the activities of irregular migrant trafficking rings in Turkey and in the occupied territories of the Republic of Cyprus continue to pose significant challenges for Cyprus. Ms De Bolle informed him of specific efforts being made to address this issue.
(Text as sent by the House of Representatives)
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