French Presidency's initiative to break the deadlock on the European Pact on Immigration and Asylum
The first Informal Council under the French Presidency of Interior Ministers under the French Presidency discussed France's procedural proposal to take the Pact on Immigration and Asylum one step further and break the deadlock in the process.
The Minister of Interior, Mr. Nikos Nouris in his intervention said that Cyprus clearly supports the French initiative, but at the same time clarified that this can be easily implemented if specific key issues are clarified.
In an effort to assist in this direction, Cyprus submitted specific suggestions with the Minister stressing that it is the time for decisions, because Europe is at risk if we take into account that new, additional departure points for migrants may soon emerge.
In an effort to assist in this direction, Cyprus submitted specific suggestions with the Minister stressing that it is the time for decisions, because Europe is at risk if we take into account that new, additional departure points for migrants may soon emerge.
On the issue of the external dimension of migration raised by the French Presidency, Cyprus, through the Minister of Interior, supported the need for active and generous support to third countries to enable the detention of their nationals in their country of origin, with FRONTEX taking an active role in the surveillance of their external borders and preventing outflows.
Mr. Nouris called for this to apply to the case of Turkey, with surveillance extending both to the southern Turkish coast and to the Istanbul airport from which thousands of irregular African migrants depart for Tymbou airport, who, he said, are then forwarded by traffickers to Republic-controlled areas via the Green Line.
In the context of implementing a balanced approach to the issue, the Minister suggested that what was done in the case of Lithuania should apply, such as imposing sanctions on all Turkish airlines that systematically transport irregular migrants to occupied Cyprus.
Cyprus called for the European Commission to hold a dialogue with Turkey to discuss the lack of cooperation with member states on the migration issue, including Cyprus.
The minister said that as Cyprus we unreservedly support the French Presidency's initiative, as well as President Emmanuel Macron's own statement for an agreement which must, however, be based on solidarity and responsibility.
The minister said that Cyprus unreservedly supports the French Presidency's initiative, as well as President Emmanuel Macron's own statement for an agreement which must be based on solidarity and responsibility. "And this solidarity must also include the obligation of Member States to relocate a number of migrants from those states that bear the greatest migratory burden", he said.
Following a previous agreement between the French and Cypriot Interior Ministers, on the sidelines of the Summit, the Cypriot delegation had a meeting with representatives of the French Immigration Service, with whom they discussed the possibility of concluding a memorandum of understanding on returns, particularly to African countries, in order to help Cyprus.
(Ephys)
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