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Welcome to the press conference on migration, one of the issues of concern to our society, which is high on the government's priorities. I consider it our responsibility to inform you about the policies we are promoting and the measures taken so far in the areas of asylum and immigration.
This is a very sensitive and complex issue, which requires realistic actions and not "wishful thinking". We approach it by building on a long-term migration strategy, based on our obligations as an EU Member State and our capacities as a state.
Dear all,
Our policy focuses first and foremost on mitigating the disproportionate numbers we face. The ultimate aim is to reach a point where we can make more effective use of the capabilities, resources and means of the State, responding more adequately in the areas of protection, solidarity and integration of those in real need.
FACTS - CURRENT SITUATION
The figures underline the magnitude of the situation, the disproportionate pressures we face in relation to our size, resources and population, and demonstrate that our country's capacity to deal effectively with the unprecedented influx of asylum applications has been limited for years.
- Cyprus has consistently had the highest number of new asylum applications in relation to its population over the last seven years. The percentage of applicants and beneficiaries of international protection status in Cyprus exceeds 6% of the country's population, significantly higher compared to around 1% for other frontline countries and even lower for other EU countries.
- Since 2015, there has been an overwhelming increase in asylum applications, by 490%.
- An important fact is that the majority of applications for international protection in Cyprus are found to be unfounded. In particular, in the year 2022, 96% of all Asylum Service decisions were negative. The numbers clearly show the abuse of the asylum system by third country nationals, who are in fact economic migrants and have no valid reason to apply for international protection.
- Furthermore, I should mention the alarming figure of 95%, which refers to asylum seekers who enter illegally from the occupied territories.
- The majority of irregular migrants crossing the Green Line use the so-called "student visa". The "student visa" is by far the most popular type of visa and the percentage for the year 2023 has exceeded 70%.
Further to the above points, it is proven that Turkey is instrumentalizing migration flows by facilitating the arrival of third country nationals in Cyprus. The routes have been identified and documented: they use Istanbul airport to fly to the occupied territories, after enrolling in "colleges", and from there they cross the Green Line and pass through the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus. The majority of migrants who follow this route come from safe countries, mainly originating from sub-Saharan African countries.
REALITIES AND CHALLENGES
Before I talk about the measures we are implementing, it is important to make some assumptions that make our task even more difficult.
One major challenge is the Green Line, which has a special status as it is not considered an external border of the EU. This of course creates constraints and requires specific approaches, as we are not able to take measures similar to those taken by other European countries at their external borders to restrict incoming flows.
- Further, we have identified from the outset that the lack of infrastructure and detention facilities for migrants whose asylum application has been rejected is a barrier and a difficulty in immediately handling the procedures for returning to their country of origin. In fact, the absence of a pre-removal centre, where persons residing illegally in the Republic can be detained, does not allow us at this stage to deport a large number of persons who have been rejected and should be deported immediately.
- Moreover, the sharp increase in asylum applications has resulted in the accumulation of a large number of pending cases, the processing of which has become extremely difficult.
- The shortcomings of the asylum system, including the inability to efficiently process such a large volume of applications over the years, have resulted in delays, and hence the creation of lengthy procedures for examining applications, which has been a major attraction factor for irregular migrants and for networks of illegal immigrants.
NEW GOVERNMENT POLICIES - THREE MONTHS OF ADMINISTRATION
In handling the migration issue, a key priority in our handling as the new Government is. Several things have been done in this area and we have measurable results.
As I said earlier, the asylum system's inability to handle the high volume of applications and the prolonged duration of their processing was a major attraction for irregular migrants, as well as for the circuits.
Thus, in order to deal with the backlog of asylum applications and to ensure timely processing, we have already proceeded with the recruitment of new staff, strengthening the capacity of the Asylum Service.
In particular, an additional 27 asylum application examiners have been recruited, while the recruitment of a further 25 examiners has been rolled out until September. We have in fact doubled the number of examiners, which is gradually contributing to an increase in the processing of applications. The result of this has been a significant increase in the number of decisions. In particular, 2,400 cases have been examined in the last two months (April - May), to the point of exceeding the number of arrivals in the same period: 1,646 asylum applications. In this way, a timetable for managing applications that addresses the number of backlogged applications has become feasible. And this demonstrates an optimistic turnaround in our handling data. It is noted that, with the recruitment of the new examiners, the target is to process 1,800 cases per month.
In addition, in order to minimise the timetable for the processing of asylum cases, we have also focused on the area of improving and facilitating the judicial process by amending the Rules of Procedure of the International Protection Tribunal. The aim is to take further measures, such as the inclusion of additional categories in fast-track cases, to speed up the process of examining and concluding cases before the Court.
Dear all,
While faster processing of asylum applications is a key component, we are also focusing on increasing returns. As such, our policy action matrix includes (b) strengthening and increasing the returns of third country nationals to their countries of origin. To this end, we have strengthened the return office with staff and improved the return procedures so that persons who could be returned can be identified more quickly and immediately integrated into the programme. In the same context, we have also proceeded to carry out information campaigns in cooperation with local authorities to inform migrants about the returns programme and the benefits they can enjoy.
As a result of the above initiatives, the numbers of returns in the first quarter of governance are quite encouraging.
With a small comparison of the corresponding quarter, March - May 2020, we note that there were only 132 returns. In 2021: 387, in 2022: 1,169, while in 2023, from March to May, returns have doubled compared to last year, reaching 2,312.
Given the results so far and with the continuation of the policy pursued in cooperation with the relevant EU agencies such as Frontex, we believe that the number of returns will increase even more, with the aim of approaching 1.In addition to returns, we are also stepping up the pace of relocation of asylum seekers under the Voluntary Relocation Mechanism, a programme designed to support frontline Member States facing increased migration challenges. Intensifying efforts, the transfer of 406 persons to other Member States was achieved in the last quarter, with the help of the International Organisation for Migration and the European Asylum Organisation. This number is the highest we have reached so far in terms of relocation of asylum seekers from Cyprus to other EU Member States, and it is important to say that it is expected to triple by the end of July.
Voluntary and forced returns, together with the 406 migrants relocated, add up to a total number of 2.718 migrants who left Cyprus in this quarter.
It is worth mentioning that in the last two months, for the first time in many years, the total number of migrants who left Cyprus is higher than the total number of migrants who arrived.
It is worth mentioning that in the last two months, for the first time in many years, the total number of migrants who left Cyprus is higher than the total number of migrants who arrived. Specifically, while 1,646 people came to Cyprus, more than 1,788 people left.
The other priority area is the (c) strengthening of the reception and accommodation infrastructure. As regards the "Pournara" First Reception Centre, several problems have been resolved and conditions have improved. There are currently about 1,020 migrants staying there, much reduced compared to 2,290 in the same period last year. In addition, in cooperation with the IOM Office in Greece, projects are being implemented to upgrade the Centre, both to increase capacity and to better manage and speed up procedures within the Centre.
The Reception and Accommodation Centre for International Protection Applicants in Kofinou is also being upgraded, in cooperation with the European Asylum Organisation, including an increase in the number of beds from 450 to 700, expansion of public infrastructure, improvement of safety and health conditions, etc., worth €3.5 million,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Very important infrastructures, which will greatly contribute to a more efficient handling of asylum procedures, but above all to the acceleration of returns, are the creation of the Accommodation Centre in "Lakes" and the Pre-Removal Centre in Menoyia, whose construction has been rolling and will be completed in about 2 years. And as I have mentioned before, the lack of these facilities does not allow us to expeditiously deport applicants whose asylum applications have been rejected.
As for the problem of the lack of detention facilities, in cooperation with the Police, we have agreed to temporarily institutionalise, until the creation of the Centres - Pre-removal and Lakes - an interdepartmental mechanism for the use of available detention facilities, on the basis of targeting countries of return, which will facilitate and speed up procedures, while economies of scale will be applied.
We believe that both upgrading and creating new infrastructure are key milestones in our efforts to enhance the country's capacity and effectiveness in managing flows, as well as expediting the return of migrants to countries of origin.
(d) Flow deterrence measures, targeting the Green Line. I want to make clear that because the Green Line is not a border, there is a limitation on the measures we can take internally to prevent illegal crossings. That is why we are investing much of our efforts at European level, and I am referring in particular to the Eastern Mediterranean Action Plan, the preparation of which was agreed by the European Council last February and is in the process of being drawn up. Last April, in my contacts with European officials in Brussels, I presented a comprehensive package of measures and actions to be included and used in the framework of the Plan, and for the same reason we presented our positions to the heads of diplomatic missions in Cyprus last May. Our positions on the content of the Plan focus on addressing the influx of migrants from the Green Line through a diplomatic approach by Turkey, making use of EU policies and tools. The Action Plan is an essential tool that will contribute to achieving tangible and substantial results on the issue of irregular migration. There has been a very positive reaction from the European Commission and a convergence of views with our positions, and some measures have already started to be implemented. Some of our positions focus on. [*]The deployment of liaison officers (perhaps FRONTEX) at the departure gates of third country airports, in order to check passengers on the basis of specific criteria. [*]They also include, inter alia, consultations between the EU and air carriers involved in trafficking or smuggling of migrants from Turkey to the occupied territories, and [*]the introduction of disincentives to the granting of student visas to "colleges" in the occupied territories, where it appears that there is substantial trafficking of irregular migrants. [/LIST]
Internally, as I have said, the measures we take are limited, due to the fact that the Green Line is not a border. One of them is the surveillance of the Green Line by Special Constables, who have been hired by the Cyprus Police. The 218 Special Constables were put in place a few days ago and their terms of reference are to prevent illegal crossings, detect traffickers, guard the detention centres and escort migrants who are detected. At the same time, the installation of electronic surveillance equipment has also progressed.
The information campaign, designed in cooperation with the Press and Information Office, is also seen as a measure to prevent illegal immigration. The campaign will be launched in the coming period and will include an internet campaign, which will focus on trying to deter would-be irregular migrants several steps back to their own countries of origin by presenting the realistic situation and risks of illegal immigration. Cyprus is wrongly presented by traffickers as a first stopover destination, with the prospect of moving on to other European Member States, ignoring the fact that it is an island and a country where the 'Schengen acquis' is not applied. As a result, a large number of irregular migrants are "trapped" in Cyprus. The campaign will focus on sub-Saharan African countries (e.g. Nigeria) from where, according to data, there is an increased number of irregular migrants. Similar campaigns have been implemented by other European countries with very good results.
Finally, ladies and gentlemen, I would also like to mention (e) the establishment of the Deputy Ministry of Immigration and Asylum, which we consider as another important measure to improve the management of migration. The new Deputy Ministry will consolidate the existing responsibilities of the Ministry of Interior, thus giving a new administration the opportunity to focus exclusively on migration and asylum issues. The establishment of the Deputy Ministry reflects our commitment to strengthen more effective migration management and policy implementation in line with EU standards and international obligations.
The draft law has been sent to the Legal Service of the Republic for legislative review and is expected to be submitted to the Council of Ministers in June 2023 for approval.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Comparing the figures of the last three months with those of last year, we see a drastic decrease in asylum applications, a development that creates a cautious optimism that we are on the right track. Specifically, asylum applications for the months of March - May 2022 were 6,454, while this year (2023) in the corresponding months were 3,325 - that is, less than half as many.
We hope that the reduced applications will continue as a result of the actions and measures we are taking and that they will bode well for even better results in the management of migration.
Allow me to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues at the Ministry of Interior, the relevant departments and services (Civil Registry and Migration Department, Asylum Service, as well as the Aliens and Migration Service of the Cyprus Police) for the excellent cooperation and the important work they are doing in this area, as well as the European organisations FRONTEX and EUROPOL, the European Asylum Organisation, the International Organisation for Migration and of course the European Commission for the support they provide to us on migration.
It is obvious that Cyprus, as the main frontline Member State in the region, faces significant migratory pressures and challenges. The effective management of migration is a vital factor in order to send the right messages to the safe countries of origin of irregular migrants. This will gradually reduce their attraction, acting as a deterrent, so that Cyprus is no longer an attraction.
We need collective and realistic actions within a framework of a long-term migration strategy to turn the numbers around, moving towards effective mitigation of the problem.
In conclusion, I would like to reiterate that our aim is to overcome the obstacles of increased flows and the high volume of unfounded applications, in order to achieve in its true dimension the reception and integration of refugees in real need of support and protection.
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(EFYs/NG/SX)
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