Nicosia: Cyprus authorities will be accepting applications from June 2 to August 31 for inclusion in a voluntary repatriation plan for families in Syria. The prerequisites are for interested persons to withdraw their asylum applications or revoke the international protection status that was submitted before December 31, 2024. The plan includes couples without children. Prisoners are excluded.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the details were unveiled during a press conference Thursday, by Deputy Minister of Migration Nicholas Ioannides, who stressed that authorities in Cyprus are in full coordination with the European Commission, which will be kept informed about the implementation.
Ioannides said that after the collapse of the Assad regime, Syria is undergoing a critical transitional period, and the formation of an interim government is a first but important step towards the political stabilization of the country and the beginning of its reconstruction process.
He recalled that the European Union has already announced a financial aid package and has lifted part of the sanctions imposed on Syria.
The Deputy Ministry noted that the reconstruction of Syria is not limited to the restoration of the damaged infrastructure, but what is of particular importance is also the return of the millions of displaced Syrians from various countries.
According to Ioannides, approximately two and a half thousand Syrian citizens have already withdrawn their asylum applications or revoked their protection status, and approximately 2,400 have returned to Syria from Cyprus.
He said that the Deputy Ministry is in contact with Syrian asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection, and several of them wish to repatriate, but are facing financial difficulties. He added that based on these needs and the needs of the Cypriot economy in terms of labor, this specific plan was put together.
He also added that it will contribute to combating the phenomenon of irregular migration.
The Deputy Minister said that the spouse will be granted a special residence and work permit for two years, with the possibility of renewal for another year under certain conditions.
The rest of the family that will depart will benefit from increased financial incentives with the support of the European Union, namely 2,000 euros for the spouse who will return from 1,500 euros which is currently the case, and 1,000 euros for each child who returns instead of 750 euros which is currently given.
He stressed that the right to apply for the special residence permit will be granted after the rest of the family departs the island, and the residence and employment permit will be issued after all the required checks are made.
Responding to a question, the Deputy Minister said that the competent European Commissioner has been informed and even stated that this plan could serve as a model for other European countries.
In another question about a recent incident with irregular migrants from Syria and criticisms of pushbacks, the Deputy Minister denied once again that pushbacks had taken place and said that it was a search and rescue operation, based on a 2009 agreement with Syria.
He explained that in its area of responsibility, the Republic of Cyprus has the obligation, either to coordinate search and rescue operations and if it has the means to conduct the operation using its own ships and aircraft.
The Deputy Minister stressed that “the first concern was to save human lives,” stressing that in such cases the rescuing state is not obliged to disembark them on its territory, but wherever there is a safe harbor.
Regarding smugglers and the fight against trafficking, the Deputy Minister explained that the issue is handled by the Police but is also of the Deputy Ministry’s concern because the Government must combat these networks of smugglers who operate across borders.
He said that transnational cooperation is needed because this issue does not only affect Cyprus and its region but the whole of Europe and the international community.