Cyprus’ Minister of Interior, Nicos Nouris, and First Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister of the Czech Republic, Vit Rakušan, signed on Friday an agreement, that provides for financial assistance towards Nicosia, of €1 mln, to aid Cyprus with voluntary migrant returns.
The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the MED 5 Ministerial Summit in Pafos District.
The Czech Republic’s contribution comes as a response to the call of the Republic of Cyprus for assistance from EU members states, in order to tackle the challenge of the increasing migratory flows in the country.
After the signing of the agreement, Nouris said that the Czech Republic’s actual financial support towards the Republic of Cyprus, demonstrates “the solidarity that has been gradually consolidated among member states as regards the management of the migration issue, in particular towards the member states at the forefront which carry the heaviest burden.”
He added that the amount of €1 mln coming from Czech Republic in 2022, will be used to finance the voluntary returns of those migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected.
Concluding his statement, Nouris thanked Rakušan and expressed his gratitude. He also appeared confident that the agreement “will be the spark for further enhancement of the relations between our two countries in various areas.”
Taking the floor, Rakušan said that Europe is faced with a series of crises, adding that migration is a common problem, not just for Cyprus, but also for Central Europe. There are more than 400 thousand refugees from Ukraine in the Czech Republic, which corresponds to 0.8% of the population, he noted.
The number of illegal migration through the Czech Republic is higher than before, the Deputy Prime Minister added noting that “we can understand your situation very well.”
In order to face this series of crises in Europe we have to know what solidarity is, he went on.
He referred to the financial assistance from the Czech Republic to Cyprus, noting that “it is a sign of solidarity” and proof that the situation other countries are facing is well known in the EU.
According to Rakušan, this contribution may help Cyprus with its policy of migrant returns, which he called “important for your country, for your future
Source: Cyprus News Agency