Cyprus: Cyprus and Greece recorded the highest numbers of applications for international protection in the EU relative to their population sizes during the first half of 2026, Nina Gregori, Executive Director of the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA), announced during a discussion on the 2026 Asylum Report in the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE).
According to Cyprus News Agency, Cyprus was specifically highlighted in relation to the relocation of asylum applicants as part of the implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The Executive Director of the EUAA emphasized that the Agency, in collaboration with the European Commission and the Solidarity Coordinator, has initiated dedicated operational support to facilitate the relocation of asylum applicants from Cyprus to other participating EU Member States.
Gregori pointed out that, in absolute numbers, France and Italy received the highest numbers of applications during the initial half of the year. However, overall applications for international protection in the EU decreased by 17% compared to the same period in 2025. She attributed this decline to a reduction in applications from nationals of Syria, Venezuela, and Bangladesh.
Furthermore, Gregori detailed that an operational plan was formulated and recently signed with Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Romania. In Cyprus, the EUAA plays a crucial role in identifying applicants eligible for relocation, matching them with receiving Member States, and providing essential information before their transfer.
According to Gregori, the inaugural transfer from Cyprus to Romania occurred on August 25, involving 30 asylum applicants from Somalia and Sudan. She mentioned that additional relocations from Cyprus to Bulgaria and Lithuania are anticipated to follow.
