Cyprus Urges EU to Reassess Syria's Safety for Refugee Repatriation
The Cypriot foreign ministry is set to formally raise this issue of refugees with Brussels
Migrants are seen entering in the ferry outside of the hotspot as nearly 7,000 irregular migrants arrive in Lampedusa island of Italy on September 15, 2023. Photo by Anadolu Images.
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he Cypriot government is calling on the European Union to reevaluate the safety of parts of Syria for the potential repatriation of refugees, as the Mediterranean island nation grapples with a record number of Syrian arrivals. Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou expressed the urgency of this reassessment in an interview with Reuters, highlighting the island’s growing concerns over its capacity to handle the influx.
Cyprus, the easternmost outpost of the EU, has become increasingly strained as conflicts in the Middle East intensify, leading to a surge in refugees and asylum-seekers. “We have five times more migrants than any other frontline member state,” Ioannou stated, noting that the majority of these migrants are from Syria.
The Cypriot foreign ministry is set to formally raise this issue with Brussels. The discussions would include the status of certain regions in Syria, particularly Damascus and Tartous, which a February report by the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) assessed as having “no real risk for a civilian to be personally affected by indiscriminate violence.”
1,043 arrivals by boat in October alone
More than 5 million people have fled Syria during over a decade of civil war, primarily to Lebanon and Turkey. Despite a current stalemate in the conflict with President Bashar al-Assad’s forces controlling most of the country, refugees continue to leave. Cyprus has seen a marked increase in Syrian refugees, with 1,043 arrivals by boat in October alone, a three-fold increase from the previous year.
The island has also been a key point for migrants from Africa, especially since 2019, with many entering the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and being smuggled into the Greek Cypriot south. Although tightened security along the 180-km “green line” has reduced overall arrivals, the authorities remain concerned about potential new routes.
Offering Lebanon technical assistance
Ioannou mentioned that Cyprus is in close contact with Lebanon, which has intercepted numerous vessels. Cyprus has offered Lebanon technical assistance and joint patrols, and is advocating for more direct EU assistance to Lebanon. Additionally, Ioannou suggested the possibility of establishing “safe zones” outside the EU for processing asylum requests, similar to a plan Italy announced for centers in Albania.
The call from Cyprus comes as the United Nations refugee chief warns of potential further displacement in the region due to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, as stated in a forum in Geneva.
The European Commission has not yet responded to requests for comment on this developing situation. Cyprus’s call for an EU rethink on Syria migration underscores the complex challenges faced by frontline states in managing refugee crises and balancing humanitarian responsibilities with national capacities.
Source: Reuters
