Deputy Minister of Immigration and International Protection, Nikolas Ioannides, commenting on the Audit Service's Report, stated that "this is a common finding" that substantial changes have occurred in the management of the migration issue in the last two years. As he noted, "from 2022 to date, migration flows have decreased by 65%", while returns and departures of foreigners from the Republic of Cyprus have increased spectacularly, with over 25.000 people having departed since March 2023 to date.
Despite the serious problems inherited from the previous administration, the current government has managed to significantly improve the situation. The Deputy Minister emphasized that the period examined by the Report (2021–2023) included particularly difficult conditions, due to mass migration flows and the pandemic. COVID-19These conditions have affected and increased the cost of managing the first reception and hospitality structures, while a significant part of the expenses relates to construction projects, such as the upgrade of Pournara, the new hospitality center in Limnes and the pre-removal center.
These projects are expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and are 90% funded by the European Union and international organizations, which makes the funds largely recoverable. He said that over 100 million euros have already been recovered, an amount that will increase further in 2025.
Responding to AKEL’s statements regarding the lack of a mechanism for recording departures, Mr. Ioannides stressed that this is “completely untrue”. There is a specific system for recording arrivals and departures through legal points of entry and exit (ports and airports). The number of 290.000 people who – according to the Report – do not appear to have departed, concerns persons who entered the Republic since 2014. 80% of them are EU or third-country nationals, many of whom have obtained residence permits, have left from uncontrolled points or have even died.
As for pending asylum applications, they have decreased significantly – from 34.000 in March 2023 to around 19.000 today. Of these, 13.000 concern Syrians, whose applications are not being examined based on a political decision in force since April 2024. The time for examining applications has also been significantly reduced, now ranging between one and three months.
The Deputy Minister pointed out that the Deputy Ministry is newly established and its establishment was one of the measures for more effective management of immigration. Since its establishment, significant steps have been taken towards administrative restructuring, rationalization and automation of procedures - both for irregular and legal immigration (work permits, residence of foreigners).
Referring to the allegations of violations of International Law, Mr. Ioannides stressed that "the numbers and the results speak for themselves" and that any complaints are unsubstantiated. The improvement in conditions is now evident and internationally recognized, with a recent example being the Committee for the Prevention of Torture of the Council of Europe, which praised the progress noted in Pournaras compared to their visit two years ago.
Finally, he confirmed that the flow of Syrian returns remains steady, with over 2.000 having already withdrawn applications or revoked their residence status, while he expressed hope that the stabilization of the situation in the neighboring country will further strengthen this flow.
