Immigration administration is one of the best “success story” of Cyprus, says Nicholas Papadopoulos – Occasion day entitled “Immigration – Realities”
The present administration of immigration is one of the best “success story” of our nation, mentioned the President of DIKO, Nikolas Papadopoulos, in his speech on the occasion's convention entitled “Immigration – Realities”, within the context of the pre-congress dialogue forward of the Political and Statutory Congress of DIKO in Might.
As he mentioned, the immigration downside for a few years was not managed till it was utterly uncontrolled. Mr. Papadopoulos referred to “outrageous profit coverage, barbed wire, 'border guards'”, which not solely didn’t contact the essence of the issue, as he mentioned, however inflated it.
Due to this fact, he welcomed with satisfaction the creation of the Deputy Ministry of Immigration, the institution of which, as he mentioned, reveals the willpower of the current Authorities for the excellent and efficient remedy of immigration.
“We’ve got seen what the fitting insurance policies can obtain in 20 months”, he mentioned and talked about that in March 2023 the present administration acquired 30,000 pending asylum purposes, 3,500 folks have been housed in Pournara in deplorable circumstances, Cyprus, by inhabitants ratio, had 5 occasions better variety of political asylum seekers than the following European nation, which was Austria. Additionally, we had steady flows from the occupied territories by the inexperienced line and likewise the ocean.
In the present day, mentioned the President of DIKO, we see a totally completely different image, because the EU pushed to achieve agreements to restrict migration flows with Turkey and Lebanon and the go to of President Christodoulides to Lebanon and the mediation of the Republic of Cyprus to the European Fee for the financial support bundle to Lebanon they succeeded.
As well as, he famous that the Authorities has engaged in a deterrent and efficient info marketing campaign within the nations of origin, doubled the variety of officers who evaluation asylum purposes, purposes are processed inside days, not months and years, with 95% rejected and advantages are instantly interrupted by rejection.
Consequently, he continued, since April we now have zero arrivals by sea, we now have a 37% discount in arrivals general, we now have a 75% discount in asylum purposes in comparison with 2022, a 93% discount in asylum purposes from African nations, calling the attention marketing campaign successful , whereas he added that in 2024 there have been greater than 10,000 returns and deportations.
“In absolute numbers, not in proportion to the inhabitants, Cyprus in 2024 achieved extra deportations and returns than the entire of the UK!”, he mentioned, including that for the primary time within the historical past of Immigration, the “Pournara” has been emptied.
He famous that if it weren’t for the Syrians, who make up 70% of all candidates, Cyprus would have already returned to immigration charges of 15 years in the past.
“Cyprus is the one nation within the EU that reveals a lower in migration flows, whereas the remainder of Europe reveals a rise”, he mentioned, underlining that migration is now manageable and due to this fact, he famous, it’s no coincidence that the Vice-President of the European Fee has declared that Cyprus is “an instance of immigration administration”.
Mr. Papadopoulos identified that correct administration should proceed, as the brand new reception facilities and pre-departure facilities have to be accomplished, whereas, as he mentioned, strict implementation of the regulation is required for traffickers and people who incite and hoard from migration. “And naturally, we should encourage Syrian candidates to return again to their homeland now that the civil conflict in Syria is over,” he added.
Lastly, he famous that regardless of the optimistic course of migration, there are nonetheless important dangers that have to be taken into consideration, comparable to ongoing wars that create uncertainty and will proceed to have an effect on migration flows within the area. “It’s due to this fact extra essential immediately than ever that our immigration coverage is efficient, direct and primarily based on the fitting information”, he mentioned, including that for this reason conferences and boards like this one are vital, “as a result of we are going to assist us to proceed the “success story”.
Supply: KYPE
