Cyprus’ Interior Minister, Costantinos Ioannou, along with the Executive Director of the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA), Nina Gregory, and Deputy Director-General in the EU’s Directorate-General for Home Affairs, Beate Gminder, inaugurated on Thursday the first phase of the Accommodation Centre for Applicants of International Protection, in Kofinou, in the Larnaka district. The centre was upgraded with the support of the EUAA. The Minister said that, improving reception and accommodation infrastructure was ‘a top priority’ of the current Government’s migration policy and that the display of solidarity by the European Commission and EU Agencies was ‘truly valued and deeply appreciated’. For their part, Gregory, and Gminder, expressed their satisfaction as regards their cooperation with the Cypriot authorities in the areas of asylum and migration, and noted the progress observed in the management of migration flows and asylum seekers. Ioannou said that their joint visit to Kofinou signified the completion of the center’s construction works and the beginning of its operational phase, scheduled to commence in nearly two weeks’ time when it will start accommodating residents. He added that the development of this center will soon move to another phase, to be completed by the first half of 2024, and its capacity will significantly increase, ‘enabling us to accommodate approximately 700 residents’. He noted that the EUAA has provided ‘significant support’ by supplying pre-fabricated housing and office units to meet the growing needs of the Center during a period of continuous migration flows towards Cyprus, ‘which highly impacted our reception capacity’. He also said that the substantive and continuous assistance provided by the EUAA to the Cypriot authorities in various aspects of the asylum and reception procedure, including manpower, expertise, training, technical support, and equipment, was ‘highly appreciated’. The Minister also said that, improving reception and accommodation infrastructure ‘remains a top priority’ as regards the Government’s migration policy. In addition to enhancing the Kofinou Accommodation Centre, other important projects were underway, he added, such as constructing an Accommodation Centre for Applicants of International Protection for 1000 residents and a Pre-Departure Centre in Limnes area, with capacity of approximately 800 people. The European Commission supports these projects with a contribution of pound 67,6 million, he said. At the same time, he said, the First Reception Centre, ‘Pournara’ in Kokkinotrimithia, was also undergoing an upgrade, with direct financing from the Commission to IOM Greece. The Minister noted that these ongoing projects were ‘of major significance’ as they aim to improve the living conditions for residents, enhance the management and efficiency of asylum procedures, and facilitate the return of migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected. ‘They are important milestones in our efforts to strengthen Cyprus’s capacity to manage migration flows effectively’, he said. The EUAA Executive Director said that with the newly-opened part of the Centre would host an additional 150 residents and expressed her satisfaction that the 74 accommodation units adhere to the European standards. She also referred to the EUAA’s long partnership with Cyprus’ authorities and said that this inauguration was an example of how partners should work together. Gregory also said that this year’s budget – pound 60 million – was the biggest they have ever had in their history of cooperation, noting that they have more than 280 personnel deployed in Cyprus. The budget, she added, would be used for the good of the beneficiaries, and to help in capacity building of Cyprus’ system. She also said that they were happy to also contribute to the voluntary solidarity mechanism while, referring to unaccompanied minors, she said that special dedication was needed and that she knew the Cyprus Government would continue to do so both as regards procedures and accommodation. Gminder congratulated Cyprus on this ‘achievement’, and said that, he country has always been a key partner. As the Commission, she added, they were very happy that they could accompany this process, and noted that they were developing a new migration system in Europe through the European Asylum Pack. She said that managing migration starts in the countries where people live, by explaining to them that going on a smuggling path and paying a steep amount of money is often not leading to the dream life they have been intending for. She added however, that, once they arrive here, it is important that they get a fair chance to an asylum procedure, and for their case to be heard, because there are people who are in need of international protection. But then, she said, there also people who are not in need of that and have to be returned. She added that Cyprus has made a huge effort in that over the past years, noting that housing is a critical issue all across Europe and also in Cyprus, so it was important to have space and accommodation available while people are in the asylum procedure. Gminder also referred to Cyprus’ cooperation with European agencies namely Frontex, to improve returns to home countries, if people have no right to stay. She said that many are leaving also voluntarily because they realise they have been falling prey of smuggler narratives.

Source: Cyprus News Agency