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In a forceful appeal at the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in Brussels, Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nicholas Ioannides made it clear: Cyprus will not accept a one-size-fits-all approach to migrant returns. He insisted that the EU's new legal framework must take the form of a directive—not a rigid regulation—giving member states the ability to tailor policies to their unique circumstances.
"The new framework must be both reliable and adaptable," Ioannides urged, emphasizing that national governments need the authority to manage returns effectively, particularly when it comes to voluntary repatriations. If imposed as a strict regulation, he warned, the policy risks failing to address the realities on the ground.
But Ioannides did not stop there. He issued a stark reminder that responsibility for enforcing returns cannot fall solely on EU nations. Those who have no legal right to remain in the bloc must acknowledge their obligations and depart, he stated firmly. Voluntary returns, he added, are not only humane but also the most effective way to uphold international law while avoiding coercion.
Turning to Syria, Ioannides made an impassioned case for accelerating efforts to rebuild the war-torn nation. He argued that reconstruction is vital to ensuring safe and dignified returns, echoing Cyprus' long-standing call for a coordinated European strategy. With recent EU foreign policy decisions opening new possibilities, he urged swift action to establish a sustainable path forward.
He also backed the creation of an EU-wide framework allowing refugees to visit Syria under international supervision before making a final decision to return. However, he was clear: safeguards must be in place to prevent abuse. Any "visits" must be strictly time-limited and regulated to ensure they do not become a loophole for circumventing return policies.
On the sidelines of the meeting, Ioannides met with senior EU officials to discuss Cyprus’ upcoming presidency of the Council in 2026. As that date approaches, Cyprus appears ready to push back against inflexible migration policies—and demand an approach that reflects the realities of individual member states.
