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Cyprus and four other southern European Union countries have voiced opposition to a proposed migration agreement between France and the United Kingdom, cautioning it could shift the burden of asylum claims onto them.
In a joint letter addressed to the European Commission, the governments of Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain expressed concerns over France’s reported plans to finalize a bilateral returns deal with the UK. The letter, portions of which were cited by the Financial Times, warned that such a move could undermine collective EU migration policy.
The five Mediterranean nations, which often serve as initial points of entry for asylum seekers arriving in Europe, argue that any migration accord struck outside the EU-wide framework risks placing disproportionate responsibility on border states.
The agreement in question has not been publicly detailed, and French officials have not confirmed its finalization. Talks between London and Paris come amid a broader impasse over EU migration reforms and UK efforts to forge separate deals with individual EU member states.
Cyprus, which has long pushed for more equitable burden-sharing within the EU, maintains that unilateral agreements could sideline vulnerable frontline countries. The island nation has seen rising numbers of asylum applications in recent years, many arriving through irregular routes across the Green Line dividing its north and south.
French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to travel to London on July 8, where migration cooperation is likely to be high on the agenda.
With information from EKathimerini Greece.
