Newsroom
Cyprus is leading the way in the EU when it comes to managing migration, ranking first in the ratio of migrant departures to arrivals for 2024, with a surprising 179%. This comes after the government put in place a number of measures to tackle the growing issue, as explained by the Minister of the Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou, and Deputy Minister of Migration, Nicholas Ioannides, in a press conference on Wednesday.
In 2024, 10,941 people left Cyprus through deportations, voluntary returns, and relocations, showing the government's strategy is having a real impact. Cyprus has worked hard to reduce the number of people arriving on the island, speed up the asylum process, improve living conditions for migrants, and make sure more people are returned to their home countries. The result? A 69% drop in asylum seekers compared to 2022, with a huge 85% reduction in the number of applicants from African countries.
Ioannides also pointed out that 8,213 third-country nationals were sent back through the voluntary return program in 2024, nearly double the number from 2022. Plus, a total of 18,055 people have left Cyprus since the beginning of the current administration, including those relocated to other EU countries.
The government’s actions also helped tackle the situation with Syrian refugees. Many Syrians have decided to return to their home country, with over 1,300 asking to withdraw their asylum applications or give up their refugee status in just two months.
One of the biggest successes has been the drastic reduction in overcrowding at the Pournara Reception Centre. The number of people staying there dropped by a huge 90% from its peak in 2022, with just 274 people staying there in 2024.
While the government is pleased with the progress, both Ioannou and Ioannides stressed that Cyprus can’t be complacent. Migration is a complex issue that’s influenced by factors outside the country’s control. But thanks to the measures already in place, Cyprus is making significant progress in managing migration and setting an example for other EU countries.
