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Cyprus is reviewing its rules for handling migrants who have special protection but commit serious crimes, according to a report by Kathimerini's George Kakouris. This type of protection, different from refugee status, is given to people who don’t qualify as refugees but still can’t return home because they’d face serious harm.
Under current EU laws, Cyprus can revoke this protection if there’s strong evidence that someone committed a serious crime. However, new rules expected by 2026 will make it stricter: authorities will need a criminal conviction before they can take this step.
What the Law Says
EU rules require each case to be carefully examined. If a person no longer qualifies for protection, they’re considered to be in the country illegally. These individuals cannot be sent to another EU country. Instead, they can only be deported to their home country or to another non-EU country willing to take them.
Refugees, on the other hand, have stricter protections. An EU court ruling in 2023 stated that even if a refugee is convicted of a crime, their status can only be revoked if they are proven to be a danger to society.
Cyprus Under Pressure
The spotlight is on Cyprus after the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) raised questions about how the country is handling migrants stuck in the buffer zone. The issue came to light after a local rights group filed a complaint. Cyprus initially asked for more time to respond but sped up its reply after public comments from the Deputy Minister of Immigration, Nikos Ioannidis.
Ioannidis explained that migrants who commit crimes serve their sentences in Cyprus and are then deported if they don’t leave voluntarily. While he confirmed that Cyprus has agreements with certain countries for deportations, he did not name them.
On the matter of moving refugees from the buffer zone to the Kofinou reception center, Ioannidis said the process had been in the works for weeks and wasn’t directly linked to ECHR pressure, though he admitted the court had raised the issue.
Changes Coming by 2026
The new EU rules will make it harder for countries to revoke protection. Today, it’s enough for authorities to have evidence of serious crimes. Under the new system, they’ll need a court conviction.
Once protection is revoked, individuals can no longer benefit from EU relocation programs or solidarity mechanisms, which focus on helping asylum seekers or recent protection recipients.
What’s Next for Cyprus?
For now, Cyprus must follow current EU laws, but with new regulations on the horizon, it faces challenges in balancing its national policies with EU obligations. The country remains in close contact with Brussels as it deals with a rising number of migration cases.
