EU migrant relocation mechanism needed says Anastasiades in Salzburg

The EU must tackle the migration issue collectively stressed yesterday President Nikos Anastasiades in Salzburg.

During his intervention at the informal working dinner of the 28 EU leaders, President Anastasiades said that migration "should be tackled collectively by EU member states and always on the basis of respect for human rights".

"We must agree on concrete actions to be taken to achieve a fair, equal and binding arrangement between member states," the President of the Republic said, noting that "we need a common binding relocation mechanism covering all parts of the international protection ".
 
He added that "over the last two years Cyprus is struggling to face serious challenges posed by the large increase in asylum applications and arrivals of irregular migrants". "In the first eight months of 2018 there was an increase of 55% in asylum applications compared to 2017, while in 2017 there was an increase of 56% compared to 2016" the President said.

Anastasiades pointed out that "Cyprus has reached the maximum of its ability to accommodate migrants and asylum seekers."

He also indicated that with Turkey not cooperating with the Republic of Cyprus and not implementing the readmission agreement, the situation is extremely difficult.

The primary reason for the increase in refugee flows is the ongoing war in Syria that has been raging since 2011.