Newsroom
On Thursday evening, the House of Representatives passed a new law that updates the country’s rules on asylum and refugee protection. One of the main changes is that the government can now revoke international protection status from people who no longer qualify for it. For example, individuals who fall under “exclusion grounds,” meaning they are found to have committed serious crimes or pose security risks.
The law updates the existing Refugee Act to modernise how the asylum system works. It also makes responsibilities clearer now that the new Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection has been created. Under the changes, certain decision-making powers are officially assigned to the Cabinet, the Deputy Minister, or the Head of the Asylum Service.
Another key point is the introduction of a ten-day deadline: before someone’s protection status is officially revoked, they must be given 10 days to present their side of the story. This requirement follows a European Union directive, ensuring national law matches EU rules.
The bill passed with 27 votes in favour and 15 against. Those voting against included the AKEL party, the Green Party, and two independent MPs from Nicosia, Kostis Efstathiou and Alexandra Attalides.
The discussion in Parliament was tense, reflecting deep disagreements between political parties about migration policy more broadly.
After the vote, the Deputy Ministry welcomed the decision, saying that the updated law strengthens the country’s ability to manage asylum issues and aligns national legislation with European standards.
