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1. Cyprus leads in new asylum applicants per population, but overall numbers decrease

Cyprus had the highest rate of new applicants for asylum compared to its population in February 2023, according to data released by Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU. At the same time, however, new asylum applications have significantly reduced compared to last year....

2. Christodoulides calls island’s division a European problem

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called for 'political courage' in Cyprus peace talks during a visit to Berlin by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, who said the island’s division was a 'European problem' and Brussels could lead the way to a solution...

3. 25 irregular migrants return home

Twenty-five third-country nationals who had been residing illegally in Cyprus departed for their home countries on Tuesday as part of a well-coordinated joint operation aimed at the forced return of irregular migrants, as announced by the police....

4. President holds talks with EU commissioners on Cyprus problem and migration

The Cyprus problem, the migration issue and current European developments were discussed on Monday at the meeting between the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides and the Vice-President of the European Commission responsible for the Promotion of the European Way of Life, Margaritis Schinas, at the Presidential Palace....

5. Locals near buffer zone puzzled over circling plane

Two Turkish airplane sightings flying over local areas were reported Thursday by Greek Cypriots near the buffer zone in rural locations outside the divided capital, with UN officials saying they are looking into the incident...

6. Thousands of migrants cross into Texas as pandemic-era border restrictions lifted

Thousands of migrants have attempted to cross the border into the United States after the lifting of pandemic-era restrictions under Title 42....

7. Cypriots want less bureaucracy, better civil servants

Cypriots appear largely dissatisfied by the functioning of the country’s public administration, and believe that the way forward goes through the reduction of bureaucracy, better skills for civil servants and more communication with citizens, according to the findings of a flash Eurobarometer survey on how EU citizens perceive the support provided to member states through the European Commission’s Technical Support Instrument...

8. Turkish elections: No matter who wins, Greece remains skeptical

Greek-Turkish Relations Hang in the Balance After Turkish Elections" Subtitle: "Uncertainty Looms as Turkey's Strategic Priorities Likely to Remain Unchanged Regardless of Election Outcome"...

9. Kilicdaroglu's visa-free travel pledge to Europe unlikely to happen soon

The pledges of the Turkish Presidential Candidate, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, made last month regarding visa-free travel with Europe within three months may not become a reality any time soon after German officials denied such claims....

10. Paris supports dialogue on Cyprus issue

President Christodoulides' visit to Paris to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron confirms the excellent level of bilateral relations between Cyprus and France. ...

11. Green Line border agents get ready for action

Over two hundred Green Line border agents will report on duty later this month on the Greek Cypriot side of the UN buffer zone, but the newly-hired sergeants will only focus on irregular migrants, leaving drug trafficking and other crimes off the agenda...

12. More than 330,000 people displaced in Sudan due to conflict

Deadly conflicts in Sudan have displaced more than 330,000 people inside the country, while more than 100,000 have crossed the border to neighboring countries, the United Nations has announced....

13. Decline in asylum approvals in Cyprus in 2022

According to data from Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU, EU countries granted protection status to 384,245 asylum seekers in 2022, up 40% from the previous year. However, in Cyprus, there was a significant decrease in protection status, with only 580 cases being granted (compared to 2,305 in 2021)....

14. Over 2,600 third-country nationals repatriated since January

The Aliens and Immigration Service of the Cyprus Police proceeded on Tuesday to the repatriation of 31 third-country nationals that were staying in Cyprus, it was announced on Wednesday. In total 2,615 third-country nationals were repatriated so far this year....

15. WHO leads regional effort to improve health and well-being of refugees and migrants

16. The Turkish formula for Cyprus is challenging

A complex equation for the Cyprus problem is foreseen by circles at the EU headquarters, regardless of who wins Turkey's elections. This is because neither of the two main candidates, Tayyip Erdogan nor Kemal Kilicdaroglu, has the resolution of the Cyprus problem on their agenda. ...

17. EU lawmakers pass proposals to address migration crisis

European Union lawmakers on Thursday approved a series of proposals aimed at ending the yearslong standoff over how best to manage migration, a conundrum that has provoked one of the bloc’s biggest political crises....

18. 'The goal is 1,000 voluntary returns per month,' says Ioannou

The government of Cyprus has outlined a four-pillar plan to address immigration issues, according to Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou. The first pillar is to limit the flow of asylum seekers entering Cyprus, followed by managing asylum applications and reception areas more efficiently....

19. Delivery driver middleman scandal widens

A recent traffic accident has prompted police to widen a fraud investigation that began in Limassol and now has reached the capital, following revelations that foreign food delivery drivers in Cyprus were paying middlemen to secure driver permits through the state’s austere system...

20. Italy declares state of emergency

To deal with the recent influx of migrants arriving on the southern shores of Italy, the country's right-wing government has announced a six-month nationwide state of emergency....

21. Total of 126 asylum seekers in Cyprus sent to Germany

A total of 126 applicants for international protection, originating from Somalia, Afghanistan, Congo, Nigeria and Syria departed on Tuesday on the first chartered flight from Cyprus to Germany where they are being resettled....

22. Protecting EU borders: The rise of border walls against third country migrants

The increasing number of illegal migrants reaching the European Union and Schengen Area Member States has pushed states to take different approaches to tackle their activity, including erecting walls or physical barriers at the borders....

23. Greek minister on rare visit to Turkey as tensions ease

NATO members Turkey and Greece can resolve their disputes through peaceful means and dialogue, Turkey’s defense minister said after talks with his Greek counterpart Tuesday, in the latest sign of easing tensions between the rival neighbors...

24. City employee arrested in driver permit middleman scandal

More suspects including a civil servant have been arrested in the document fraud scandal where foreign food delivery drivers allegedly paid hundreds of euros to a middleman in order to secure a driver’s permit...

25. Cyprus to surpass 1 million people while EU population to decrease by 6% by 2100

According to the latest population projections issued by Eurostat, the statistical service of the EU, the population of the bloc will decrease by 6% between 1 January 2022 and 1 January 2100, equivalent to 27.3 million fewer people. The population of Cyprus on the other hand is expected to pass 1 million by 2100....

26. Cyprus transfers 76 refugees to France under EU relocation scheme

Yesterday morning, 76 applicants for international protection hailing from Syria and Afghanistan were transferred from Cyprus to France, marking the start of the voluntary relocation pilot program....

27. Eurostat: Cyprus 3rd highest percentage of foreign-born citizens

Eurostat, the statistical service of the European Union, has released data showing that Cyprus is one of the top countries in the EU for migration....

28. Agency owner arrested as new visa scandal unfolds

Cyprus Police have arrested an agency owner in Limassol in connection with an investigation into document fraud, after it emerged that foreign delivery drivers had sought to obtain or renew permits through his office...

29. New migration scandal looms after network uncovered

A new scandal involving services for asylum seekers may have been inadvertently uncovered in Limassol, where arrest warrants have been issued amid strict rules for renewing driver permits and a black market designed to overcome restrictions...

30. More third country nationals repatriated last Friday

A total of 67 third-country nationals, who resided illegally in Cyprus, were repatriated on Friday, during two operations, the Police announced....