By Cristina Fossanetti
The new European Migration Pact entered into force at the beginning of April 2024, a measure much needed as the flow of migrants and asylum seekers continues to increase especially on the shoulders of the so-called border countries, of which Cyprus is also part. The regulation is already splitting opinions.
Indeed, the ruling government seems to be satisfied with the pact because it applies stricter rules both for the management of new arrivals (legal or illegal) and for the responsibility of all the member states. It is supposed to speed up the asylum procedures and guarantee an equal distribution of burdens to all EU states. However, the leftist parties and the Green party are finding many flaws in the regulation starting from the fact that the reforms claim that the relocation of migrants arriving to a front-line country into another member state remains voluntary. Instead, the other member state can decide to support financially or operationally the first-line country. They point out that if the distribution of refugees is unequal among the member states, this will not be enough to ensure decent living conditions and efficiency in the procedures for the people arriving. In addition, when it comes to the Dublin regulation, the law gives all the responsibility to the member state where the asylum seeker first arrives, remains untouched.
Since the decision, Cypriot public authorities have been acting with a tougher approach when dealing with recent migration. The general objective seems to be reducing the number of arrivals and increasing the number of returns. Therefore, some boats that arrived in this period were sent back and more than 1000 people were returned to their countries.
In particular, due to the amount of Syrian people coming, Cyprus is working with Lebanon to find a solution to reduce the flow of irregular migrants coming from there. A meeting between the President of Cyprus, the one of Lebanon and the President of the EU Commission was held on the 2nd of May to discuss the matter. Lebanon is asked to put more effort into the borders and coasts’ supervision and in exchange the EU offered to help them financially. Indeed, the EU established a fund of 1 billion euros until 2027 addressed to the Lebanese Armed Forces, Security and anti-smuggling actions as well as to support the economic system in general. The two countries also spoke about the issue concerning the many displaced Syrian people in Lebanon due to the Civil war and part of the money will be used to deal with this refugee crisis.
Furthermore, the Cypriot authorities started “fact-checking” the situation in Syria to be able to declare some parts of Syria safe enough and to return more Syrians to their country in the medium term. In the meantime, all asylum interviews for new arrivals are suspended and people will not be allowed to work. The number of arrivals already started decreasing.
Many experts are concerned about this new pact; especially because it does not give clarifications on the way the sea rescues should operate or about the support States should guarantee to migrants and NGOs. The pact is silent on the human rights aspect of migration.
