Cyprus calls for EU solidarity as it struggles to handle asylum claims

The EU must tackle the migration issue collectively while Turkey is not cooperating on readmission as Cyprus has reached its limits in managing asylum applications, President Nicos Anastasiades said in Salzburg.

During his intervention at the informal working dinner of the 28 Heads of State and Government in Salzburg, Anastasiades said immigration “should be tackled collectively by the 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 responsibility between the Member States,” Anastasiades said, noting “we need a common binding relocation mechanism covering all parts of international protection”.

He said over the last two years Cyprus has struggled to face the serious challenges posed by the large increase in asylum applications and arrivals of illegal immigrants.

“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.”

“Cyprus has reached the maximum of its ability to accommodate migrants and asylum seekers.”

Anastasiades argued that with Turkey not cooperating with the Republic of Cyprus and not implementing the readmission agreement, the situation is extremely difficult.

Government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou said pressures of the migratory flows are huge, pointing out that Nicosia is counting on a joint EU response, on EU solidarity and a policy to be applied proportionally by all member states.

In recent months, hundreds of Syrian migrants have arrived on Cyprus shores, mainly from Turkey.

The government spokesman explained that as this is an informal Council, “no decisions will be made, but efforts are being made to coordinate the policies and the resources that will be made available.”

Nicosia has already contacted the European Commission and is examining ways in which Cyprus will contribute to the EU policy on addressing in an appropriate manner the migratory flows, and how Nicosia will receive aid for its efforts in this direction.

Concerning Thursday’s debate on Brexit, the main focus of the EU27 during lunch, the spokesman said that Anastasiades will have a meeting with the EU’s chief negotiator for Brexit, Michel Barnier.

“This is a very big debate and the EU is trying and has to have a common position aiming at a coordinated agreement on the UK’s exit from the EU.”

“President Anastasiades is discussing this issue, in particular, from the point of view of the close relations that our country has with Britain and which we would not like to abandon,” he noted.

Negotiations on Brexit, as far as Cyprus is concerned, also refer specifically to Cypriot nationals who are and will remain European citizens permanently residing in the British sovereign base’s areas.

“What we would like to do, in a joint effort, is to finally reach an agreement, because we are all reluctant to see Britain leave without an agreement, and this issue remains the focus of discussions and attention of all EU members,” Prodromou said.