European Union Increases Support to Combat Rise in Immigration in Cyprus

Migrants standing outside of Pournara migrant center near Nicosia, Cyprus, on Wednesday, Feb. 9, 2022. Photo: Associated Press/Petros Karadjias

On Feb. 21, the European Union stated that the bloc will increase support to Cyprus to help with the sudden influx of migrants from the nation's ceasefire border. According to the eastern Mediterranean nation, the increase in the number of migrants (primarily from sub-Saharan Africa) intensified pressure on the country's resources. In addition, clashes between migrants have become common while refugee camps and migrant receptions centers overflow. 

Migrants have primarily been arriving in the south of the island by crossing the border between Turkish Cyprus in the north and the internationally recognized Greek Cyprus in the south. The island was split in 1974 when Turkey invaded in response to a Greek-backed coup on the island. Although the island is internationally recognized as one whole country under the Greek Cypriot government, the EU does not functionally operate in the Turkish-controlled northern half. 

According to Cypriot Interior Minister Nicos Nouris, the majority of the migrants are funneled north from Turkey through the Turkish Cypriot to apply for asylum in the European Union member state. 

Fabrice Leggeri, chief of the European Union’s Frontex border agency declared that repatriation of migrants in Cyprus is the nation's “most urgent need” and that the agency is prepared to fly refugees who have been rejected asylum back to their home countries. In addition, the EU agency will aid Cyprus in preventing migrant crossings from the north of the island, as well as financially supporting the nation to cope with further arrivals.  
More than 12,000 migrants arrived in Cyprus in 2021, which is up more than 40 percent from 2020. Due to the overflow, migrants have been stored in detention centers, which many human rights groups and Cypriot legislators have called inhumane as they lack the proper facilities to house people.

Hundreds of locals blocking a road to a protest at a nearby overflowing refugee camp on the western outskirts of the Cypriot capital Nicosia, Cyprus on Sunday, February 20, 2022. Photo: Associated Press/Petros Karadjias

Many Cypriot government officials, including Nouris, have accused Turkey of purposely channeling these migrants through Turkish Cyprus to overwhelm Greek Cyprus and the European Union. However, Cyprus and the EU are not looking to punish Turkey in response– they are looking for more cooperation.

European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said that he hopes that the Turkish government will cooperate with Cyprus and the EU in preventing migrant arrivals, similarly to how Turkey supported the bloc when Belarus attempted to "attack" the EU by pushing migrants into Poland. At the end of 2021, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko channeled migrants across its border into the EU in response to sanctions placed on the nation. Turkey aided the EU by banning all flights from Turkey to Belarus for all citizens of Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Schinas hopes that Turkey puts in a similar effort to thwart migrants entering Cyprus. 

“Look, Turkey, as all other of our neighbors, must understand a very simple thing: that on the migration issue, they have much to gain if they work with Europe instead of working against Europe,” Schinas said.

Turkish-aligned Cyprus in the north has also called for greater cooperation with regards to migration placing a burden on the island as a whole. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkish Cyprus released a statement back in Nov. 2021 calling for assistance and cooperation from the international community, claiming that "contrary to the Greek Cypriot side, our country is devoid of international assistance and struggling with irregular migration only with the support of motherland Turkey."

Schinas plans to travel to Turkey in the upcoming month to participate in discussions that will assess how migrants reach Cyprus from Turkey, whether it be by air or sea.