In an announcement made by Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, it was revealed that the Mediterranean nation has suspended processing of asylum applications from Syrian nationals. This decision comes as a response to the recent surge in the arrival of Syrian political asylum seekers by sea to Cyprus. As indicated by UNHCR Cyprus, the number of asylum applications by Syrians rose to over 6,000 in 2023, making up more than half of the total number.
This development arises amidst the government’s ongoing campaign to prompt the European Union (EU) to reconsider the status of Syria. Annita Demetriou, President of the House of Representatives, sought greater EU support to manage the migration flows to Cyprus effectively, while at a European leaders’ meeting, Christodoulides requested an immediate review on the status of Syria and the designation of specific safe areas.
The campaign initially started in 2023, the same year when asylum applications touched a seven-year high. As per the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA), Cyprus experienced the highest migration pressure in relation to its population size. Cyprus’ Minister of the Interior, Konstantinos Ioannou, noted that the number of new asylum seekers and protected persons equated to 5% of the country’s population, exceeding the EU average of 1.5% and placing significant strain on the nation’s infrastructure and healthcare system.
At present, most of Syria is designated as being under the control of armed groups by the EUAA. While the agency emphasizes the necessity to consider protection needs on an individual basis, it identifies 13 groups of individuals who might be at risk within its general guidance framework. Notably, in the previous year, 94% of Syrian asylum applicants received subsidiary protection or refugee status within the EU.
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