EU pressures Cyprus to grant asylum to 70 stranded migrants

The European Commission on Thursday stressed that Cyprus has an obligation to provide access to asylum proceedings, as 70 migrants remain stranded in the buffer zone, unable to apply for asylum for weeks.

Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides visited the buffer zone in Avlona in the morning, where he met with local residents and farmers who expressed frustration with the 14km fence that stretches across parts of the Green Line, calling it “useless.”

The government is now facing a lawsuit from 46 migrants part of the larger group denied access to asylum proceedings.

They have been living in UN tents in the buffer zone for weeks, amid endless accusations of pushbacks allegedly carried out by police officers.

Allegations include incidents where migrants intercepted within the Republic, sometimes while attempting to apply for asylum at the Pournara reception center, were placed in unmarked vehicles and driven to the buffer zone, where they were reportedly “dumped,” according to the UN.

Commenting on the lawsuit, Ioannides said that the legal service is handling the matter alongside the relevant ministries.

“The executive authority cannot interfere in court proceedings, so a solution will be found in court,” he said

The government has cited the Green Line regulation as the reason for not allowing the migrants to apply for asylum, emphasising that it does not want the buffer zone to become a new route for migrants seeking to enter the Republic – although this has been the case for years. All the migrants currently stranded reached the buffer zone through the north. Ioannides criticised the fact that they travelled via Turkey, which he described as a safe country.

On Wednesday, Ioannides underlined the EU had stayed out of the matter as it was understanding of the situation.

Speaking to the Cyprus Mail on Thursday, a spokesperson for the EU Commission said it was closely monitoring the situation and was in contact with Cypriot authorities and the UNCHR in Cyprus.

“The possibility for any person to apply for international protection on a Member State’s territory, including at its border or in a transit zone, is established in EU law.”

With Cyprus being a member state, the spokesperson specified there was “an obligation to provide access to the procedure for international protection. This is an important element of the right to asylum guaranteed by the Charter of Fundamental Rights (Article 18) and of the respect for the Geneva Convention.”

The spokesperson added that the Commission “has been working closely over the last few years to support Cyprus in managing challenges related to irregular arrivals, even during periods of exceptionally high arrivals.” They declined to comment specifically on Ioannides’ statements.

During the visit in Avlona, Ioannides specified there was an ongoing dialogue with the UNHCR so a solution can be found.

However, he acknowledged that the issue is complex, involving humanitarian, political and legal dimensions and requires broader discussion for resolution.

“It is a matter of concern to us; we are mindful of the humanitarian aspect, which is why we are providing necessities to these people,” he said. On the other hand, “it is our firm position that we do not want to create a new route via the Green Line, especially now that we are not facing arrivals by sea.”