The Ministry of Interior of Cyprus announced the suspension of the assessment of asylum applications for Syrians, because of pending developments in the reassessment of Syria’s status and the determination of safe areas.

In a statement, the Ministry said that the assessment of asylum applications is overall suspended for people coming from Syria in order to implement a new policy regarding the management of Syrian asylum seekers and due to their recent mass arrival by sea.

Speaking at the Presidential Palace after the completion of the National Security Council meeting, Interior Minister Konstantinos Ioannou said that the situation is under control and actions are being taken to address potential risks.

He added that the decision was made in the light of developments in the Middle East and noted that in some cases the rights under the temporary protection status will cease and steps will be taken to repatriate immigrants, either by the voluntary return or the mandatory deportation process.

For his part, the President of the Republic, Nikos Christodoulidis, referred to the hard decisions the government must make, stating that such decisions are made only to safeguard the interests of the Republic of Cyprus and the Cypriot people.

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Competent sources told RIK that this move is legal and that the Cypriot authorities have already informed the relevant competent Directorate General of the European Commission. At the same time, letters will be sent to hold a conference in Cyprus with member states that share the request of the Republic to designate areas of Syria as safe, so as to allow the rejection of asylum applications and potentially the repatriation of applicants.

Competent sources believe that the suspension of the assessment of the supplementary protection request will put pressure on Syrian traffickers, creating an uncertainty regarding the assessment of applications. At the moment, Syrians are automatically entitled to the supplementary protection status.

The application assessment suspension means that applicants will enter a reception center with the authorities providing them with food and accommodation, but they will not be granted a housing allowance. 

Also, the assessment suspension means that the 9-month unemployment period is extended, while if someone chooses to leave from the reception center they will be required to declare their address of residence so that they are controlled by the authorities.

As mentioned, Cyprus is seen as an attractive destination and these measures aim to create disincentives.

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