Cyprus is set to launch a repatriation programme for Syrian families who withdraw their asylum applications, allowing one adult to remain on the European island and work there, Migration Minister Nicholas Ioannides said on Thursday.
The programme includes incentives starting next month that are aimed at encouraging the voluntary return to Syria of families seeking asylum or holding international protection. It is being coordinated with the European Union, Ioannides said.
Among EU members, Cyprus hosts one of the highest numbers of Syrian migrants per capita.
Syria is undergoing a “critical transition period” following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in December, Ioannides noted. “The success of the reconstruction depends on political will, international cooperation, and most importantly, the active participation of the Syrian people themselves,” he said.
According to Cypriot authorities, 2,500 Syrians have withdrawn their asylum claims or relinquished their protection status, and around 2,400 have returned home.
The repatriation programme, running from 2 June to 31 August, grants one person per family or couple a special two-year residence and work permit. Family members returning to Syria will receive €2,000 for a spouse and €1,000 for each child.
Cyprus has granted asylum to thousands of Syrians fleeing the civil war that erupted in 2011.
The Eastern Mediterranean island is less than 200 kilometres from the Syrian and Lebanese coasts and has long been a gateway for refugees seeking a better life in Europe.
