Cyprus announced on Sunday the suspension of processing asylum applications from Syrians, following a significant increase in illegal migrant arrivals this month.
More than a thousand individuals have arrived in Cyprus aboard boats from Lebanon since the beginning of April, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. This prompted Nicosia to call on its European Union partners to step up efforts to assist Lebanon and Syria.
President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides told reporters, "This is an emergency measure, a difficult decision to protect Cyprus' interests."
Situated at the eastern edge of the European Union, Cyprus is the closest EU member state to the Middle East, lying nearly 160 kilometers west of the shores of Lebanon or Syria.
The arrival of over a thousand migrants by sea in the first three months of this year contrasts with just 78 during the same period in 2023.
Practically, this measure means that asylum seekers will be confined to reception centers providing food and shelter, without any other benefits. Government sources indicate that those opting to leave these centers will automatically forfeit any kind of benefits and will not be allowed to work.
Christodoulides visited Lebanon last week, engaging in discussions with the European Commission on how Brussels can assist Beirut in halting these influxes.
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