Cyprus offers Syrian families money to resettle and work permits for main earners
Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides said that a prerequisite for families to qualify for the program is that they must drop their claims for asylum or rescind international protection status already granted to them prior to Dec. 31, 2024.
Unveiling the program, Ioannides said that families wishing to voluntarily return will be given a one-off sum of 2,000 euros ($2,255) for one adult and 1,000 euros ($1,128) for each child. Childless couples are also eligible to apply. The application period runs from June 2 to Aug. 31.
Additionally, the family's main income earner — either the father or mother will be granted a special residency and work permit allowing them to stay for a minimum of two years in Cyprus with the option of another year.
Ioannides said that many Syrians have expressed their willingness to return and help rebuild their country, but are reluctant to do so because of the uncertainty surrounding where they'll be able to earn a living wage.
According to the head of Cyprus' Asylum Service Andreas Georgiades, the program's premise is to help families overcome any such reluctance by affording them a modest nest egg with which to cover their immediate needs while enabling the main income earner to continue working and sending money to his family.
The income earner will be allowed to travel back and forth to Syria while his or her residency and work permit are valid.
Syrian nationals make up the largest group of asylum-seekers in Cyprus by far. According to Asylum Service figures, 4,226 Syrians applied for asylum last year — almost 10 times more than Afghans who are the second-largest group.
'This new program is a targeted, humanitarian and realistic policy that bolsters Syria's post-war transition to normality,' Ioannides said, adding that European Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner considers the program as a potential example for other European Union member countries to follow.
Meanwhile, Ioannides repeated that a 2009 Search and Rescue agreement that Cyprus has with Syria enables Cypriot authorities to send back boatloads of Syrian migrants trying to reach the island nation after they're rescued in international waters.
Ioannides said that two inflatable boats each loaded with 30 Syrian migrants were turned back in line with the bilateral agreement after being rescued when they transmitted that they were in danger.
Ioannides again denied Cyprus engages in any pushbacks, despite urgings from both the U.N. refugee agency and Europe's top human rights body to stop pushing back migrants trying to reach the island by boat.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Epoch Times
5 hours ago
- Epoch Times
European Leaders Call for Protection of Ukraine as Trump Set to Meet Putin
Russia-Ukraine War 'We share the conviction that a diplomatic solution must protect Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests,' the leaders said. A coalition of European leaders released a joint statement on Aug. 9 welcoming the news of President Donald Trump's upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, and stressing the need to ensure that European and Ukrainian interests are protected as the two leaders talk about ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump and Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska on Aug. 15.
The Hill
5 hours ago
- The Hill
Putin's Ukraine land pitch sparks firm European response ahead of Trump summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin's reported proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine, which would require Kyiv to cede regions in the east, sparked a firm response from European leaders on Saturday ahead of President Trump's summit with the Kremlin leader in Alaska next week. The seven European leaders welcomed Trump's efforts to negotiate a ceasefire as part of an effort to permanently end the nearly three-and-a-half-year war in Eastern Europe, but argued that 'only' an approach that mixes support for Ukraine, 'active' diplomacy and additional pressure on Moscow can lead to peace on the front lines. 'We stand ready to support this work diplomatically as well as by upholding our substantive military and financial support to Ukraine, including through the work of the Coalition of the Willing, and by upholding and imposing restrictive measures against the Russian Federation,' the European officials said in a lengthy, joint statement on Saturday, adding that a resolution 'must protect Ukraine's and Europe's vital security interests.' The statement was signed by French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Putin presented a ceasefire proposal to Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff during their Wednesday meeting in Moscow, their fifth gathering this year. While not all the details are clear, the Russian leader reportedly suggested that Ukraine withdraw its armed forces from the Donetsk region, along with Luhansk, to place both sides on a path to a ceasefire. In that case, Russia would fully control Donetsk, Luhansk and Crimea, a peninsula Moscow annexed in 2014. Trump signaled Friday at the White House that he is open to land swaps as part of a potential peace deal. Hours later, the president revealed that he would be meeting with Putin next Friday. 'We're going to get some back, and we're going to get some switched. There'll be some swapping of territories to the betterment of both,' the president told reporters when asked about negotiations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the idea of Ukraine cede large chunks of it's land as part of the talks, saying Saturday morning that 'of course, we will not give Russia any awards for what it has done.' 'The Ukrainian people deserve peace,' he said, emphasizing that 'Ukrainians will not give their land to an occupier.' European leaders reiterated their calls for Ukraine to have 'credible' security guarantees as part of the peace talks to 'defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.' 'Ukraine has the freedom of choice over its own destiny. Meaningful negotiations can only take place in the context of a ceasefire or reduction of hostilities,' the leaders said on Saturday. 'The path to peace in Ukraine cannot be decided without Ukraine.' The group also emphasized their commitment to the notion that 'international borders must not be changed by force' and that the 'current line of contact should be the starting point' of the peace talks. Vice President Vance, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, Ukraine representatives and European allies met in Kent, England to discuss Trump's efforts to forge peace in Eastern Europe on Saturday. Zelensky's top adviser, Andriy Yermak, who attended the meeting, along with Ukraine's Secretary of National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, said the current front lines should not be considered borders if the eventual peace deal is reached. 'Our positions were clear: a reliable, lasting peace is only possible with Ukraine at the negotiating table, with full respect for our sovereignty and without recognizing the occupation. A ceasefire is necessary — but the front line is not a border,' Yermak said on social media. 'Our partners support us not only in words — assistance will continue in the military, financial, and sanctions spheres until the aggression stops,' he added, thanking Vance for 'respecting all points of view, and for his efforts toward a reliable peace.' In response to Putin's ceasefire outline this week, European leaders offered a counterproposal, one brought up during the meetings in England, which reportedly stated that a ceasefire must take place before any other concessions advance and that territorial swaps must be reciprocal — meaning if Ukraine pulls out of some territories, Russia's military must do the same. A U.S. official told NewsNation that meetings in Kent yielded 'significant progress' toward Trump's goal of ending the Russia-Ukraine war. Meanwhile, the White House is considering inviting Zelensky to the summit in Alaska. The administration signaled it is open to host a meeting between Trump, Putin and Zelensky, but noted that it is still planning a bilateral meeting between just the president and Kremlin leader. European leaders, in their Saturday statement, said they will continue to cooperate 'closely' with Trump, the U.S. and Zelensky to achieve a peace deal in Ukraine.
Associated Press
6 hours ago
- Associated Press
Volunteers save sea lions from fishnets in Russia's Far East
The Associated Press is an independent global news organization dedicated to factual reporting. Founded in 1846, AP today remains the most trusted source of fast, accurate, unbiased news in all formats and the essential provider of the technology and services vital to the news business. More than half the world's population sees AP journalism every day.
