Latest news with #NicholasIoannides
Leaders
3 days ago
- Business
- Leaders
Cyprus Grants Financial Support to Syrian Families to Resettle
Cyprus announced that it will give financial assistance to Syrian families to resettle them back in their homeland, according to Associated Press. Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides sated that they would allow the main income earners to remain in Cyprus for up to three years to work as part of a voluntary repatriation program. Ioannides noted that families must drop their claims for asylum or rescind international protection status in order to qualify for the program. The government will receive applications from June 2 to Aug. 31. 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. Importantly, couples who do not have children can also apply. According to the program, the family's main income earner, either the father or mother, will obtain a special residency and work permit. Therefore, they can stay for a minimum of two years in Cyprus with the option of staying for a third year. Moreover, the income earner will be allowed to travel back and forth to Syria as long as his or her residency and work permit are valid. 'This new program is a targeted, humanitarian and realistic policy that bolsters Syria's post-war transition to normality,' Ioannides said. Syrians represent the largest group of asylum-seekers in Cyprus. Recent Asylum Service figures showed that 4,226 Syrians applied for asylum last year. Related Topics: Syria Pledges to Assist in Locating Missing Americans: US Envoy Syria Welcomes US Sanctions Lift, Eyes Post-War Reconstruction Erdogan Holds Talks with Syria's Sharaa in Istanbul Short link : Post Views: 4
Roya News
4 days ago
- Business
- Roya News
Cyprus to pay Syrians to voluntarily return home
Cyprus has announced a new voluntary repatriation program aimed at encouraging Syrian families to return to their homeland, offering financial aid and temporary work permits for the main income earners to stay behind and continue supporting their loved ones. Unveiled on Thursday by Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides, the program provides 2,000 euros (USD 2,270) for each adult and 1,000 euros (USD 1,135) per child to families who choose to go back to Syria. Childless couples are also eligible. However, participation is contingent on applicants withdrawing their asylum requests or relinquishing international protection status granted before Dec. 31, 2024. The application window opens on June 2 and closes on August 31. As part of the arrangement, one parent or main income earner from each returning family — either the mother or father — will be granted a temporary residency and work permit valid for two years, with the possibility of a one-year extension. This allows them to remain in Cyprus, earn a living, and send remittances back home, while also being permitted to travel back and forth between the two countries. "Many Syrians have expressed their willingness to return and help rebuild their country," Ioannides said, "but are reluctant to do so because of the uncertainty surrounding where they'll be able to earn a living wage." The goal of the program, according to Andreas Georgiades, head of Cyprus' Asylum Service, is to ease that concern by offering 'a modest nest egg' for families restarting life in Syria, while maintaining an income stream from abroad. Ioannides described the initiative as a "targeted, humanitarian and realistic policy" that supports Syria's post-war transition. He added that European Home Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner views the plan as a potential model for other EU countries. Syrians currently make up the largest group of asylum-seekers in Cyprus. In 2023 alone, over 4,200 Syrians applied for asylum—almost 10 times more than Afghans, the second-largest group. Separately, Ioannides reaffirmed that Cyprus is acting within the bounds of a 2009 Search and Rescue agreement with Syria, which allows it to return rescued migrants at sea to their country of origin. He confirmed that two inflatable boats, each carrying around 30 Syrians, were recently intercepted and redirected under that agreement.
Asharq Al-Awsat
4 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Cyprus Offers Syrian Families Money to Resettle, Work Permits for Main Earners
Cyprus will offer Syrian families money to help them resettle back in their homeland and allow the main income earners to remain on the island nation for up to three years to work as part of a voluntary repatriation program, a Cypriot minister said Thursday. 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, The AP news reported. 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 UN refugee agency and Europe's top human rights body to stop pushing back migrants trying to reach the island by boat.
4 days ago
- Business
Cyprus offers Syrian families money to resettle and work permits for main earners
NICOSIA, Cyprus -- Cyprus will offer Syrian families money to help them resettle back in their homeland and allow the main income earners to remain on the island nation for up to three years to work as part of a voluntary repatriation program, a Cypriot minister said Thursday. 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.
Khaleej Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Cyprus to pay Syrian asylum seekers to return home
Cyprus is to launch a repatriation scheme for Syrian families who revoke their asylum claims, allowing one adult member to stay on the island and work, a minister said on Thursday. Migration Minister Nicholas Ioannides said the financial incentives, beginning next month, would be for a voluntary return to Syria for families seeking asylum or those with international protection. He told reporters the scheme was being launched in coordination with the European Union. EU member Cyprus is one of the largest receivers of Syrian migrants per capita. Ioannides noted that Syria was "undergoing a critical transitional period" after Bashar Al Assad's ouster in December. "The success of the reconstruction depends on political will, international cooperation, and, most importantly, the active involvement of the Syrian people themselves," he said. Officials in Cyprus say 2,500 Syrians have withdrawn asylum applications or renounced their protection status, and around 2,400 have returned home. The repatriation scheme allows one person per family or couple to receive a special residence and work permit valid for two years. Returning family members will receive 2,000 euros ($2,270) for the spouse and 1,000 euros per child. The scheme will operate from June 2 to August 31. Cyprus granted asylum to thousands of Syrians who fled the civil war there that began in 2011. The eastern Mediterranean island is less than 200 kilometres from the Syrian and Lebanese coasts, and has long been a route for refugees seeking a better life in Europe.
