Christodoulides: Migration, Syria key issues in Brussels talks
President Nikos Christodoulides on Thursday arrived in Brussels where migration was set to dominate the European Union summit.
The hottest discussion was expected to centre on how to deal with irregular migrants arriving in the 27-nation bloc by land from the east and by sea from the south in what most EU governments see as a political and security risk that is fuelling the rise of populist and far-right parties and influencing elections.
Christodoulides expressed satisfaction “for the fact that it seems that the European Union is now approaching this specific issue with the seriousness it should“, he said.
He referred to a letter by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to the EU27 setting out “the moves that must be made by the European Union”.
“It’s a positive that finally the issue of Syria is included in this framework of immigration discussions,” Christodoulides said.
“When I first started with this effort there were only two or three member states that insisted on the need to touch on the issue of Syria. It is now a double-digit number of member states that agree with our approach,” he added.
Cyprus and other countries seek to change the status of parts of Syria so the country can be deemed safe for the return of asylum seekers and refugees.
Shortly after a preparatory meeting on the issue organised by the Italian prime minister, Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis said in a post on X that the meeting was attended by the prime ministers of Italy, the Netherlands, Denmark, Greece, Poland, the Czech Republic, Malta and Hungary, the Chancellor of Austria and von der Leyen.
“The aim of the meeting was the coordination and promotion of a common position on migration, and especially in terms of the external dimension, exploring innovative solutions that can be considered, strengthening partnerships with countries of transit and countries of origin, but also the issue of creating conditions of dignified and voluntary returns of Syrians in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in the light of the diffusion of the crisis in Lebanon,” he said.
Christodoulides had described the situation in neighbouring Lebanon as “very worrying”.
Cyprus, as the EU member state in the region that has “excellent relations” with all neighbouring states”, he said. This would include Israel, which has launched an offensive on Lebanon.
“We are always doing everything possible to the best of our ability to deal with this very difficult situation,” said Christodoulides.
He added that Cyprus was sending medical aid to Lebanon at the request of the Lebanese authorities and was also in constant contact with the Lebanese army.
It was necessary for the EU to support the Lebanese army as “it is that institution that can play a decisive role in these very difficult conditions”, he said.