Refugee law bill heads for House vote ahead of EU migration pact deadline

A bill amending the Refugee Law is entering its final stage before a vote, following the completion of its examination by the House interior committee, with the aim of fully aligning Cyprus with the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum before it comes into force in June 2026.

Deputy Minister for Migration Nicolas Ioannides described the discussion as highly constructive, stressing the importance of the legislation.

“The bill is of critical importance, of fundamental significance, as it incorporates into the Cypriot legal order the new European pact on migration and asylum, which enters into force on June 12, 2026,” he said.

He underlined that the Republic must be ready by then to implement the new framework.

He also thanked the House interior committee for its cooperation, noting that despite the bill’s length and the ongoing pre-election period, members demonstrated responsibility and the legislation will now be forwarded to the House plenum for a vote.

Outlining the contents of the bill, Ioannides said it provides, among other things, for stricter border controls, faster asylum procedures and, more broadly, a comprehensive, unified and coherent migration framework, allowing the European Union to respond effectively and avoid being caught unprepared, as happened a decade ago.

He added that the new framework is particularly important for Cyprus as a frontline state, noting it will help prevent mass inflows, speed up asylum procedures and increase returns.

Reference was also made to funding, with Ioannides stating that more than 60 per cent of migration-related costs are co-financed by the European Union, while the upgrading and construction of reception centres is funded at a rate of 90 to 100 per cent.

He added that Cyprus will benefit from the solidarity mechanism, including the relocation of asylum seekers to other member states, financial support and technical assistance from the European Commission.

From the committee’s side, its chairman Akel MP Aristos Damianou said the bill, which runs to around 250 pages, was examined in two lengthy sessions. He added that the article-by-article discussion has been completed and, in consultation with the House president, it will be brought before the plenary on April 23, the day of parliament’s self-dissolution.

“It concerns the revision of the entire migration, asylum and refugee package. Therefore, there are binding regulations at European Union level and we examined their implementation in the Republic of Cyprus,” he said.

Dipa-Cooperation MP Giorgos Papanastasiou Giorgos Penintaex said the passage of the law is linked to European funding amounting to €190 million for migration management, expressing the view that the bill will be approved by the plenary so it can be implemented within the required deadlines.