Europe (Washington Insider Magazine)—Around ten EU member states align with Cyprus in advocating for the reclassification of certain Syrian regions from unsafe to safe, according to sources cited by the Cyprus News Agency. This initiative, driven by Cyprus, aims to pressure the European Commission, with Nicosia hosting a pivotal conference from May 15-18.
The move follows President Nikos Christodoulides’ declaration that Cyprus will no longer process asylum applications from Syrians and seeks to strengthen Lebanon’s capacity to manage regional migration. The reclassification effort is supported by the Czech Republic, proposing a joint mission to Syria to identify safe zones.
Efforts to address migration include campaigns in sub-Saharan Africa, streamlined asylum processing, and strengthened controls at Turkish airports. In January, departures (1,200) outpaced arrivals (737) for the first time, marking a shift in migration dynamics.
With approximately 30,000 Syrian refugees in Cyprus receiving supplementary protection, the government continues to manage arrivals effectively, balancing humanitarian principles with practical migration policies.
