Nicosia (APA) – During an informal meeting in Cyprus on Thursday, EU interior ministers addressed the topic of returns, particularly to Syria and Afghanistan. Austrian Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) emphasized at the beginning of the meeting in Nicosia, “It is extremely important to advance the issue of deportations at the European level as well.” EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner remarked that “returns remain a central challenge.”
Brunner noted that the EU’s return rate increased to 27 percent in 2025, up from 19 percent at the start of the previous year, but stated, “that is still far from enough.” Deportations to Syria are ongoing, supported by Frontex. “We had almost 10,000 voluntary returns to Syria in total, which Frontex supported,” stated Brunner. The EU is collaborating closely with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to enhance conditions on the ground, providing financial support of 620 million euros for 2026 and 2027. The goal is to facilitate returns while ensuring stability in the countries of origin and neighboring areas.
Karner noted, “Many member states are very interested in how Austria, as the first European country, has successfully conducted direct deportations to Afghanistan and Syria.” Last year, approximately 1,000 Syrians departed Austria through both voluntary departures and deportations to Syria and other European countries. “Currently, around 10,000 asylum applications from Syrians are under reassessment,” Karner added.
Cyprus’s Schengen Accession Also Discussed
The topic of Cyprus’s Schengen aspirations was also addressed. “Cyprus is on a very good path,” remarked Commissioner Brunner, highlighting ongoing technical evaluations and already implemented improvements. The accession process adheres to specific deadlines and criteria, culminating in a report from the European Commission on “whether Cyprus is ready or not.” Schengen is considered “an important factor for the security of Europe as a whole.” (01/22/2026)
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