Cyprus Highlights National Resilience and Balanced Refugee Policy

Minister of Justice Kostas Fytiri affirmed Cyprus' enduring resilience, citing its six‑decade history since independence, EU membership, and recent maritime boundary agreements with Israel, Lebanon and Egypt that reinforce its role as a security pillar in the Eastern Mediterranean. He noted ongoing challenges such as rising crime and organized‑crime threats, and outlined plans to modernise the police force through a new policing model and increased use of technology.

The Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection reiterated that Cyprus will continue a policy that combines protection for legitimate asylum seekers with strict legality, emphasizing the country's commitment on World Refugee Day 2026. The ministry highlighted the start of the EU Migration and Asylum Pact on 12 June 2026, which will shape Cyprus' asylum procedures, workload sharing and responsibility distribution among EU members, reinforcing the rule of law and human‑dignity standards.

The dual messages underscore Cyprus' focus on internal security reforms while upholding its international obligations to refugees and migrants.