“The readiness of Cyprus to receive asylum seekers in the context of the EU relocation scheme is promising. However, I remain seriously concerned about the grave shortcomings of the national asylum system. The authorities need to redouble their efforts to improve reception conditions and fully align domestic asylum procedures with European human rights standards” said today Nils Muižnieks, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, at the end of his five-day visit to Cyprus.
The Commissioner visited the island’s only reception centre for asylum seekers with a capacity of up to 400 asylum seekers. Located near the remote village of Kofinou, this centre depends primarily upon EU funds and UNHCR support and is seriously understaffed. “The Cypriot authorities are urged to design long-term reception policies and match them with adequate funding for their implementation. I am also concerned by the lack of legal assistance for asylum seekers and the often excessive length of the asylum procedure” added Commissioner Muižnieks. “Most of the asylum seekers are granted subsidiary protection, which excludes them from enjoying their right to family reunification. The very few who are granted refugee status also face difficulties because of the lack of integration policies and the very long and complicated naturalisation procedures”. The Commissioner noted that “refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection form part of Cypriot society. In view of the expected reunification of the island, it is all the more important for the authorities to draw upon the Council of Europe’s expertise and step up their efforts to enhance all migrants’ integration and social cohesion, promote tolerance and eradicate hate speech and other forms of hate crime”. (more...)