Any minor disagreements should not keep us aways from achieving EU’s fundamental goals, Deputy Minister of Migration, Nicholas A. Ioannides said on Thursday, while addressing the Informal Meeting of EU Ministers of Justice and Home Affairs, in Nicosia. “United we can counter and difficulty, united we are always stronger” he added.
This is the first informal meeting of Ministers from the EU member-states under the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council in 2026. The meeting, due to conclude on Friday, focuses on the returns policies and the integration of migrants.
Addressing the attendees, Deputy Minister Ioannides noted that Nicosia is the only capital city in the EU under military occupation, “bearing evident marks of is history, while being a symbol of resilience, strength and hope.”
Ioannides continued by saying that, despite its location at the southern-eastern end of the EU, Cyprus is “deeply rooted in its European destiny, long before our accession to the EU.”
“We are proud to be part of the greatest peace cooperation venture between states that Europe and the world have ever known,” he said, noting that this venture is based on mutual trust, solidarity and respect for the rule of law. Ioannides also said that the people of Cyprus have a deep understanding of how valuable peace, cooperation and stability are, due to the experience of the Turkish occupation, ongoing since 1974.
“At a time when the fundamental values of the international order are being tested, our meeting today is a reminder of who we are and what we have built together,” Ioannides continued, and told attendees that “any minor disagreements should not drive us away from achieving the fundamental goals of the European vision.”
“United we can counter any difficulty, united we are always stronger,” he concluded, inviting the attendees to enjoy Cyprus hospitality and culture, along with their participation in the Meeting’s discussions.
Prior to the discussion, Ioannides expressed his deepest condolences towards Spain’s Minister of Home Affairs, for the lives that were lost at the tragic train accident in Spain.
Ministers focus on returns regulation and safeguarding Schengen security
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Earlier, both Ioannides, and the Minister of Justice and Public Order, Costas Fitiris, spoke upon their arrival at the Filoxenia Conference Center, about the importance of achieving a comprehensive EU framework for returns, while laying emphasis on safeguarding security within Schengen. EU partners also expressed their anticipation for progress vis-a-vis returns.
Ioannides, reiterated Nicosia’s determination ‘to do its utmost to ensure the timely implementation of the EU Pact in Migration and Asylum,’ which will enable EU member states ‘to deal with migration in a cohesive manner.’ He also expressed readiness ‘to move forward with the negotiations on the return regulation, which will establish a robust legal order governing returns and will complement the Pact.’
He explained that discussions during the meeting focus on ways to facilitate returns of third country nationals who have no right to remain in the EU, to their homelands. In this respect, Ioannides noted that the IOM and Frontex will offer their invaluable insights. Discussion topics also include returns to Syria and Afghanistan, especially of convicted criminals and individuals posing a threat to national security.
Replying to questions, Ioannides said that Cyprus has already shared best practices and expertise with European partners and is ‘willing to discuss this matter even further, to increase rates and numbers across Europe.’
To another a question on secondary movements from Cyprus, he noted that ‘the numbers demonstrate that we don’t have any’ and added that, since Cyprus is an island on the southern-eastern fringe of Europe, it is difficult for migrants to move to the mainland.
In terms of Schengen, he said that it is a top priority for the government and noted that the technical inspections have been finalized and Cyprus is awaiting a Commission’s report, looking forward to developments within 2026.
As for Schengen controls, in relation to the Green Line regulation in Cyprus, Ioannides explained that the regulation, which clarifies that the Green Line is not a border, provides the legal framework to carry-out checks, for the past almost 22 years.
The EU, which Cyprus joined in May 2004, in an effort to contribute to closer ties between the island’s two communities, adopted in 2004 the Green Line Regulation which defines the legal framework on the crossing of goods, persons and services to and from the island’s northern Turkish-occupied areas.
Costas Fitiris stated that the meeting’s discussions focus on how to safeguard Schengen by preventing secondary movements. ‘Schengen relies on trust and shared responsibility. Our focus is on making existing measures work better in practice, strengthening cooperation and ensuring that free movement continues to be better in all Europe by security and effective implementation,’ he said.
Magnus Brunner, European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, stated that in 2026, the Cyprus Presidency can build on the latest developments in managing migration policy. He said that it is a positive development that the returns regulation is being discussed in the Parliament and added that the next step is to focus on the new Frontex regulation and mandate, as ‘Frontex plays an important part on the external dimension in the work with third countries.’
Amy E. Pope, IOM Director General and Coordinator of the UN Network on Migration, spoke about Syria and said that that the situation is still volatile, and much of the country remains unsafe and in conflict. ‘Some parts of the country are more stable than others,’ she said and added that ‘it will be essential that we have people who want to go back and rebuild and that is coupled with foreign assistance.’
Anneleen Van Bossuyt, Minister of Asylum and Migration, and of Social Integration, in charge of Major Cities Policy of Belgium, underlined the importance of setting the right priorities and noted the importance of returns for a well-functioning migration policy. She also noted the need to seek for European solutions, particularly for the returns to Afghanistan.
Léon Gloden, Minister for Home Affairs of Luxembourg, stated reintegration is an essential part of the return policy and noted that his country endorses voluntary, along with forced returns and reintegration.
The Minister of Migration and Asylum of Greece, Athanasios Plevris, stressed in his statements upon arriving at the Summit that returns to countries of origin, as well as deportations, are a central issue. He also stressed that it is particularly important that a timeline for the creation of a returns center, stationed outside the EU is being discussed.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively.