Cyprus Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection Nicholas Ioannides on Friday described the entry into application of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum as the beginning of a ‘new era’ for the European Union, expressing confidence that the new framework will provide a comprehensive and collective response to migration challenges.
Speaking upon his arrival at the Informal Ministerial Meeting on the Pact on Migration and Asylum, held at the Filoxenia Conference Centre in Nicosia under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, Ioannides welcomed representatives from EU member states, the European Commission, international organisations and EU agencies.
He noted that June 12 was ‘a very important day for everyone in Europe’ following years of negotiations and two years of preparations leading up to the implementation of the pact.
‘Today, the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum enters into application’ he said, acknowledging that its implementation would be challenging but stressing the determination of all parties involved to make it work.
Ioannides reiterated Cyprus’ long-standing position that migration should be addressed in a comprehensive and coherent manner. He said the pact provides a broad legal framework that will allow the EU to tackle migration collectively and in a cohesive way.
According to the Deputy Minister, the implementation of the pact was one of the priorities of the Cyprus Presidency, with Cyprus working closely with the European Commission and member states to facilitate its entry into force.
He stressed, however, that the start of the pact’s implementation should not be viewed as the end of the process.
‘We’re just starting,’ he said, adding that continued efforts would be needed to ensure that the pact remains functional, future-proof and successful in addressing migration challenges.
Asked when the pact could be considered a success, Ioannides said it would take time before its effectiveness could be properly assessed.
He noted that member states had already undertaken significant efforts to amend legislation, adapt systems and improve infrastructure in preparation for implementation. While describing the first year as an important milestone, he said the pact’s effectiveness would be evaluated on a continuous basis.
‘As of today, we’re entering a new era,’ he said, expressing optimism about the initiative while acknowledging that shortcomings or mistakes might emerge and require correction.
Responding to a question about countries such as Poland and Hungary, which have expressed reservations regarding aspects of the solidarity mechanism, Ioannides stressed that no member state had indicated that it would refuse to implement the pact.
He said the solidarity mechanism represented only one aspect of the broader framework and pointed out that differing views among member states were natural in a Union of 27 countries.
Nevertheless, he stressed that all member states shared the same overall objective and were willing to contribute to the implementation of the pact.
‘For the first time, we have been dealing with migration in a collective manner, and that is important,’ he said.
Ioannides also announced that Cyprus and Lithuania would sign a Memorandum of Understanding on relocations later on Friday, describing it as an example of member states’ commitment to the solidarity mechanism.
He expressed confidence that all member states could and would play a role in the successful implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum.
The Republic of Cyprus assumed for a second time the Presidency of the Council of the EU on January 1st, 2026, for a period of six months, as part of a Trio Presidency along with Poland and Denmark.