The Republic of Cyprus remains steadfastly committed to a policy that combines the protection of those who are truly entitled to it with legality, responsibility, and an effective response to migration challenges, the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection said on Saturday, marking World Refugee Day 2026.
Referring to the World Refugee Day, celebrated on June 20, the Deputy Ministry notes in a press release that it “serves as a reminder of the international community’s responsibility toward those forced to flee their country of origin due to war, persecution, violence, or serious human rights violations.”
Cyprus, as a country that has experienced refugeehood and displacement since 1974 due to the Turkish invasion and occupation, approaches the issue with responsibility and a commitment to international and EU law, it is noted next, adding that “safeguarding the right to international protection is an expression of the Republic’s fundamental values, as well as part of a broader responsibility for the proper functioning of the asylum system.”
‘The Republic of Cyprus remains steadfastly committed to a policy that combines, on the one hand, the protection of those who are truly entitled to it with the rule of law, and, on the other hand, responsibility and an effective response to migration challenges,’ the press release notes.
In this context, it is added, the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection ‘is strengthening the relevant mechanisms, improving procedures, and promoting the timely and lawful examination of applications for international protection, taking into account the country’s European obligations, operational needs, and the public interest.’
It is noted that, in this same context, the entry into force of the new European Pact on Migration and Asylum on June 12, 2026, constitutes a significant institutional development for the European Union and its member states.
‘For the Republic of Cyprus, the new framework is directly linked to the need for meaningful European solidarity, a balanced sharing of responsibility, and effective procedures, particularly for Member States on the front lines of migratory pressures,’ it is further added.
On the occasion of World Refugee Day, the Deputy Ministry reaffirms the Republic of Cyprus’s steadfast commitment to a comprehensive asylum and migration policy, which is grounded in the international and European framework and serves the rule of law, legality, human dignity, and the public interest.