The recent EU agreement on migrations is a historic achievement and a milestone Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Dr. Nicholas A. Ioannides and European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner said.
Speaking at a press conference on the morning sessions of the Informal Ministerial Conference on the Pact of Migration and Asylum held in Nicosia, under the Cyprus Presidency of the European Council, both Ioannides and Brunner pointed out that the implementation is crucial for the pact’s success.
Ioannides said consistent implementation across the Union, mutual trust, experience-sharing and close cooperation will be essential in the months and years ahead.
The Deputy Minister noted the legislative framework has been turned into ‘an operational system ready to be applied,’ but stressed that frameworks alone cannot deliver results.
Underlining Cyprus’s role as a frontline member state, the Deputy Minister said the presidency has prioritized a balanced, effective and humane European migration policy based on responsibility and solidarity, protection for those in genuine need, stronger cooperation with partners and practical support for member states under pressure.
He stressed that success would depend on capacity, coordination, political commitment and continued cooperation among member states, and thanked ministers, delegations, EU agencies, international organisations and partners for their contributions.
He also noted that the final working session of the conference on Friday afternoon will focus on the way forward for European asylum and migration policy and on ensuring the new framework remains credible, resilient and future-proof.
European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner, in his remarks during the press conference, described the informal Council meeting under the Cyprus presidency as a “milestone” for European migration and asylum policy, while underlining that the pact’s success will depend on implementation, capacity and close international cooperation.
Brunner praised Cyprus’s six-month presidency for securing swift compromises – notably on the return regulation – and for preparing member states to apply the pact’s new rules.
He pointed out that for the first time we have ‘this comprehensive European approach towards migration and asylum. And 10 years ago…we did take a lot of responsibility as a European Union, but we didn’t have any rules, we didn’t have a system. And that’s why we didn’t have control at the end of today, what is going on in the European Union’.
‘And with this big migration reform, with the pact as a basis, as a centrepiece, actually, we now have the rules we didn’t have in the last year’.
Brunner added that the reform provides a comprehensive EU approach that the Union previously lacked and pointed to early indicators of progress: overall arrivals down 55% in recent years, a 90% drop on the Western Balkans route, and a 67% decline so far in 2026 on the Turkey-Aegean route.
The Commissioner said the EU has several partnerships with third countries outside the European Union in place, Egypt, Tunisia, Jordan, Mauritania. However, the EU needs to go further. «We need to work with Morocco, for instance, with other countries as well. And we are also developing quite an ambitious initiative to address the Eastern Corridor. This is the main corridor coming from Bangladesh, Pakistan via the Gulf countries towards Egypt, and then to Libya, and from Libya to the European Union, and reduce illegal arrivals because of that engagement».
He also referred to the agreement with India. ‘So, you see, our comprehensive approach on migration is actually taking shape’.
Answering questions on return hubs, Brunner stressed the Commission only created the legal basis; setting up hubs is voluntary and for member states to negotiate with third countries. He said the return regulation contains safeguards, agreements will be sent to the Commission for monitoring, and international organisations will play a role in oversight.
On which countries might host return hubs, Brunner said five member states – Austria, Germany, Greece, Denmark and the Netherlands – are working together on this. He could not refer to what incentives they provide, noting those are matters for the negotiating member states, while the Commission will monitor compliance and support implementation.
To a question if human rights will be respected, ‘human rights are non-negotiable,’ he said. At this point, Dr. Ioannides clarified that only rejected asylum seekers, individuals who have no right to remain in the EU, will be sent to return hubs. ‘We’re not talking about asylum seekers that their application is pending. So, we need to be careful, and I actually stress that, that only individuals who have no right to remain in the EU and are not cooperating with member states for their return will be sent there, just to be clear’.
Asked why human rights organisations, without exception, are criticising today’s decision, Dr. Ioannides said it is his understanding that these organisations disagree with the gist of this project, with the whole architecture.
‘So, it’s not a matter of lack of control or rules or regulations or safeguards. It’s about the fact that they disagree with the whole endeavour. However, he said the Commission and all are determined to set some rules in order to address this issue. The Cypriot Deputy Minister said ‘we created a comprehensive legal framework in order to be in a position to address any future crisis in a more collective, coherent and efficient manner. Of course, there might be some drawbacks. I mean, it’s the first day today’, adding they will identify problems that might arise in the coming weeks or months.
On his part, Brunner said if somebody says it undermines fundamental rights, “I would argue the contrary. With having clearer and more effective rules and clear rules, we are actually protecting, first of all, people…’ so that they do not actually put their life into danger coming via the Mediterranean Sea or the Atlantic route.
Also, with protecting the rule of law, for instance, reducing abuse of the rules and making sure that we offer protection to actually those in need. ‘But we can only do that if we fight the illegal migration path, which is the business of smugglers and the human traffickers. We can’t support that business model, not at all’.
Ioannides also answered questions on voluntary returns to Syria, saying Cyprus has organised a voluntary return scheme – with EU financial support and dignified arrangements – that has seen roughly 5,000 Syrians return since December 2024. He said changing circumstances in Syria, court rulings upholding rejections and falling asylum applications indicate that returns are increasingly feasible and genuinely voluntary.
‘We believe that it is a very dignified and a proper way for Syrians to go back to the country, especially having in mind that approximately a million and a half, more than a million Syrians have already returned to the country from many countries’, he added.