Cyprus’ Migration and International Protection Deputy Minister, Dr Nicholas Ioannides, is travelling to Luxembourg on Wednesday, to chair the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council – Home Affairs composition, which will take place on Thursday, under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
According to a statement by the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, the Council’s agenda includes migration, the overall state of the Schengen Area, internal security, and the fight against organised crime.
Regarding migration, the Ministers will be briefed on progress in implementing the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which is due to come into force on 12 June 2026. The discussion will also cover developments concerning the revised Eurodac system, the EU database containing biometric data of asylum seekers and irregular migrants, ‘which constitutes a key component of the new European framework’, it said.
The Ministers will also exchange views on the external dimension of migration, with particular emphasis on cooperation with Somalia. ‘Strengthening cooperation with countries of origin and transit remains a central pillar of European migration policy, particularly in relation to preventing irregular migration, combating migrant smuggling networks, and improving the effectiveness of returns’, it adds.
Furthermore, the migratory situation on the English Channel will be discussed, as well as the future legal status of displaced persons from Ukraine.