Deputy Minister of Migration and International Protection Nicolas Ioannides, underlined the importance of a comprehensive Return Regulation for Cyprus and the EU said during the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council (Internal Affairs) held today, Tuesday, 14 October 2025, in Luxembourg.
In his arrival doorstep statement, Ioannides underscored the need for a comprehensive Return Regulation, which will complement the new EU Pact on Migration and Asylum and promote the effective implementation of returns for third-country nationals. He stressed the need for a balance between a stricter legal framework and the necessary flexibility for Member States that have developed effective national return programs, such as Cyprus. He added that the upcoming Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council will prioritize the implementation of the Pact and the adoption of the Return Regulation.
During the Council’s proceedings, an exchange of views took place on the draft Regulation for a common return system for third-country nationals illegally staying in the EU. According to the Deputy Minister, the proposed legislation that is currently under discussion among member states at a technical level, includes common procedures for issuing return decisions, clear rules for forced returns, stricter timelines, and stronger obligations for returnees to cooperate with national authorities.
According to diplomatic sources, the compromise proposal from the Danish Presidency of the Council which is currently on the table, includes the reduction or removal of administratively burdensome provisions, such as making the use of a European Return Order optional for member states. It also relaxes requirements for agreements with third countries regarding return hubs. Additionally, it provides for the possibility to impose longer entry bans, as well as indefinite entry bans for individuals posing a threat to public order or national security.
Furthermore, EU member states are negotiating a legal basis for searches, seizures, and the collection of biometric data without the consent of the third-country national, as well as the possibility for the EU countries to refrain from applying the Regulation to third-country nationals expelled for serious criminal offenses or threats to public order or national security.
During the working lunch, the discussion focused on the external dimension of migration, particularly returns to Syria. In his intervention, the Deputy Minister noted that, although conditions in Syria remain partially unstable, there has been relative improvement that could facilitate both voluntary and forced returns. He pointed out that, to date, contact with Syrian authorities on migration issues has been limited and is conducted mainly through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with a focus on supporting the Syrian people and the country’s gradual reintegration into the international community, in full respect of international law, including the law of the sea, and the principles of good neighborliness.
Regarding forced returns of Syrian nationals without the right to stay, Ioannides stated that the Republic of Cyprus supports such returns, especially for individuals who pose a serious threat to public order or national security or are convicted criminals, under the strict condition of compliance with international and EU law and the existence of appropriate safeguards. He stressed that the main prerequisites for the effective implementation of returns are linked to the actual conditions on the ground-security, infrastructure, basic services, and livelihood opportunities-as well as the need to build reliable communication channels with Syrian authorities.
Finally, he highlighted the decisive role of international organizations. In this context, he referred to the first voluntary repatriation flight organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) from Libya to Syria on 8 October, which, as he said, demonstrated the potential for broader and more structured returns. Cyprus, already having a successful Assisted Voluntary Return (AVR) program, supports the scaling up and expansion of such initiatives as confidence-building measures and safe return channels.
The Deputy Minister held a series of meetings with his counterparts on the sidelines of the Council, in the context of preparing for Cyprus’s assumption of the EU Council Presidency in January 2026. He briefed his counterparts on Cyprus’s priorities, meeting with Anneleen Van Bossuyt, Belgian Minister for Migration, Asylum, and Social Integration; Beat Jans, Swiss Federal Councillor and Minister of Justice and Police; Bence Rétvári, Hungarian Deputy Minister of the Interior; David van Weel, Dutch Minister for Foreign Affairs, Asylum, and Migration; Johan Forssell, Swedish Minister for Migration; Mari Rantanen, Finnish Minister of the Interior; and Thanasis Plevris, Greek Minister for Migration and Asylum.