08/09/2023 09:30
Interior Minister, Constantinos Ioannou, said on Thursday that there were "encouraging results" as regards the management of immigration flows during the last months, while addressing a session of the parliamentary Committee on Internal Affairs, to discuss the issue. The meeting was also attended by Justice and Public Order Minister, Anna Koukkides-Prokopiou and Social Welfare Deputy Minister, Marilena Evangelou.
Ioannou and Evangelou elaborated on measures taken to address the migration issue while Koukkides-Prokopiou referred to the police measures aiming at preventing racist incidents. Members of the parliament have asked for a report on the events that took place recently in Chloraka, in Pafos district, and in Limassol, during demonstrations against migrants.
The Minister of Justice said that a bill will be put forward before the parliament to vote for a law that will enable the issuing of a decree so that internet users will not have access to sites with racist and xenophobic content. She noted that the aim is to prevent racist violence and referred to the measure of social policing through neighbourhood observers.
She also noted that Local Policing Councils will operate during the next two months, and that this pilot project will first be implemented in Limassol and Chloraka.
The MPs asked, in the presence of representatives of the police leadership, for a report on the events that took place in Chloraka and Limassol.
Interior Minister, Constantinos Ioannou, presented "encouraging results" as regards the management of the immigration flows during the last months, noting that for the first time since April the number of arrivals was lower than the number of returns of irregular immigrants to their countries of origin. Arrivals reached 4100 and returns 4700. Moreover he said that there was an increase by 50% of the returns , while during the period of March - August 2023 there was a reduction by 51% of the asylum applications.
Moreover he noted that asylum applications are now examined more rapidly, noting that the number of the employees that look into them has doubled while 25 more persons will be hired. He went on to say that each month approximately 2000 applications are examined, while previously only 1000 were examined.
The Interior Minister also said that emphasis is given to motives for voluntary returns, by giving 1000-1500 euros from EU funds to those who return to their country of origin. Moreover he noted that a campaign is underway to combat illegal employment in coordination with the Labour Ministry.
As regards the infrastructure, Ioannou said that Pournara Reception Center currently hosts 800-900 persons, while last year it hosted some thousand. Renovation works are currently being made at the center, including its fencing, that will cost 25 million euros.
Moreover works have begun at the Reception Center in Limnes area that will have a capacity of 1000 persons. The project will cost 80 million euros, of which 67 million are funded by the EU, and is expected to finish in two years. Renovation works were also carried out in Kofinou Accommodation Center, that will be able to host 700 persons instead of 450 up until now.
Social Welfare Deputy Minister, Marlinea Evangelou, referred to the funds given to migrants as allowances, noting that they are aiming to cover the needs of asylum applicants who wait for their application to be examined.
She noted that one person takes approximately 186 euros for food and clothes, another 75 Euros for utility bills and 100 euros to pay his or her rent, which are given directly to the house owners.
Responding to a question, Evangelou said that officers of the Deputy Minister visit venues where applicants for international protection live and check the conditions there.
He noted that as regards the vulnerable when their living conditions are not proper then social workers advise them to find another place to stay and the local authorities are being notified.
Evangelou also said that there are currently 1071 unaccompanied minors who are accommodated in structures where they live under a semi-independent status. She also stressed that the government aims to prevent the creation of ghettos and promote integration.