COUNTRY REPORT: CYPRUS

The report examines Cyprus's role as a migration hub, highlighting a shift toward restrictive asylum policies, increased border security, and a lack of comprehensive integration strategies. It details the impact of regional conflicts and climate change on migration flows, the rise of xenophobic violence, and the tension between national deterrence efforts and EU-led resilience and integration frameworks.

• Cyprus has experienced significant fluctuations in asylum applications, peaking at 22,182 first applications in 2022 before dropping to 10,662 in 2023. As of June 2024, 22,516 persons were registered as international protection beneficiaries, with 18,393 awarded subsidiary protection.
• The Republic of Cyprus has implemented restrictive measures to deter irregular migration, including the 'accelerated procedure' for asylum claims from 'safe countries' and the use of the Pournara Reception Center as a de facto detention center between 2020 and 2022.
• There are documented instances of pushbacks at both land and sea borders. Between May 15 and September 2024, 159 asylum-seekers were pushed back to the UN Buffer Zone, and previous reports indicate sea pushbacks to Lebanon between 2020 and 2023.
• Integration policies in Cyprus are described as 'immigration without integration,' with a low MIPEX score of 41/100 in 2020. While a new strategic integration plan with a 50-point action plan was unveiled in March 2024, its implementation remains pending and it is not available online.
• Public perception of migrants and refugees has become increasingly negative, with 41.1% of survey participants believing they negatively impact the economy and 38% viewing them as a threat to Cypriot culture. This has coincided with a surge in xenophobic and violent attacks, including 'pogrom-like demonstrations' in 2023.
• Environmental insecurities, specifically increasing temperatures, droughts, and desertification in the MENA region, are identified as emerging drivers that will affect future migration patterns toward Cyprus.
• The Republic of Cyprus is involved in energy-related tensions with Turkey over natural gas reserves in the Eastern Mediterranean, specifically regarding the Republic's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

APA

Messa, A. (2024). COUNTRY REPORT: CYPRUS. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/7585ea91-bbf3-4d40-9a47-adec776eaded/Country report CYPRUS.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Messa, Annagrace. COUNTRY REPORT: CYPRUS. Peace Research Institute Oslo, 2024. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/7585ea91-bbf3-4d40-9a47-adec776eaded/Country report CYPRUS.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Messa |first1=Annagrace |title=COUNTRY REPORT: CYPRUS |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |date=December 2024 |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/7585ea91-bbf3-4d40-9a47-adec776eaded/Country report CYPRUS.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{messa2024country, author = {Messa, Annagrace}, title = {{COUNTRY REPORT: CYPRUS}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/7585ea91-bbf3-4d40-9a47-adec776eaded/Country report CYPRUS.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }