Cyprus has recorded a significant reduction in irregular migration over the past two and a half years, Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection Dr. Nikolas A. Ioannides said this week, citing a drop of 87% in unauthorized arrivals compared to 2022.
Speaking during a ceremony marking the 40th anniversary of the Schengen Agreement, co-hosted by the European Parliament and European Commission, Ioannides also highlighted Cyprus’s commitment to full integration into the Schengen Area.
He said the government has made “tremendous progress” toward that goal and emphasized that Cyprus’s accession would strengthen the European Union’s strategic interests in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Cyprus recorded 10,092 migrant returns in 2024 and has already surpassed 10,000 returns in 2025, according to official figures. Ioannides credited targeted national and international efforts for the results, calling returns a key area of consistent and measurable success.