Parliamentary Refugee Committee pushes for new leadership for the PEP organization

On September 8, 2026, the Parliamentary Committee on Refugees in Cyprus discussed the ongoing vacancy of the President of the Pancyprian Refugee Association (PEP). The committee emphasized that the lack of leadership has severely hampered the organization's functionality and its ability to implement its annual budget for three months.

Nikos Kettiros, the AKEL MP who chairs the committee, stated that the government’s failure to appoint a new president is unacceptable, as the PEP serves as the primary institutional representative for refugee issues. During the meeting, a representative from the Ministry of Interior announced that the Council of Ministers is scheduled to appoint a new president on Wednesday.

Beyond the leadership crisis, the committee also examined urgent problems regarding Turkish Cypriot housing in the community of Mari, specifically addressing health and safety concerns related to asbestos roofing. The committee continues to monitor these developments to ensure that administrative obstacles are removed and that the needs of the refugee community are addressed by the state.