Cyprus remains under migration pressure in latest European Commission report

The European Commission’s second Annual Report on Asylum and Migration, published on November 6, 2026, officially recognizes Cyprus, Greece, Italy, and Spain as nations under significant migratory pressure. This report covers the period from July 2025 to June 2026 and marks the first assessment since the full implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum on June 12, 2026.

While Cyprus saw a 34% decrease in irregular border crossings due to reduced arrivals from Syria and cooperation with Lebanese authorities, the country still ranks third in the EU for irregular entries and second for international protection applications relative to its GDP and population. The Commission highlighted the disproportionate burden on Cyprus regarding temporary protection registrations and a strained returns system. Notably, Cyprus leads the EU in the proportion of return decisions issued.

Deputy Minister of Migration Nicolas Ioannides noted that this classification allows Cyprus to access the EU’s Solidarity Pool for 2027. The government has already received approval to relocate 1,200 asylum seekers to other member states. Furthermore, the authorities plan to implement stricter measures to combat the abuse of student visa procedures by foreign nationals who work instead of attending educational institutions.