Cypriot delegation participates in the 19th Europol Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group meeting

The 19th meeting of the Europol Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group (JPSG) concluded on Tuesday in Brussels, with a Cypriot parliamentary delegation consisting of Prodromos Alabritis, Christos Christofides, Sotiris Ioannou, and Chrysanthos Savvidis. The sessions focused on Europol's multi-annual planning, the challenges of cross-border crime, cybercrime, and migration management.

During the deliberations, head of the delegation Prodromos Alabritis emphasized the importance of Europol’s cooperation with Middle Eastern and North African nations, noting that Cyprus's geographic position makes effective regional security partnerships critical for both the island and the European Union. Concerns were raised regarding the proposed expansion of operational activities and the exchange of personal data between Europol and Turkey, with representatives insisting on the necessity for Turkey to demonstrate full accountability and cooperation with all EU member states, including the Republic of Cyprus.

Sotiris Ioannou specifically addressed the issue of irregular migration, highlighting the disproportionate pressure on Cyprus as a frontline member state. He criticized the continued European funding allocated to Turkey for migration management, citing the weaponization of migration flows through the occupied territories as a persistent security concern.