The… last acts of Nikos Anastasiadis in governing the country – From the Cabinet to the Summit and to Limassol to vote – Immigration at the heart of the European Council
The President of the Republic Mr. Nikos Anastasiadis will be in Brussels on February 9 for the extraordinary Summit strong> of the European Council.
According to the director of the PtD Press Office, Andreas Iosif, the main topic of the Synod is the immigrationand ways to deal with it will be discussed. President Anastasiades at the extraordinary meeting will point out the disproportionate burden shouldered by the Republic of Cyprus due to the greatly increased immigration flows, highlighting at the same time the instrumentalization of immigration by Turkey.
According to the latest data from Eurostat, Cyprus is at the forefront, where in the last five years it has become the EU member state with the highest percentage of asylum seekers. It is typically reported that the percentage of asylum seekers and persons who have already received protection status amounts to 6% of the population of the Republic of Cyprus. Also, about 95% of immigrants enter through Turkey, then they go to the occupied territories and then through the green line they reach the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus and request political asylum.
The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in her letter to the leaders of the member states ahead of the European Council, characterizes migration as a European challenge for which a European response must be given. The President of the European Commission notes that geopolitical instability, demographic trends and climate change further intensify the pressures. It also underlines the need for an agreement on the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The President of the Commission in her letter also emphasizes that efforts will continue to ensure the full implementation of the EU-Turkey joint statement.
On Wednesday, February 8 at 09:30 in the morning the meeting of the Council of Ministers will take place.
On February 12, the day of the second round of the Presidential elections, President Anastasiades will exercise his electoral right at 09:30 in the morning at Lanitio Lyceum, Center A' in Limassol.
