Cyprus has taken over the rotating EU presidency with the beginning of 2026. During its six-month leadership term, the issue of migration will be a major key focus, whether directly or indirectly. As an island nation state, the Mediterranean country has years of experience of being at the forefront of irregular migrant arrivals.
The world has changed since Cyprus's first EU presidency in 2012 — long before the onset of the so-called "refugee crisis" of 2015 and 2016, as well as the consequences that are felt to this day.
Since then, Cyprus has long been at the forefront of immigration to Europe, even holding the title for having the highest rate of immigrants per capita in all of the European Union.
While migration is not singled out by Cyprus as a focus in its agenda for the EU presidency, the subject touches on several of the key issues that the Mediterranean island nation hopes to highlight during its turn at the helm.
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EU: from crises to opportunities
Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides said during the handover ceremony on December 21 that there were many challenges and even crises that Europe had to face together.
"Europe does not give in to crises, it does not fear challenges. On the contrary, it welcomes them as opportunities, and evolves," Christodoulides stressed, highlighting the priorities of the presidency.
The Cypriot presidency says it will focus on five main pillars: security, competitiveness, enlargement, autonomy and fiscal balance.
However, security seems to be the leading issue at the heart of the Cypriot leadership term, with the dimension of migration permeating almost every aspect.
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War in Ukraine: pivotal change in EU's role in the world
Christodoulides dwelled on the importance of how much change Europe had witnessed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine almost four years ago.
He said that this one event and its consequences, including the arrival in Europe of millions of Ukrainians fleeing the war, showcased the need to strengthen the EU's security framework and defence readiness.
"Support to Ukraine will remain the main priority of the Cypriot presidency," he added, pledging additional financial support to Kyiv and announcing further sanctions on Russia.
Christodoulides highlighted that the Cypriot vision of a strong EU is one that protects its borders and strategic interests — not just through defence but also by prioritizing the mitigation of the effects of migration.
Among the chief objectives of Cyprus's EU presidency on the issue of migration are the dismantling of criminal networks, expansion of legal migration pathways, and the strengthening of the EU's return policy.
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Implementing the EU Asylum Pact
With the EU's Pact for Migration and Asylum due to enter into force on June 12 this year, Christodoulides said that Europe was entering an age promising much better migration management.
He stressed the importance of more effective controls and faster returns of failed asylum seekers.
The European Migration Network (EMN) reported that the Presidency hoped to ensure the overall "coherent, fair and effective implementation" of the pact, while advancing a "more efficient, coherent and balanced" European return system, and developing innovative solutions for returns.
Meanwhile, there are three other migration regulations that are in the process of being approved, focusing on the issue of return of migrants: the Return Regulation, the Safe Third Country Regulation and the Safe Country of Origin Regulation.
All these regulations could pave the way for deportations of failed asylum seekers who have no right to stay in the EU.
Cyprus said it wanted to use its leadership in particular to conclude ongoing negotiations on the concept of what qualifies for a safe third country and also iron out details on expanding the EU list of safe countries of origin.
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Soft diplomacy also crucial in migration management
Christodoulides also highlighted the importance of the Pact for the Mediterranean, an initiative which focuses on job creation and economic partnerships with partner countries, chiefly in the Middle East and North Africa.
Currently, there are 42 billion euros budgeted in the EU to roll out the pact in the years 2028 to 2034, making it a major policy issue.
European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica had explained last year that the intention behind the pact is to "ensure better conditions, so that people are not forced to leave their homes in search for better life. So the pact will support the efforts to prevent illegal departures, of course, fight smugglers, while creating legal pathways to address Europe's labor needs."
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Cyprus had also announced -- ahead of taking over the EU presidency -- that it sought to strengthen the "external dimension of migration" by focusing on such mutually beneficial strategic partnerships with key international partners.
To this end, Cyprus said it wanted to strengthen partnerships deeper into the Middle East, with regional organizations such as the Gulf Cooperation Council and the League of Arab States.
While migration would play a lesser role in these partnerships, it is also one of the many reasons why the EU is looking outside it borders for strategic alliances.
The official opening ceremony of Cyprus's EU Presidency will be held on January 7 in the capital Nicosia.
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with dpa