Around €480 million is expected to be allocated to Cyprus for migration, external border management and internal security projects during the 2021-2027 programming period.
Around €480 million is expected to be allocated to Cyprus during the 2021-2027 programming period through the European Union’s Home Affairs Funds and national contributions for projects related to migration, external border management and internal security.
Initial funding stood at €162 million before being increased following European Commission decisions and additional allocations approved as the programming period progressed.
According to information obtained by “S”, the funds are being allocated to projects and actions covering reception and accommodation facilities, asylum procedures, returns of irregular migrants, integration programmes, external border management and the strengthening of competent government services, information systems and other infrastructure.
The resources are managed by the European Funds Directorate of the Interior Ministry, which serves as the Managing Authority for the 2021-2027 Home Affairs Funds.
Funding comes from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), the Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI) and the Internal Security Fund (ISF).
From asylum to security
According to information obtained by “S”, the European Commission has so far approved €303 million in funding for the Republic of Cyprus during the current programming period.
With an additional €70 million in national contributions, the total budget of the three funds reaches €374 million. This represents an increase of more than 70% compared with the previous programming period.
The largest share of Cyprus migration funding goes to the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, which has received €144 million in EU financing. A national contribution of €38 million brings its total budget to €182 million.
It is the largest funding allocation of the programming period, accounting for almost half of all available resources.
The second-largest programme is the Border Management and Visa Instrument. EU resources amount to €128 million, while the national contribution adds another €24 million, bringing the fund’s total budget to €152 million.
The money is intended mainly for border surveillance, strengthening border guard capabilities, upgrading technological infrastructure and improving information systems used to monitor migration flows.
The third programme is the Internal Security Fund, which finances projects worth €39 million. Of this amount, €31 million comes from the European Union and €8 million from the Republic of Cyprus.
Although smaller than the other two funds, it covers projects aimed at strengthening security and cross-border cooperation and combating organised crime.
Asylum fund receives the largest share
The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund is the main financial pillar of migration policy, supporting measures related to migration flows, asylum, legal migration and integration.
Its financing is divided into four main areas.
The first focuses on strengthening and developing the Common European Asylum System. This includes funding for services that receive and examine applications for international protection, accommodation facilities, first reception procedures and mechanisms designed to ensure applications are assessed in accordance with the EU acquis.
The second area concerns legal migration and integration. It finances measures to integrate third-country nationals, including educational programmes, social services and wider integration initiatives.
The third category focuses on tackling irregular migration, particularly the return, readmission and reintegration of migrants in their countries of origin.
The fourth objective concerns solidarity between EU member states and the fair sharing of responsibility for migration management.
Reception centres, Greek lessons and migrant returns
The fund finances a range of projects and initiatives, including the operation of the Kofinou Reception and Accommodation Centre for Applicants for International Protection, where asylum seekers are housed while their cases are processed.
Greek-language learning programmes for both minors and adult third-country nationals are also funded, with the aim of supporting their integration into society and the labour market.
The same fund supports projects aimed at improving legal migration management and tackling irregular migration, as well as assisted voluntary return programmes through which migrants who are not entitled to international protection return to their countries of origin.
Boats, drones and artificial intelligence
A significant proportion of European funding is also directed towards protecting the Republic of Cyprus’s external borders.
The Border Management and Visa Instrument has a total budget of €152 million, of which €128 million comes from European funds and the remaining €24 million from the Republic’s state budget.
The fund finances projects and measures related to managing the European Union’s external borders, facilitating the legal movement of people and combating irregular migration and cross-border crime.
It also supports the EU’s common visa policy by upgrading visa issuance systems and improving checks on travel documents.
The funding includes plans to purchase new vessels for maritime border surveillance, financial support for the operation of the Pournara First Reception Centre and upgrades to the Coastal Surveillance System.
It also supports the development of REACTION, a system that uses artificial intelligence to analyse data from unmanned aerial vehicles in real time to assist law enforcement authorities, as well as the development of a new National Visa Information System.
How the €39 million for internal security is spent
Another significant pillar is the Internal Security Fund, which has a total budget of €39 million. The EU contribution amounts to €31 million, while state co-financing stands at €8 million.
The funding covers measures to improve information sharing between competent authorities, strengthen cross-border cooperation against terrorism and organised crime, and enhance crisis prevention and management capabilities.
Projects include upgrades to equipment used to investigate cybercrime and staff training to combat crime and terrorism.
Funding is also being provided to strengthen the international CYCLOPS training centre with a simulator for training related to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
European research projects including PROTECDOME and POP-ART are also being financed to develop systems for protecting public spaces against threats, including the malicious use of drones.
From Pournara to Limnes
Beyond funding under the main programming period, the European Commission approved an additional package of €98 million exclusively for projects aimed at improving migration management.
With additional funding from the Republic of Cyprus’s state budget, the total value of this supplementary financing reaches around €105 million.
The largest share is allocated to the construction of the new Reception and Pre-Departure Centre in Limnes.
The EU approved €67 million for the project, while another €7 million will come from national resources, bringing its total budget to €75 million.
In addition, the European Union approved €23 million for projects related to the Pournara centre, which serves as the first reception facility for most irregular arrivals in the Republic of Cyprus.
A further €6.7 million was allocated to address needs arising from the arrival of people displaced by the war in Ukraine.
According to the figures, 95 project proposals have so far been submitted under the three funds.
Meanwhile, around €271 million, equivalent to 76% of the total budget, has already been committed to specific projects.
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