Deputy Director General of the Directorate-General for Migration and Home Affairs of the European Commission, Beate Gminder, had the opportunity to discuss aspects of migration management during an official visit she paid Cyprus between 5 and 7 July. accompanied by the Head of the European Funds Unit (EFU) of the Ministry of Interior, .
According to an EFU press release on 5 July, Gminder, accompanied by the Head of the European Funds Unit Constantinos Kyprianou, met with the Deputy Minister of Social Welfare Marilena Evangelou for information and coordination purposes, in the context of providing social welfare services to applicants and beneficiaries of international protection, as well as for housing and supporting the needs of minors and vulnerable applicants for international protection.
It is added that during the meeting the two sides discussed the possibility of providing European funding from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, through the European Funds Unit as Managing Authority of the Fund, to support the Social Welfare Services, in order for them to respond more effectively to Cyprus' obligations regarding the management of migration.
Subsequently, it is stated that on Thursday 6 July, the EU official, in the presence of the Head of the European Funds Unit, had a meeting with the Minister of Interior, Constantinos Ioannou, for information and coordination purposes regarding the management of the migration challenges faced by Cyprus, as well as on the implementation progress of important co-funded projects, while the meeting was attended by the Executive Director of the European Asylum Agency, the Director General of the Ministry of Interior and officials.
It is added that on the same day, the 6th Meeting of the Coordination Group for the Operational Platform for Cooperation in relation to Migration Management in Cyprus was held, for the purpose of monitoring the implementation of the Action Plan for Migration Management, which was agreed between the Republic of Cyprus and the European Commission.
It is also noted that later in the day, Gminder attended the inauguration ceremony of the first phase of the expansion of the Reception and Accommodation Centre for Applicants for International Protection in Kofinou, with part of the expansion of the Centre expected to be implemented with funding from the European Union's Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, while in the past there have also been expansions of the Centre with European funding from EU Home Affairs Funds.
Subsequently, on Friday 7 July, the EU official, accompanied by the Head of the European Funds Unit, paid a visit to the "Pournara" First Reception Centre in Kokkinotrimithia, which was built with European funding and which is also due for upgrading through EU emergency assistance.
Finally, the European Funds Unit stated that on the same day Gminder and Kyprianou visited the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) in Larnaca, which, as the body responsible for coordinating and directing search and rescue operations for persons - including third country nationals - in distress in the Nicosia FIR area, has implemented and is implementing a number of projects co-funded by the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus, aimed at upgrading the buildings and operations of the Republic to enable it to respond more effectively to search and rescue incidents.
In the context of her visit to the Centre, the European Commission official inspected the premises which were built with funding from the EU Home Affairs Funds and was briefed on the work being carried out in terms of managing migration flows, the press release concludes.
Source: Cyprus News Agency