Cyprus

Cyprus’ interior minister says the east Mediterranean island nation is the first European Union member country to repatriate more migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected than have arrived in a single year.

Cyprus is the first European Union member country to repatriate more migrants whose asylum applications have been rejected than have arrived in a single year, the east Mediterranean island nation’s interior minister said Thursday.

Constantinos Ioannou told the state broadcaster that over 11,000 migrants have been repatriated so far this year, more than double the number from 2022. That ranks Cyprus 4th in repatriations among all EU states in absolute numbers. About two-thirds of those repatriations were voluntary.

But Ioannou said a deal EU leaders reached on Wednesday on new rules to control migration falls short of Cyprus’ demand for compulsory relocation of migrants from front-line states under strain from increased arrivals, to other bloc members.

He said on the upside, the deal foresees that EU members refusing to take in migrants from a front-line state must pay that country 20,000 euros ($22,000) for each migrant.

Ioannou said the Cypriot government’s tougher approach to migration has paid off in making the island nation a “less attractive economic destination” for migrants who don’t qualify for either asylum or international protection status.

In the last nine months, overall migrant arrivals have been reduced by half relative to last year, especially those crossing over from ethnically divided Cyprus’ breakaway north into the internationally recognized south to seek asylum.

According to official statistics, asylum applications so far this year reached 10,589 compared to 21,565 for all of last year.

The minister said part of the measures aimed at reducing migrant arrivals is the slashing of the time it takes to process asylum claims to a maximum of three months, instead of years in many instances, resulting in failed applicants to lose allowances and the right to work.

The cost-of-living crisis’ grip tightens as households deplete savings to combat rising prices.

Recent data from the Cyprus Central Bank reveals that high prices are taking their toll on household deposits, compelling families to dig into their savings to make ends meet and, in many cases, halting any efforts to save money.

The figures disclosed by the Central Bank demonstrate a net reduction of €175.5 million in total deposits for the month of August 2023, compared to a €301.1 million decrease observed in July 2023.

The annual rate of change has dipped to 1.7% for August, down from July’s 2.4% figure. The aggregate sum of deposits for August 2023 reached €51.8 billion. Households, burdened by the mounting costs of living, resorted to drawing from their savings, a trend also witnessed in the preceding month of July.

Over the span of two months, approximately €142 million in savings were used, with €67.5 million and €74.7 million being withdrawn from bank accounts. These funds were predominantly allocated to cover daily expenses, as reported by sources within the banking sector.

Business deposits experienced a modest increase of €2 million in August, a stark contrast to the €5 million surge observed in July. These figures remain notably lower when compared to the robust deposits witnessed in June and May, which amounted to €156.9 million and €224.7 million, respectively.

August saw a notable decrease of €103.7 million in deposits from domestic residents, along with a €22.5 million decline in deposits from European Union citizens and a €49.3 million decrease in deposits from residents of non-EU countries.

Despite the challenging climate, the overall loan market experienced a net increase of €8.5 million in August 2023, marking a positive shift from the €100.3 million decrease recorded in July 2023. The annual rate of change registered at -0.6% in August, compared to -1.0% in the preceding month of July 2023. The total outstanding loans in August 2023 stood at €25.0 billion.

According to the Cyprus Department of Geological Survey, the quake was felt at 3:17 local time in the Gaziantep area (Central Turkey close to the Syrian borders), measuring 7.8.

It said, “the earthquake was strongly felt at a distance of almost 600 kilometres from the epicentre (Iraq, Georgia, Israel, Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, and Cyprus).

“In Cyprus, it was strongly felt throughout the island,” a statement said.

One Larnaca resident said: “I was woken up by the room shaking; even the dog was hiding”.

Tuesday’s earthquake measuring 6.1 in magnitude was one of the strongest quakes ever recorded in Cyprus, with the Geological Survey Department warning of possible powerful aftershocks.

The powerful earthquake tremor that struck Cyprus at 3.08 am was the second strongest quake in the island’s history.

It is the biggest earthquake to shake the island since a 6.5 on the Richter scale quake struck Paphos in October 1996, when two people died – the strongest in the previous 100 years.

Although Tuesday’s quake rattled the island, no injuries or serious structural damage was reported as the epicentre was in the sea off Cyprus, some 50 km northwest of Polis Chrysochous at a depth of 25 km.

However, experts say a series of aftershocks will carry on for several months.

In comments to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), the Director of the Cyprus Geological Survey Department, Christodoulos Hadjigeorgiou, said that seismologists can’t exclude the possibility of a powerful aftershock.

Cyprus has not felt such a strong earthquake in over 25 years, but Hadjigeorgiou said that Cyprus is on a secondary Faultline, meaning quakes can happen at any time.

For the first time since 1992, the Temporary Suspension of Business Plan which usually covers the employers and employees of the hotel industry, this winter will cover a series of other businesses due to the pandemic.The draft law which was submitted in Parliament and is expected to be voted tomorrow, will cover specifically for the period November 2021 – March 2022 also tourist/travel agents, airport handling businesses and shipping companies. The employees of these businesses will receive unemployment.This benefit, as Labor Minister Zeta Aimilianidou explained will be 60% of the allowance they used to receive up until now.