Giving a mid-term briefing on 17 April, Deputy Minister for European Affairs Marilena Raouna said Cyprus’ Council presidency has already closed negotiations on ‘safe third-country’ and ‘safe country of origin’ rules and is now elevating the politically sensitive Return Regulation to ministerial level. Technical discussions during Q1 2026 produced a consolidated text defining accelerated procedures and mutual-recognition standards for expulsion orders—issues critical for frontline states such as Cyprus, Greece and Italy. The presidency’s objective is to secure a political deal with the European Parliament before its term ends in June 2026. Raouna noted that the compromise package links faster returns with reinforced legal safeguards and funding for reintegration programmes, aiming to satisfy both security-minded member states and human-rights-focused MEPs. For mobility stakeholders, the outcome will shape employer obligations when work-permit applications are refused or when residence rights lapse. A streamlined EU return framework also affects relocation timelines for assignees whose family members have pending asylum claims. Looking ahead, Cyprus will host an Informal Summit of EU leaders on 23-24 April to assess progress. Raouna signalled that further headway on the digitalised Schengen Borders Code and the Entry/Exit System interoperability dossier is expected before the presidency hands the baton to Denmark on 1 July.
Source: Government of Cyprus
