Interior Minister Nicos Nouris will discuss the instrumentalisation of migrants and the optimisation of their return procedures during the EU interior ministers’ council this week.

Nouris travelled to Brussels on Wednesday to attend the council that will take place on Thursday and Friday with a focus on the instrumentalisation of the migration issue, optimisation of returns as well as the latest developments in Ukraine.

The Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU will also brief the relevant ministers on the progress of the ongoing work on EU asylum and migration policy.

In the framework of the Council, the Cypriot interior minister will have a private meeting with his German counterpart Nancy Faeser. During the meeting, the two will discuss ways to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the field of returns, as well as the relocation of several migrants from Cyprus to Germany.

Nouris, who will be accompanied by the Director of his Office, will return to Cyprus on Friday afternoon.