Migration cost for Cyprus set to rocket

The costs of migration will be exorbitant in 2024, due to increased needs from non-stop flows in recent years, in addition to new structures, medical care, benefits and the management of asylum seekers, the interior ministry said on Sunday.

According to information published by daily Politis, the cost literally doubles for 2024 compared to this year, due to the creation of new structures for accommodation and detention until departure.

The daily said that according to the ministry, its own expenses for 2021 reached €32,227,705, rising to €42,953,245 in 2022 and reaching €54,175,521 until October this year. For 2024 they are forecast to reach €103,528,953.

This figures include staff costs at migrant centres (Pournara, Kofinou etc) and civil servant employed in areas that deal with migrant issues, and construction costs.

They do not include benefits paid to migrants, housing for unaccompanied minors, the legal service, education and police services.

However, according to the ministry of finance response to a request for information from Elam MP Sotiris Ioannou, the total expenses for migration for 2024 will rise to €196,024,405.

The total cost of migration to the government over the last three and a half years is estimated to have reached €465,066,348. This dwarfs the €29,452,799 given by the EU for the years 2021-2023.

Financial assistance to cover basic needs (food, clothing and footwear) and cover personal small expenses, including electricity and water costs has dropped from €28,872,139 in 2021 to €27,803,382 in 2022 and €14,336,715 in 2023 (until June).

For the accommodation of asylum seekers in hotels, €1,901,600 were spent in 2021, €2,000,000 in 2022 and in the first half of 2023, €1,332,220.

Meanwhile, around €11.5 million is expected to be spent in 2024 teaching migrant children Greek.

European funds to Cyprus have increased over the years and recognising the disproportionate burden of migratory flows to Cyprus, the Commission directly approved additional funds including €75.2 million to create the Limnes Pre-removal Center, €6.7 million to provide accommodation to displaced Ukrainians, and €31 million to upgrade social welfare services in the field of unaccompanied minors.

In total, €276.4 million has been approved for programmes and other actions in Cyprus. EU bodies also have personnel working in Cyprus.