Cyprus spent over €39 million last year on irregular migrants seeking asylum, according to latest official data obtained by Philenews.
Specifically, a total of €36,494,943 was spent between January 1, 2021 and November 21, 2021 – an amount estimated to have exceeded 39 million by the year’s end.
However, EU assistance towards irregular migration in Cyprus was also increased last year.
The recorded costs cover personal expenses, food vouchers, hotels and reception facilities.
All in all, services offered at accommodation facilities of asylum seekers added up to €34 million last year.
And salaries of 42 foreign officers who review applications or assist in the procedure have coast another one million.
Cyprus will ask the European Commission to put in place measures to curb irregular migration, including “potentially suspending the examination of asylum requests”.
