Four of Cyprus’ six Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted on Tuesday to create a common EU list of ‘safe countries of origin’, a measure designed to accelerate the dismissal of asylum claims from those states. The motion passed the Parliament 408-184 and now goes to the Council. Backers say the list — which currently includes Bangladesh, Colombia, Egypt, India, Kosovo, Morocco and Tunisia — will unclog asylum systems by shifting the burden of proof onto applicants from designated countries.(cyprus-mail.com)
For travellers and companies navigating Cyprus’ changing migration landscape, VisaHQ offers an easy way to verify current entry rules, prepare documentation and submit visa applications online. Its Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) consolidates official requirements and real-time updates, helping applicants remain compliant even as EU policies on “safe countries” evolve.
![Cypriot MEPs Back EU ‘Safe-Country’ List, Paving Way for Faster Asylum Rejections]()
Cypriot conservative MEPs Loucas Fourlas and Michalis Hadjipantela (DISY), Geadis Geadi (ELAM) and independent influencer-turned-politician Fidias Panayiotou all voted in favour. Left-wing MEP Giorgos Georgiou opposed the plan, citing human-rights concerns, while centrist Costas Mavrides abstained.(cyprus-mail.com)
If the Council endorses the regulation, Cyprus’ asylum service will be empowered to reject manifestly unfounded claims in weeks rather than months, freeing resources for more complex cases. The Commission would monitor conditions in the listed countries and could suspend or remove them if circumstances deteriorate.(cyprus-mail.com)
For employers, faster processing could mean swifter access to the local labour market for applicants eventually granted protection, but it also heightens the importance of compliant recruitment pipelines: rejected applicants will face rapid removal, limiting the informal labour pool. NGOs have vowed to scrutinise individual decisions to ensure vulnerable applicants still receive full procedural safeguards.(cyprus-mail.com)
For travellers and companies navigating Cyprus’ changing migration landscape, VisaHQ offers an easy way to verify current entry rules, prepare documentation and submit visa applications online. Its Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) consolidates official requirements and real-time updates, helping applicants remain compliant even as EU policies on “safe countries” evolve.
Cypriot conservative MEPs Loucas Fourlas and Michalis Hadjipantela (DISY), Geadis Geadi (ELAM) and independent influencer-turned-politician Fidias Panayiotou all voted in favour. Left-wing MEP Giorgos Georgiou opposed the plan, citing human-rights concerns, while centrist Costas Mavrides abstained.(cyprus-mail.com)
If the Council endorses the regulation, Cyprus’ asylum service will be empowered to reject manifestly unfounded claims in weeks rather than months, freeing resources for more complex cases. The Commission would monitor conditions in the listed countries and could suspend or remove them if circumstances deteriorate.(cyprus-mail.com)
For employers, faster processing could mean swifter access to the local labour market for applicants eventually granted protection, but it also heightens the importance of compliant recruitment pipelines: rejected applicants will face rapid removal, limiting the informal labour pool. NGOs have vowed to scrutinise individual decisions to ensure vulnerable applicants still receive full procedural safeguards.(cyprus-mail.com)
