Nicosia wants EU Civil Protection activated if Middle East repatriations rise

Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos told the EU General Affairs Council the bloc’s Civil Protection Mechanism should be activated if repatriations increase due to the Middle East crisis.

During discussions on the preparation of the European Council on 26 -27 October in Brussels, the ministers exchanged views on the Middle East conflict and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

During the discussion on the Middle East, Kombos referred to Cyprus’ role as a facilitator in the repatriation of EU and third-country nationals from Israel.

Over 1,100 people have been evacuated from Israel by using Cyprus as a transit station via air and sea.

He argued the number of repatriations may increase dramatically and said the Republic of Cyprus called for support through the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism to address the humanitarian impact.

Kombos stressed the importance of EU unity through the adoption of common positions that safeguard the vital national interests of its Member States.