Cyprus authorities and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have signed an implementation agreement for the voluntary return support measure titled 'Assisted Voluntary Returns Hub (AVR HUB)' in the framework of the 2nd Swiss Contribution in the field of Migration, for the 2019-2029 Programming Period.
The measure provides for the rental and renovation of a building hosting up to 40 asylum seekers, worth approximately €1.1 million.
The agreement was signed by the Director General of the General Directorate of Development at the Ministry of Finance, Penelope Papavassiliou, the Director of the Migration Department of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection, Maria Adamidou, and the Head of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Cyprus, Vassiliy Yuzhanin.
The measure places special emphasis on vulnerable groups of people who will voluntarily return to their countries of origin. The project will be fully funded by the Switzerland-Cyprus Cooperation Programme, with a budget of CHF 1.05 million (approximately €1.1 million), and will be implemented by IOM, in collaboration with the Migration Department of the Deputy Ministry of Migration and International Protection.
According to a press release issued by the Finance Ministry, through the 2nd Swiss Contribution for the support measures in the field of Migration to the EU, Cyprus has benefited in Phase A (2019–2026) with funding amounting to €10.7 million. The Swiss Confederation has granted an additional CHF 10.0 million (€10.7 million) for Phase B (2025–2029) of the support measures, with a national contribution of CHF 900,000 (approximately €963,000) from the state budget.
