Cyprus will be hosting more than 500 refugees among those arriving to Europe from Middle East and Africa, deputy government spokesman Victoras Papadopoulos said on Wednesday.
“On September 9, the President of the European Commission during his speech before the European Parliament plenary invited the Member States to accept the relocation of 120.000 people in clear need of international protection, from Italy, Hungary and Greece, as a necessary measure to manage the unprecedented humanitarian crisis the EU is facing in recent months” Papadopoulos recalled in statements to the press after the Cabinet`s meeting.
Papadopoulos said that Cyprus will receive 274 refugees, of which 123 from Hungary, 115 from Greece and 36 from Italy. “These people will be added to those that are already in Cyprus, raising the total number above 500 people” he said.
The deputy government spokesman also noted that the number of refugees each member state will receive was calculated based on the size of their population, the GDP, the unemployment rate and the average number of asylum applications per 1 million inhabitants over the period 2010-2014.
The member states participating in the relocation mechanism will receive a lump sum of 6.000 euro for each relocated person.
“The member states will be able to receive refugees based on their own criteria in order to choose those that are easier to integrate into their society” Papadopoulos explained.
CNA/KD/MM/2015
ENDS, CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY