Cyprus Places Asylum As A Priority During EU Presidency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) December 21, 2011 -- Highlighting the need for Europe to better address the issues of humanitarian aid, response and coordination in cases of humanitarian crises and natural disasters, have been set by the Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Cyprus as priorities in view of Cyprus` EU presidency in the second half of 2012.

Speaking at a press conference, Minister of the Interior Neoclis Sylikiotis referred to efforts to form a common European asylum system, and noted that what was needed was ``more Europe, not less Europe`` and that the EU should act in a more coordinated manner and further highlight its principles.

He also said that, based on latest statistics for 2011, Cyprus is fifth regarding the number of asylum seekers, and that other EU countries, other than those on the Mediterranean, were facing similar problems.

Sylikiotis said that the system`s aim was a uniform way of examining applications for asylum and jointly addressing the pressures the systems of certain countries are under.CNA

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