14/01/2026 (Agence Europe) – At a press conference on Tuesday 13 January, the Cypriot Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection, Nicholas Ioannides, announced that the Cyprus Presidency of the EU Council would be organising an informal meeting of European interior and justice ministers in Nicosia on 12 June to “celebrate the entry into force” of the New Pact on Migration and Asylum. Mr Ioannides also spoke of the priority given by Cyprus to the return of migrants. He again called for a European system based on “strong external borders and streamlined procedures”, and assured that bilateral discussions were already underway with several Member States to gather their “points of view and concerns” and “overcome divisions” regarding measures relating to migration in the EU. (JM)