Larnaca, Nicosia – ESI at migration workshop and meetings in Cyprus

Kristof and Gerald in front of the Ledra Palace in the buffer zone in Nicosia. Photo: Kasper Goethals. 

Gerald Knaus and Kristof Bender attended a “Migration Workshop” organised from 20 to 22 November by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Larnaca. Gerald gave a dinner speech on “current trends and recommendations” and scetched a possible solution to the asylum crisis in Cyprus, the EU country with the highest number of aslyum applications per capita. 

Kristof participated in a panel on “lessons learned from 2025/16” and presented ideas on how a coalition of EU member states could control external borders in accordance with EU law through partnerships with countries of origin and transit, without the systematic use of violence and pushbacks that have become the order of the day at most EU external borders. Kristof also visited the buffer zone at Famagusta and the Kofinou refugee camp. 

On 23 and 24 November Gerald and Kristof had several meetings in Nicosia, including with interior minister Nicos Nouris, and visited the buffer zone at Pyla. 

The Kofinou refugee camp for vulnerable asylum seekers. It is the best camp in Cyprus and will be expanded in the coming months. Photo: ESI/Kristof Bender

Gerald and Kristof with Interior Minister Nicos Nouris in his office. Photo: ESI.

Gerald in Pyla, a mixed village inhabited by Greek and Turkish cypriots in the UN administered buffere zone. The traffic sign drawing attention to the school behind Gerald is in Greek and Turkish (along with English), a rare sight in Cyprus. Photo: Kristof Bender/ESI.