The issue of unaccompanied minors was discussed during a meeting held on Tuesday in Nicosia between Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Marilena Evangelou and European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson.

In statements to journalists, Evangelou said that they had a very productive meeting during which she thanked the Commissioner for the EU assistance to Cyprus regarding the migration issue and issues that fall within the responsibilities of the Deputy Ministry of Social Welfare.

In addition, Evangelou put forward the issue of expanding the resettlement program for unaccompanied minors, a pilot program that currently runs only for a limited number of unaccompanied minors. She said that the Commissioner was positive regarding the proposal and that she said she would try to promote this request.

Furthermore, Evangelou informed the Commissioner about the efforts of the Deputy Ministry to speed up the procedures concerning unaccompanied minors, mainly in relation to fostering programs, usually in families of their own nationalities, as well as about the efforts made by the Deputy Ministry in collaboration with the Asylum Service and the International Organisation for Migration – Cyprus in relation to the acceleration of procedures for the reintegration of unaccompanied minors with their families in other European countries.

She recalled that during a recent meeting held under President Nikos Christodoulides, it was decided to give allowances through a prepaid card to achieve greater and more effective control of allowances.