In Larnaca, in the Limnes area, construction of the first block of the new refugee center has officially been completed. The facility was received by the Minister of Transport, Communications and Public Works, Alexis Vafeadis. He emphasized that the project will become an important support for the state in managing migration flows. During the visit to the construction site, the minister noted that the complex simultaneously includes a reception center and a refugee departures center.
For Cyprus, this is one of the largest state projects of recent years, with very few implemented on a comparable scale. Work began in August 2023, and the facility has already reached a stage that allows phased operation to begin.
Completion schedule and further construction stages
The minister reported that the first phase begins operating immediately and is designed for a limited number of accommodated persons. An administrative structure is already being formed at the center, and staff recruitment is underway. The second phase of the project is to be completed in April, and the third — in September 2026, when the Accommodation Center will also begin full operation.
Vafeadis described the project implementation as the result of coordinated interaction between government services, local authorities, and relevant departments. He emphasized that the key task is to deliver the facility strictly within the established deadlines so that it can begin serving the country’s real needs as soon as possible amid ongoing migration pressure, which remains one of the central issues of domestic policy in Cyprus and the European Union as a whole.
Reaction of local communities and security issues
The minister was met on site by the heads of the communities of Anglisides and Menoyia, who took part in a working meeting. The head of Anglisides, Eleni Sakkada, expressed dissatisfaction in her statements that representatives of local authorities are not always involved in project discussions. She emphasized that for the community, the issue of residents’ safety is fundamental and not subject to compromise.
Separate concern, according to her, is caused by the absence of promised compensatory projects for the region, despite the fact that construction is already nearing completion. These expectations, as Sakkada noted, still remain without practical results.
Government position and distribution of responsibility
The Minister of Transport clarified that the implementation of compensatory projects does not fall within the competence of his department. At the same time, he assured that he informed the chairman of the Anglisides community council of his readiness to find out at what stage the relevant issues are and to assist in accelerating their resolution. He outlined a similar position regarding security measures, emphasizing that the protection of residents of the region must be ensured in full, even if formally this relates to other departments.
Purpose of the centers and their capacity
According to information from the Cyprus News Agency, the center in Limnes is designed for approximately 800 people. Applicants whose requests for international protection have been finally rejected and who are awaiting repatriation will be accommodated here, as well as persons who have voluntarily withdrawn their applications and agreed to return to their country of origin.
The refugee reception center will be able to accommodate approximately one thousand people; it is intended for applicants who received a refusal at the primary level of review. The project provides for the creation of full infrastructure for temporary residence, including public areas, sports and recreational spaces, places for religious practices, rest areas, and parking zones.
Significance of the project for Cyprus
The launch of the center in Limnes is taking place against the backdrop of ongoing EU discussions on the redistribution of responsibility for migration and the strengthening of return mechanisms. For Cyprus, which in recent years has faced one of the highest numbers of migrants per capita in Europe, this facility is becoming an important tool for a systematic and more controlled approach to managing migration processes.
Recall that its implementation was entrusted to the company CYFIELD – IACOVOU (MN) JOINT VENTURE. Under the terms of the contract, the consortium received the right not only to construct but also to service the new refugee center for 8 years. The cost of constructing the new center is estimated at 85 million euros (including VAT). Of these, 67 million euros were provided by the European Union as part of support for Cyprus due to the increased migration flow.
Vafeadis noted that after completion of the construction of this facility, the authorities plan to repurpose the existing center in Menoyia. The new facility will strengthen mechanisms for receiving and returning migrants.