Examining the paradox of integration pathways for asylum seekers and refugees: the case of Cyprus as a window onto the Southern Europe approach to migration

Abstract

Drawing on in-depth interviews with asylum seekers, refugees, and staff at Cyprus Refugee Council, this research explores the integration challenges faced by asylum seekers and refugees in Cyprus, highlighting a common bureaucratic and practical struggle that complicates their integration pathways, creating a paradox despite their differing statuses in the asylum process. This research demonstrates how refugees often remain bound by the socio-economic conditions they experienced as asylum seekers, unable to fully enjoy their rights. By critically examining the alignment of Cypriot integration policies, laws, and practices with EU directives, and assessing their effectiveness in meeting the needs of these vulnerable groups, this study aims to investigate this paradox where Cypriot integration policies within a broader European context may inadvertently hinder genuine integration efforts, potentially conflicting with principles outlined in the European Charter of Fundamental Rights and even in the Treaty of the European Union, where essential rights like the right to asylum, the right to choose an occupation, and the right to work, among others, are often overlooked for both asylum seekers and refugees. This dissertation investigates also the role of the Cyprus Refugee Council in challenging and tackling the paradox through its advocacy and multifaceted integration efforts, highlighting how its initiatives and projects are pivotal in bridging policy gaps and improving integration outcomes on the island. By offering potential outcomes in the middle of the ongoing migration crisis that affects Southern European countries, this thesis aims to envision more inclusive and effective integration practices for new arrivals in Cyprus and potentially other similar contexts.