Sylikiotis’ action plan for migrants on the table

A GROUP of experts yesterday examined the Interior Ministry’s first ever “comprehensive” action plan for the integration of migrants into Cypriot society.

Interior Minister Neoclis Sylikiotis yesterday said this was the first time a comprehensive plan on how to deal with integration and migration had been put together.

The minister is ready to take the action plan to cabinet for approval once it has passed a consultation round with the relevant authorities and social partners in the next two months.

Sylikiotis chaired the meeting, which included officials from the ministries of health and labour, asylum service, migration department and ombudswoman’s office.

The plan looks at ways in which non-Cypriot permanent residents of Cyprus can integrate better into society, covering the years from 2010 to 2012. Sylikiotis noted that work has already begun on integration with free Greek language lessons offered, while the ministries of education and labour were also working on relevant projects.

The plan covers a number of issues relating to the needs of migrants, including: information, transparency, employment and employment procedures, learning the language, health, housing and improving the quality of life of migrants, culture, social reality, participation and evaluation.

Following consultation, an island-wide workshop will be held to complete the Action Plan before taking it to the cabinet, said the minister.

Ombudswoman Iliana Nicolaou said her office participated in the consultations with “particular interest” in this issue. She noted that it was “a very ambitious project” whose targets can be reached.

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