Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration Magnus Brunner has defended EU-funded voluntary return programmes for Syrians in Cyprus, rejecting claims that they amount to large-scale repatriations or rely on coercion. In a written answer on 27 July 2026 to a parliamentary question from Greens MEP Alice Kuhnke, Brunner insisted that no EU money supports forced returns to Syria and that all assisted voluntary returns are carried out in a safe, dignified manner respecting fundamental rights.
The question cited a media report alleging that Cyprus’s programme, which has received some EUR 17.7 million from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), uses coercion and deceit to pressure individuals into returning. Kuhnke also noted that the Commission and the Council have previously aligned with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) position against promoting large-scale voluntary repatriation to Syria, while Cyprus has conducted some 2 285 assisted voluntary returns there.
Brunner’s answer did not address the alleged coercive practices directly but outlined the legal framework: AMIF funding for assisted voluntary returns is subject to requirements that returns be safe, dignified, and respect fundamental rights under EU law. He added that Cyprus, with Frontex assistance, provides return counselling to illegally staying third-country nationals, including Syrians, to facilitate informed choice. Cyprus also uses the European Reintegration Programme run by Frontex to support reintegration of Syrians who return voluntarily.
The Commissioner reiterated that the EU is working with Syrian authorities and UNHCR to ensure conditions conducive to safe, dignified, and sustainable returns, and will continue supporting the transitional authorities in building administrative capacity for an inclusive transition.
The answer contains no concrete new measures or timeline for reviewing Cyprus’s programme, nor does it acknowledge any contradiction between funding voluntary returns to Syria and the stated opposition to large-scale repatriation. The Commission relies on Member States’ annual performance reports to verify compliance with fundamental rights conditions.
The answer provides reassurance to EU member states running voluntary return programmes that their funding is not at immediate risk. For human rights NGOs and MEPs concerned about coercion, the lack of investigation or suspension signals limited short-term change. Syrian returnees face potential risks if returns are not genuinely voluntary, while EU taxpayers may question oversight of AMIF spending. The Commission maintains its policy stance without altering operational practice.