The first phase of construction of the Limnes migration center has been completed

The first phase of construction of the Limnes migration center has been completed. This was announced by Cyprus Minister of Transport Alexis Vafeadis during a visit to the site on Friday.

According to the minister, the Limnes center, together with its accompanying infrastructure, is a key element of state policy on migration management. The total cost of the project is approximately €85 million, making it one of the largest public projects currently being implemented in Cyprus.

Construction began in August 2023 and, as Vafeadis noted, is proceeding in line with the updated schedule.

• The second phase is planned to be completed in April,
• the final phase — in September 2026.

The first phase has already been put into operation, but with limited capacity for now. The center is staffed, an administrative structure has been established, and a small number of migrants have already been accommodated. After the completion of the subsequent phases, capacity will increase significantly, and by September the facility is expected to be fully operational.

During the minister’s visit, criticism was voiced by the head of the Anglisaides community, Elena Sakkada. She stated that she had not been informed in advance of the visit and learned about it from social media. According to her, residents had previously been promised compensation projects, which have still not been implemented.

The minister responded that compensation measures do not fall within the competence of the Ministry of Transport, but promised to examine the reasons for the delays and raise security issues with the relevant authorities.

Once fully completed, the Limnes center will be able to accommodate around 1,800 people:

• about 800 places are intended for migrants who have received a final refusal of asylum and are awaiting repatriation or voluntary return;
• another 1,000 places — for persons whose applications were rejected at first instance.

The center’s territory includes shared service areas, sports and religious spaces, recreation zones, gardens, a children’s playground, and parking.

The project is financed by the state budget and the EU Asylum and Migration Fund. According to the minister, the creation of such infrastructure is a practical step toward more effective management of migration processes in the country.