Policy Measures for the Diaspora during the COVID-19 Crisis: The Case of Cyprus

Angeliki Konstantinidou,Daniela Vintila

doi:10.12681/hapscpbs.24944

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic constitutes an unprecedented challenge for policy-makers worldwide. The coronavirus outbreak has rapidly put into question states’ preparedness for crisis management, while also raising particular concerns on how national governments assist their citizens abroad in situation of distress. This Policy Brief tackles the issue of governmental responsiveness to the diaspora in a context of pandemic alert. In doing so, we focus on the case of Cyprus, one of the EU Member States with the largest share of citizens residing abroad. Drawing on official documents publicly released by different Cypriot authorities, we map the different initiatives adopted by the Cypriot Government in the attempt to assist its diaspora during the pandemic. Our analysis shows that, in line with its traditional approach towards non-residents citizens, Cyprus has adopted a rather pro-active stance vis-à-vis its population abroad. Since the COVID-19 outbreak, several initiatives have been put forward by ministerial actors, often via inter-institutional cooperation, aiming to mobilise resources that could meet diaspora’ needs. However, the Government’s engagement with the diaspora during this crisis has remained rather selective. Most policy measures primarily aimed to provide support to Cypriots in specific (mainly European) destination countries, while also targeting particularly vulnerable groups of individuals stuck abroad during the pandemic.

Highlights

The COVID-19 outbreak has rapidly fuelled debates on states’ preparedness to ensure the safety of their citizens and residents against unexpected health hazards
This Policy Brief focuses on the case of Cyprus, one of the EU Member States with the most sizeable diaspora in relative terms
The Cypriot Government seems to have adopted a pro-active stance to protect its citizens abroad during the pandemic, most efforts targeted specific diasporic communities and vulnerable groups

Summary

Introduction

The COVID-19 outbreak has rapidly fuelled debates on states’ preparedness to ensure the safety of their citizens and residents against unexpected health hazards. In addition to raising concerns on how to protect nationals and non-nationals living in their territory, states have been progressively confronted with the need to assist their citizens abroad during the pandemic. This includes individuals stuck abroad as tourists or students, and those temporarily or permanently living abroad who wished to return to their country of nationality or were facing particular vulnerable situations in their host countries. Across the EU, such unusual need for intervention triggered different institutional responses, with national policy-makers adopting varying emergency measures for their

To cite this paper in APA style

Findings

Concluding remarks