New immigration bill tightens conditions for migrants
On 18.06.2009 the Cypriot government submitted a new bill to Parliament criminalising the renting of accommodation to undocumented migrants. The bill provides that anyone caught renting or offering accommodation an undocumented migrant will face a fine of up to €4,000 and/or 18-months imprisonment. The bill also aims at re-introducing the requirement for a foreigner to have sufficient knowledge of the Greek language and culture before being entitled to the status of the long-term migrant under Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25.11.2003 on long-term resident status for third country nationals. The said provision had been erased two years ago, when parliament was assessing the law for long-term residents, as it led to reactions by MPs, trade unions and human rights organisations.
