The requirements which Cyprus must fulfil to be admitted to the Schengen zone have been outlined, with the island said to be five steps away from being able to join.
Joining the Schengen zone will effectively abolish border checks between the Republic of Cyprus and 29 European countries, with air and maritime passenger transport to the continent thus no longer requiring a passport or identity card check.
According to newspaper Politis, the first step towards joining the Schengen zone is the completion of “technical and operational prerequisites”.
These prerequisites include the upgrade and interconnection of Cyprus’ information technology systems with the Schengen Information System (SIS), which Cyprus joined last year.
In addition, Cyprus must “strengthen border controls”, with particular attention being paid to the state of the Green Line. The Green Line itself, while not officially an external border, is said to “require strict controls” and is not exempt from EU frontier standards.
Cyprus is said to also be required to “strengthen its consular presence internationally”, through further representation and cooperation agreements with other states and “external providers”.
The second step is reportedly “central coordination and administrative organisation”, with it being reported that a “special group” has been established inside the government to this end.
This group, created by the foreign ministry, reportedly comprises the justice ministry, the transport ministry, the defence ministry and the migration deputy ministry.
It has reportedly been tasked with creating “a comprehensive recording and implementation of all outstanding issues concerning the Cypriot side”, which, it is hoped, will “accelerate” the European Commission’s final assessment on Cypriot Schengen membership.
Step three is reportedly specifically related to the Green Line, with the commission said to “place particular emphasis on the effective supervision of the Green Line” with the aim of “ensuring security and preventing illegal crossings”.
The fourth step is the application of the Schengen acquis on visas and migrant returns.
Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos had said last week that Cyprus has been implementing the core of the Schengen visa code acquis since joining the European Union in 2004.
Meanwhile, on the matter of migrant returns, a total of 10,098 irregular migrants returned to their country of origin during 2024, according to the police.
Cyprus’ success in repatriating irregular migrants to their countries of origin has caught the eye of the European Union, with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen saying the country has “made good progress” on the matter during a visit to Paphos in October.
Her words echoed those of former European Commission vice president for promoting the European way of life Margaritis Schinas, who had last year described Cyprus as an “emerging European champion of migrant returns”.
Should all the technical requirements be fulfilled, the final step towards joining the Schengen zone will be a final evaluation and political approval.
The European Commission will undertake a final assessment of Cyprus’ suitability, with accession requiring unanimous approval by all the Schengen zone’s current 29 member states.
Politis reported that the government believes Cyprus will be “technically ready” for Schengen membership by 2025, with the final decision expected “within the next two to three years”.
Cyprus is one of just two EU member states left outside the Schengen zone, following the accession of Bulgaria and Romania at the beginning of this year. Four non-EU members – Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland – are also Schengen members.
