Cyprus, along with Ireland, is currently the only EU member that is not part of the European travel area without borders. Nicosia received positive approval from the European Commission in July after years of preparation and the implementation of 120 technical recommendations, confirming its technical readiness.
European Commission Recommendations
These recommendations, issued as part of the EU assessments since 2021, cover areas such as border control, visa policy, access to European security databases, and police cooperation. Implementing these recommendations required technological updates and legal and administrative reforms.
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Nicolas Ivanidis, Cyprus's Deputy Minister of Migration, confirmed on October 1 that "all recommendations made by the European Commission are now considered implemented." Cyprus's accession to the Schengen Area requires a unanimous decision from the EU Council after consultation with the European Parliament.
Security Concerns and Challenges
Information obtained indicates that Austria and the Netherlands have informally expressed concerns regarding security issues related to the Green Line, which divides the island of Cyprus, and the special status of British sovereign bases. Although neither country has officially threatened to veto, their concerns carry significant weight.
The Green Line, approximately 180 kilometers long, has divided Cyprus since Turkey's military intervention in 1974, separating the areas controlled by the Republic of Cyprus from the northern part controlled by Turkey. This area is monitored by the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), and the Green Line itself is not recognized as an international border.
Nicosia has emphasized that any agreement that would turn the Green Line into an external border, whether legally or symbolically, is unacceptable. Dr. Nazia Haji-Georgiou, a law professor at UCLan Cyprus, stated that "for full control over the Green Line to be recognized, changes must be made."
Cyprus is also facing challenges from the presence of British sovereign bases, which have remained under British sovereignty since Cyprus's independence from Britain in 1960. These bases have contributed to border control issues.
Meanwhile, Nicosia has intensified its diplomatic efforts to secure the necessary agreement, with the Deputy Minister of Migration of Cyprus meeting with his counterparts from Austria, the Netherlands, and Finland on October 1. Cyprus also gained significant political support at the Mediterranean countries summit in Croatia on October 7.
However, diplomatic sources have warned that despite positive signals, Cyprus's entry into the Schengen Area cannot be considered certain and is likely to be contingent on the outcomes of ongoing efforts to resolve the Cyprus issue.
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