February 8, 2025

Athens News

News in English from Greece

Cyprus is ready to join the Schengen area


Once all necessary technical issues are resolved in 2025, Cyprus hopes to join Schengen.

About this how writes Politico, Cyprus President Nicos Christodoulides said on Friday 10 January during a conference in Nicosia:

“We have resolved all the political issues related to the ceasefire line and are now finalizing the technical details necessary for entry.”

He noted that the process is monitored by a special group at the Ministry of Foreign Affairsand emphasized the benefits that membership in the Schengen area would bring to Cyprus, especially in the areas of tourism and investment.

Cyprus has been a member of the European Union since 2004. Cypriots enjoy freedom of movement throughout EUhowever, the island itself is not yet part of the Schengen area. This is a unique case, since since 1974 the island has been divided into the Republic of Cyprus in the south and Turkish-occupied Northern Cyprus.

If Cyprus joins Schengen, the Green Line, which is currently a buffer zone, will become a hard external border of the EU. This will lead to the need for passport checks at crossing points, changing their status and potentially increasing tensions.

European officials warn that full membership of the Schengen area will require changes to the Green Line Regulation, which regulates movement across the divided island.

Christodoulides also reported that Cyprus is in the final stages of visa abolition with the US for Cypriot travelers. An American delegation will visit Cyprus in the near future on this issue, after which relevant announcements will be made.

Cyprus and Ireland, which do not have land borders with other EU countries, are the only member states that are not part of the Schengen area.

Let us remind you that Romania and Bulgaria became full members visa-free space on January 1.



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