The conclusions of the Evaluation Report on the Republic of Cyprus’s implementation of the Schengen acquis are extremely positive, which was presented to the Schengen Committee in Brussels
. This paves the way for the full integration of the Republic of Cyprus into the Schengen Area, an issue discussed this morning in Paris by President Nikos Christodoulides and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

This was preceded, as Mr. Christodoulides revealed, by the “successful completion of all technical preparatory work on the part of the Republic of Cyprus,” a fact confirmed, as Euronews has learned, by the European Commission’s Assessment Report presented about 20 days ago to the Schengen Committee in Brussels.

This report confirmed Nicosia’s technical readiness for full participation in the Schengen Area, a moment described as a “milestone” toward achieving this goal, given the particular importance of technical and operational readiness for the lifting of border controls.

It should be noted that Cyprus, along with Ireland, are the only two European Union countries that are not full members of the Schengen Area, that is, the single European area of free movement where internal border controls between participating countries have been abolished. The Schengen Area consists of the remaining 25 EU member states and 4 non-EU associated countries (Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), with Cyprus having, for many years, largely implemented the rules governing the Schengen regime but not enjoying its benefits. Moreover, Cyprus still does not issue Schengen visas, even though it applies all the rules and restrictions.

So on Friday, June 26, the European Commission presented to the Schengen Committee in Brussels the Evaluation Report on the implementation of the Schengen acquis by the Republic of Cyprus, as part of the procedure provided for in the Treaties of the European Union aimed at Cyprus’s full participation in the Schengen Area, a goal that the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, has set to be achieved by 2026.

The report is the result of a long-term evaluation process, and following the Schengen Committee’s positive opinion, it will be forwarded to the College of Commissioners for formal adoption before proceedings begin before the 27 Member States.

What the Evaluation
Report Says According to information provided to Euronews by a European diplomatic source familiar with the matter, the Evaluation Report in question, which is a lengthy document (over 60 pages), concludes that the Republic of Cyprus possesses the necessary technical and operational readiness for the full implementation of the Schengen acquis and paves the way for the political procedures that will followat the intergovernmental level within the relevant bodies of the European Union.

The Report notes impressive progress by the Republic of Cyprus, which has invested significant national and European resources in upgrading infrastructure, information systems, and operational capabilities, as well as to strengthen and specialize the personnel of the relevant agencies, and has achieved all its technical readiness objectives in areas such as Border Guard, Returns, Police Cooperation, etc.

The European Commission’s assessment also confirms the progress made in the areas of the Common Visa Policy, the Schengen Information System, and the Protection of Personal Data.

Essentially, as a diplomat familiar with the procedures explains to Euronews, “following this positive assessment, it is clear that Cyprus meets all the Schengen criteria, with the Report acknowledging that the Republic of Cyprus has completed the necessary technical adjustments and highlighting the remainingpriorities in view of the decision on full participation.”

The Green Line and the British Bases
These priorities are of a technical nature and, among other things, relate to both the Green Line and the British Bases, which are outside the Schengen area. However, as clarified, the Report treats both of these issues as specific to Cyprus, related to the political situation—namely, the Turkish occupation—and, like the British Bases, derived from the Constitution.

It should be noted that the Green Line is not treated as a “border,” as had been feared, but rather as a strictly monitored ceasefire line established following the illegal Turkish invasion and occupation since 1974, and there is no question of either changing its legal status or altering the procedures for the passage of lawful travelers (which means that Cyprus’s entry into the Schengen Area will not alter the current procedures for police checks or for free crossings).

The completion of technical readiness and harmonization with the Schengen acquis on the part of the Republic of Cyprus (as recognized in the Report) is the most fundamental pillar for full participation in the Schengen Area, which, once achieved, is expected to be particularly beneficial for enhancing Cyprus’s security, deterring illegal immigration, boosting tourism and air connectivity, and attracting investment to Cyprus. All Cypriots will benefit from full rights of free movement within the EU, as will all legal residents of Cyprus. After all, this is a “national goal” that was set as early as 2019, when the current president, Nicos Christodoulides, as foreign minister, had expressed the Republic of Cyprus’s desire to become a full member.

What are the next steps
? This Evaluation Report has now been forwarded to the College of Commissioners under Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who, on a personal level, is said to have recognized the importance of Cyprus’s accession to the Schengen Area through her many visits to the island.

Euronews reports that the written procedure has been underway recently, the method used by the College of Commissioners to collectively approve decisions without oral debate, saving time on matters that do not require political dialogue and where there are no disagreements.

The same sources indicate that no objections have been raised, which means that the College’s adoption of this Evaluation Report will likely come before the College not as an “open issue” but as already approved—that is, through the written procedure—without even needing to be included on the “agenda.”

Forty days ago, the European Commissioner for Migration, Magnus Brunner, had pledged that the Commission would soon present the report on Cyprus’s accession to the Schengen Area, clarifying, however, that “the decision on when and how Cyprus will join the Schengen Area rests with the Council, not the Commission.”

“Cyprus’s accession to the Schengen Area would, of course, be a significant step forward for the European Union as a whole. And our primary goal as the Commission is to ensure that Cyprus meets the strictest Schengen standards,” Commissioner Bruner noted at the time, stating that “significant progress has been made” and acknowledging that there had been “good cooperation” with the relevant authorities of the Republic of Cyprus.

The next meeting of the College of Commissioners is scheduled for Friday (July 17). In any case, once the decision is formally adopted, the Commission’s relevant proposal will be forwarded to the European Council, which will make the final decision.

The path to finally achieving the goal still lies ahead—and in any case, it is not paved with rose petals—but the contents of this specific Assessment Report, the content of which suggests it is only a matter of time before it is adopted by the College of Commissioners as well, indicate that things are now “on the right track”…

Source: euronews