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Cyprus is making steady progress toward joining the Schengen Zone, but major hurdles still stand in the way before it can fully lift border controls with the rest of the European Union. Although the European Commission has recognized Cyprus' technical improvements, including gaining access to the Schengen Information System last July, full membership depends on a unanimous green light from all EU countries after a complete evaluation.
According to our Brussels correspondent, George Kakouris, a key sticking point remains the Green Line, the UN-patrolled buffer zone separating the Republic from the Turkish-occupied north. While the EU does not require Cyprus to treat the Green Line as an external border, the country must prove it can effectively control crossings and tackle irregular migration without undermining its political stance against recognizing the "TRNC." This delicate balance, along with broader migration management, will be crucial in convincing skeptical member states.
Officials in Nicosia are trying to keep expectations realistic. Earlier this year, President Nikos Christodoulides hinted that Cyprus could join Schengen as early as 2024, but Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos recently clarified that several recommendations from the Commission still need to be met, and some of them present "significant difficulties." The government's current goal is to complete the final reassessment by 2025.
For years, there was a belief that Cyprus could not join the Schengen Zone without a solution to the island’s decades-old division. However, Brussels now sees Cyprus’ case differently. Unlike Ireland, which has opted out of Schengen cooperation altogether, Cyprus is actively participating in Schengen structures, even if internal border checks have not yet been scrapped. The Commission has also shown readiness to enter into dialogue with Cyprus on how to manage its unique situation under Protocol 10 of the EU Treaties.
The road to Schengen membership, though, remains long and politically charged. Past examples like Bulgaria and Romania, who faced years of delays despite technical readiness, show that even when a country meets the criteria, political objections can hold things up. In Cyprus’ case, migration pressures and the complex situation along the Green Line will be watched carefully by member states before any final decision is made.
For now, Cyprus finds itself in a familiar waiting game: technically ready in many areas, politically complicated in others. But with patience, diplomacy, and continued progress, the door to Schengen may finally open, even if it takes a little longer than hoped.
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