Cyprus Receives Positive Assessment from European Commission

Cyprus is one step closer to joining Europe's border-free travel zone, the Schengen Area. The country has been working towards this goal for years and has now received a positive assessment from the European Commission in July.

This technical readiness was confirmed by Cyprus's Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection, Nicholas Ioannides, who stated that all 120 recommendations made by the EU have been implemented. These recommendations covered various areas such as border controls, visa policy, access to security databases and police cooperation.

The implementation of these recommendations required significant technological upgrades, legislative reforms and administrative changes. Cyprus has now met the technical requirements for joining Schengen but this is not enough on its own to secure membership.

The next step will be to secure a political agreement from all EU member states, which must be unanimous in their decision following consultation with the European Parliament. This hurdle still needs to be cleared before Cyprus can officially join the Schengen Area.

Cyprus's bid to join the Schengen Area has hit a snag due to concerns over security on the island. According to diplomats familiar with the matter, Austria and the Netherlands have expressed reservations about Cyprus's application.

These two countries have previously raised objections to Bulgaria and Romania joining the Schengen Area, suggesting that their concerns may be more nuanced than initially thought. Their informal reservations carry significant weight in the decision-making process.

The main obstacle to Cyprus's membership is the Green Line, a ceasefire line that has divided the island since Turkey's military intervention in 1974. This approximately 180-kilometer-long buffer zone separates areas controlled by the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus from Turkish-controlled territory.

The unique arrangement governing crossings between the two sides poses a challenge for Schengen membership, as the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise control along the entire length of the line. The situation is further complicated by Nicosia's rejection of any arrangement that could turn the Green Line into an external border, either legally or symbolically.

The status of the British Sovereign Base Areas also remains a point of contention. These areas are under the jurisdiction of the UK and exempt from Cypriot law, raising questions about how they would fit into the Schengen Area if Cyprus were to join.

Cyprus's bid to join the Schengen Area has been met with concerns from some member states regarding its control over the entire Green Line. This issue stems from the fact that while Cyprus may have jurisdiction over crossing points, there are also open stretches of land along the border.

To be considered a full member of the Schengen Area, Cyprus would need to demonstrate complete control over its borders. According to experts, this could only be achieved by resolving the long-standing Cyprus problem or establishing a strictly controlled physical border.

The presence of British Sovereign Base Areas on the island further complicates matters. These territories, which cover almost 3% of Cyprus's land area, remain under UK sovereignty and pose significant challenges for the country's Schengen aspirations.

The main concern surrounds the Dhekelia base area, which shares borders with both the Republic of Cyprus and the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. This has raised questions about how these territories would be integrated into a unified border control system if Cyprus were to join the Schengen Area.

The complexities surrounding Cyprus' potential entry into the Schengen Area are further complicated by its unique arrangement with British Sovereign Base Areas. These areas, located on the island's northeastern coast, are currently subject to separate border controls from those of the Republic of Cyprus.

Dr. Nasia Hadjigeorgiou points out that this unusual situation arises because one side of these territories is controlled by authorities in the occupied north, while the other is under British jurisdiction. This has significant implications for the UK's role in Schengen Area border control, as it would be responsible for determining who enters and leaves.

As Cyprus moves closer to joining the Schengen Area, efforts are underway to upgrade border control procedures at Pergamos and Strovilia, two crossing points within these territories. Nicosia has initiated discussions with British authorities on this matter in order to bring these procedures into line with EU requirements.

In parallel, Cypriot officials have intensified diplomatic efforts to secure consensus on the island's accession to Schengen. Deputy Minister for Migration Nicholas Ioannides recently met with counterparts from Austria, the Netherlands and Finland to discuss Cyprus' bid, among other issues, in Luxembourg last October 1.

Cyprus has gained significant support from its European partners in its bid to join the Schengen Area, a key step towards greater integration into the EU. At the summit of the nine Mediterranean EU member states (MED9) in Croatia on October 7, leaders welcomed the European Commission's positive assessment of Cyprus' accession process.

Diplomatic sources suggest that while the signs are encouraging, there is still no guarantee of success for Cyprus. They believe it is likely that the EU will wait for progress in resolving the long-standing Cyprus problem before making a decision that could create additional complications.