Cyprus’s Schengen bid faces political hurdles despite technical readiness

Cyprus has completed all technical requirements to join the Schengen area, but political obstacles linked to the island’s division and the presence of British military bases are delaying its accession. The European Commission gave a positive assessment in July, confirming that Nicosia had implemented 120 recommendations covering border management, visa policy, access to European security databases, and police cooperation. These measures, stemming from EU evaluations since 2021, required substantial technological, legislative, and administrative changes.

On October 1, Cyprus Deputy Minister for Migration and International Protection Nicholas Ioannides stated that “all recommendations made by the European Commission are now considered to have been implemented.” He added that the country is technically ready to join Schengen, but a political agreement among member states is still needed. Schengen accession requires a unanimous decision by the EU Council after consulting the European Parliament.

A divided island and an uncontrolled buffer zone

The main concern for some EU countries is the Green Line, a roughly 180-kilometer ceasefire line that has divided Cyprus since Turkey’s military intervention in 1974. It separates areas controlled by the internationally recognized Republic of Cyprus from the Turkish-controlled northern part. The buffer zone is monitored by the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), but it is not an internationally recognized state border. Crossings occur at nine designated points under a special EU regulation.

However, the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control along the entire Green Line. Dr. Nasia Hadjigeorgiou, associate professor of Transitional Justice and Human Rights at UCLan Cyprus, explained: “The issue raised by some Schengen countries is that the Republic of Cyprus does not control the entire Green Line. It may control the crossing points, but there are also open stretches of land.” She noted that full control would require either resolving the Cyprus problem or establishing a strictly controlled physical border. Nicosia rejects any arrangement that would turn the Green Line into an external border, either legally or symbolically.

Complications from British Sovereign Base Areas

Another obstacle is the British Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia, which have been under UK sovereignty since Cyprus’s independence in 1960. Together they cover 254 square kilometers, almost 3 percent of the island. The Dhekelia base area borders both Republic of Cyprus territory and the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is not internationally recognized. Two crossing points, Pergamos and Strovilia, are located in this area and are checked by British authorities. Since the UK is no longer an EU member, this creates an unusual situation. Hadjigeorgiou said: “This is problematic because the area in question is controlled on one side by the authorities in the occupied north and on the other by the British Sovereign Base Areas.” She added that the UK would be controlling who enters and leaves the Schengen Area, whereas normally Schengen member states themselves make such decisions.

According to DW information, Nicosia and the British Sovereign Base Areas have begun discussions on upgrading border control procedures at Pergamos and Strovilia to meet EU requirements. Meanwhile, Cyprus has stepped up diplomatic efforts to build consensus. On October 1, Ioannides held bilateral meetings with counterparts from Austria, the Netherlands, and Finland on the sidelines of the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting in Luxembourg, where Cyprus’s Schengen accession was among the topics discussed.

Political support and remaining doubts

On October 7, Cyprus secured political backing at a summit of nine Mediterranean EU member states (MED9) in Croatia. The joint declaration welcomed the European Commission’s positive assessment and called for timely completion of Cyprus’s accession process. However, diplomatic sources told DW that Cyprus’s Schengen entry should not be taken for granted despite the positive signals. The same sources said it is highly likely the EU will wait for the outcome of efforts to resolve the Cyprus problem before making a decision that could create additional political and practical complications. Austria and the Netherlands have informally expressed reservations, citing security concerns related to the Green Line and the special status of the British Sovereign Base Areas. Neither country has officially threatened a veto, but both previously objected to Schengen expansion to Bulgaria and Romania.