Cyprus will solve all the technical issues necessary to join the Schengen area in 2025.
This was announced by President Nicos Christodoulidis on Friday 10 January at a conference organised by Hermes Airports.
He noted that the political aspects of the issue have already been taken into account. Christodoulidis also recalled that Cyprus and Ireland remain the only countries not yet included in the Schengen area, as they do not share land borders with other EU countries.
We have resolved all the political issues related to the Green Line and are now finalising the technical details necessary for Cyprus to join the Schengen area. A special team in the foreign ministry is overseeing this process,' the island nation's president said.
Christodoulidis highlighted the benefits that membership of the Schengen area will bring to Cyprus, particularly in the areas of tourism and investment. The President also announced that Cyprus is in the final stages of lifting the US visa requirement for Cypriot travellers. A US delegation is expected to visit Cyprus soon, a date to be announced.
It should be recalled that Cyprus has been a member of the European Union since 2004, and on 1 January 2008 the island state officially joined the eurozone, but is still not a Schengen country.
Cyprus has officially applied to join the Schengen area in 2019. In November 2019, a team of experts will visit the country to assess Cyprus' capabilities in areas such as personal data storage, border security, entry control, police and judicial cooperation. In July 2023, Cyprus will take another step towards joining the Schengen area. The island state joined the second-generation Schengen Information System (SIS II). The accession of Cyprus to Schengen will provide for enhanced border control by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, and will improve the ability to combat illegal immigration.