Christodoulides urges EU to decide on Cyprus joining Schengen as soon as possible

Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said that the republic was seeking a political decision on «full accession to the Schengen Area as soon as possible». He said this after a meeting with European Council President António Costa.

In July 2026, the European Commission published its assessment of Cyprus’s readiness, recommending that the republic’s application be considered as a priority. “We are working together with the Council, that is, with all the member states, as well as with the Commission, so that this very important political decision is taken as soon as possible,” Christodoulides said.

The decision is taken by the member states themselves at the level of the EU Council on Justice and Home Affairs, and requires unanimity. “It is clear that the decision on when and how Cyprus will join the Schengen Area is taken by the Council,” European Commission spokesman Markus Lammert said. The Commission is expected to present its formal report in the coming weeks.

The Schengen Area currently includes 25 EU countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Cyprus and Ireland remain the only EU states that are not part of it; Romania and Bulgaria joined at the beginning of 2025. More than 450 million people live within the area, making around 1.25 billion trips a year.

Cyprus expects membership to boost tourism and simplify business travel, logistics and trade. The issue of controls on the “Green Line” dividing the island remains unresolved: Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman warned that accession “could create many complications, especially in the area of freedom of movement”.