According to Cyprus Mail, a meeting was recently held between Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides and European Council President António Costa. The key topic of discussion was Cyprus’s accession to the Schengen Area. According to the European Commission’s assessment, the country is fully ready, and the Commission also recommends completing the process as a priority.

At present, Cyprus remains one of only two EU member states that are not part of the Schengen Area. Accession will significantly simplify travel to the island for European tourists and, consequently, benefit the country’s entire tourism sector, including private landlords. For Cyprus residence permit holders, accession will mean the possibility of travelling freely within the Schengen Area without having to obtain separate visas.

Since the European Commission has already given a positive assessment, the next important step will be a political one: the Council of the EU must adopt the decision unanimously. There are also challenges to be addressed: the authorities must decide how to apply the Schengen rules to the Green Line, which divides the territory controlled by the Republic of Cyprus from the northern part of the island.