The European Commission will soon present its report on Cyprus’ accession to the Schengen Area, according to EU Commissioner for Migration Magnus Brunner, following the Justice and Home Affairs Council in Luxembourg on Thursday evening.
Brunner clarified, however, that the decision on when and how Cyprus joins Schengen rests with the Council of the European Union, not the Commission.
“The accession of Cyprus to the Schengen Area would, of course, be an important step forward for the European Union as a whole,” he said, adding that the Commission’s primary goal is to ensure Cyprus meets the strict Schengen standards.
Cyprus report expected soon
The Commissioner confirmed that the situation in Cyprus has been assessed and that the relevant report will be presented shortly.
He noted that significant progress has been achieved and thanked Cypriot officials for their cooperation during the evaluation process.
The report is expected to form a key milestone in Cyprus’ path towards full participation in the Schengen Area.
Cyprus targets end-2026 readiness
Justice Minister Kostas Fytiris said Cyprus has been working on Schengen alignment since joining the EU in 2004, noting that the country has already implemented core elements of the Schengen acquis with EU support.
He said Cyprus had received around 120 recommendations and had made substantial progress in addressing them.
“We believe that by the end of 2026 we will be ready,” he said, adding that the upcoming evaluation report is expected to confirm Cyprus’ readiness for full membership.
Benefits for EU and Cyprus
Fytiris stressed that a united Europe means free movement for EU citizens and highlighted the strategic importance of Cyprus as a geographically sensitive member state.
He added that full Schengen membership would strengthen the EU as a whole while providing additional advantages for Cyprus.
EU priorities on Schengen implementation
During the Council, ministers also discussed the annual Schengen State of the Union report, which highlights three key priorities:
- accelerating digitalisation of border systems
- strengthening external border resilience and return efficiency
- enhancing internal security
Officials also noted progress on large-scale EU IT systems, including the Entry/Exit System, which became fully operational on 10 April 2026.
Migration and security discussions
Ministers exchanged views on geopolitical developments, particularly in the Middle East and Iran-related tensions, with no immediate signs of increased migration flows.
The Council also approved the implementation framework for the EU Drugs Strategy and a new action plan to combat drug trafficking.
Cyprus officials said the country will host an informal ministerial conference on 12 June to mark the launch of the Migration and Asylum Pact implementation phase.
External cooperation and Ukraine support
Discussions also focused on cooperation with third countries, including Somalia, amid rising irregular migration flows.
Officials highlighted that EU support for Ukraine remains firm, with more than four million displaced Ukrainians currently under temporary protection.
The Council also welcomed the conclusion of negotiations on the EU Returns Regulation following two months of interinstitutional talks.
Source: CNA
Also read: Cohesion Policy in focus at EU ministers’ summit in Nicosia
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