Cyprus Aspires to Join Schengen Area in 2024

Cyprus Aspires to Join Schengen Area in 2024

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Cyprus's Foreign Minister, Constantinos Kombos, prioritises the country's accession to the EU's Schengen Area and Visa Waiver program in 2024.
  • Kombos' comments were outlined in the 2023-2024 action plan.
  • Currently undergoing the Schengen evaluation process.

The membership of Cyprus to the EU’s Schengen Area and the Visa Waiver program are among the main priorities for next year, Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos has said.

The Minister aspires for the accession to the passport-free zone for his country to happen in 2024.

His comments came while introducing the 2023-2024 action plan for his ministry. Kombos emphasized that the first one on the list is contributing towards a solution for the Cyprus problem.

In spite of the fact that Cyprus is not part of the Schengen Zone, it has been part of the European Union since May 1, 2004, meaning that nationals of all EU countries are eligible to travel to this country visa-free. Besides, citizens from the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway are also able to travel without visas to Cyprus.

At the same time, Cypriots are also eligible to travel without additional requirements such as visas to all EU member states.

At present, Cyprus is undergoing the Schengen evaluation process in order to determine the readiness of this country to become part of the Schengen Area.

Cyprus gained accession to the Schengen Information System (SIS) for security and border management in Europe on July 25 this year.

The Deputy Executive Director of EU-LISA, Luca Tagliaretti, considered the accession of Nicosia to this system a significant landmark for eu-Lisa and the EU.

Eu-LISA would like to congratulate all parties involved in reaching this milestone. Without the tight collaboration and dedication shown over the last couple of years, today’s successful integration would not have happened.

Luca Tagliaretti, the Deputy Executive Director of eU-LISA

In addition to waiting to become the newest member of the Schengen Zone, Nicosia also aspires to join the United States Visa Waiver Program.

However, in order for this process to be finalised, the country still needs to meet some conditions, as emphasised by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the US Department of Homeland Security, Robert Paschall, in August this year.

It [Visa Waiver Program] is a security program, and it is also a travel facilitation program, and it strengthens people-to-people ties. All those things are very important, and it allows for countries such as the US and Cyprus who keep ties and relationships to deepen them.

Paschall

He said that both sides are committed to achieving positive results while highlighting the importance of the US Visa Waiver Program.

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