The European Commission (EC) has positively assessed Cyprus's technical readiness to join the Schengen Area, though the final decision on accession remains in the hands of EU member states, the commission spokesperson Markus Lammert stated at a briefing, according to Report's European bureau.
He noted that the 2025–2026 Schengen report, adopted yesterday, included a favorable opinion regarding Cyprus.
The document has already been sent to the EU Council and the European Parliament, and will be formally presented to ministers in September. After that, the Council will decide when and under what conditions Cyprus can become a full participant in the Schengen Area.
Lammert stated: "Cyprus's full accession to the Schengen Area will strengthen the common system of unified rules, standards, and shared responsibility that underpins Schengen cooperation."