Nicosia, Cyprus. The European Commission has confirmed a positive assessment of Cyprus’ preparedness to join Europe’s border-free Schengen zone, effectively placing the issue before the Council of the European Union in September. A unanimous decision by the 25 EU members already in the Schengen area will be required for Cyprus to accede.
Commission assessment
European Commission spokesman Markus Lammert said on Wednesday that the college of commissioners had adopted a report on Cyprus’ application on Tuesday.
The assessment was based on monitoring of Cyprus’ preparedness conducted for the EU’s annual “State of Schengen” report, which was released in May.
The college of commissioners, consisting of 27 members representing each EU country, functions as the EU’s cabinet. Its members include Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, fisheries commissioner Costas Kadis, executive vice president for cohesion and reforms Raffaele Fitto, who is also the Commission’s envoy for the Cyprus problem, and Apostolos Tzitzikostas, who has described himself as Cyprus’ second commissioner.
September Council discussion
Lammert said that, following the Commission’s formal position, it will present the “State of Schengen” report to the Council of the European Union in September.
“Decisions on when and how Cyprus joins the Schengen area lie with the council,” he said, adding that Cyprus’ full accession would strengthen the common framework of rules, standards and responsibilities underpinning Schengen cooperation.
Accession requirements
Cyprus and Ireland are the only EU member states outside the Schengen zone. Cyprus’ accession requires unanimous approval from all 25 EU countries that are members of the zone.
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland are Schengen members but are not EU member states. They participate in discussions but do not have voting rights in the accession process.
Support for Cyprus’ accession
According to information provided to the Cyprus Mail, von der Leyen has been a leading force behind efforts for Cyprus to join the Schengen zone.
A diplomat speaking on condition of anonymity said that the longstanding view in Europe had been that Cyprus could not join Schengen before a resolution of the Cyprus problem, but that von der Leyen had urged member states to support Cyprus’ accession.