Brussels, Belgium. The European Commission published its fifth State of Schengen report, highlighting progress in the borderless travel zone while reaffirming that work must continue to complete Cyprus’ accession to Schengen. The commission linked Cyprus’ bid to wider reforms in border security and migration management.
Schengen developments and performance indicators
The commission said Schengen continued to demonstrate resilience, describing it as one of the EU’s most tangible achievements, enabling more than 450 million citizens to move freely across borders while supporting trade, tourism and goods flows alongside external border protection.
It reported a 26 per cent decline in illegal border crossings in 2025 compared with 2024, alongside a 28 per cent return rate for individuals without legal right to stay in the EU, the highest in a decade.
A key milestone cited was the rollout of the Entry-Exit System in April 2026, which registered more than 66 million border crossings in its first six months of operation and flagged 32,000 individuals refused entry into the EU.
The commission also highlighted its first EU Visa Strategy, adopted in January 2026, as part of broader efforts to modernise migration and border management.
Ongoing challenges and governance focus
While noting progress, the report said geopolitical instability and migration pressures mean challenges remain, and called for reinforced collective responsibility to keep Schengen secure and cohesive.
Cyprus accession and timeline signals
The report comes as Cyprus authorities have said the country is nearing full technical readiness for entry into the Schengen Area, with months of statements signalling 2026 as a target timeline, though officials have increasingly avoided firm commitments on exact timing.
Cyprus features prominently in the commission’s priorities for the 2026 to 2027 Schengen cycle, particularly under the goal of strengthening governance and completing accession processes.
The commission explicitly stated that EU-level work should continue to complete Cyprus’ Schengen accession, alongside full implementation of Schengen rules in Ireland and engagement with enlargement countries.
The reference follows recent developments in Cyprus, where the government has repeatedly signalled that technical preparations for Schengen membership are largely complete.
What do you think should be the key priorities for Cyprus as it seeks to complete its Schengen accession?
