Nicosia, Cyprus. The European Commission said on Tuesday that crossings across Cyprus’ Green Line increased last year for Greek Cypriots, Turkish Cypriots, non-Cypriot European Union citizens, and third-country nationals, according to its annual report on implementation of the Green Line regulation.
Annual reports on Cyprus
The Green Line report was one of two reports released by the European Commission on Cyprus on Tuesday. The other concerned the European Union’s aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community.
Crossing figures
The report cited Cyprus police figures showing 1,453,135 crossings by Greek Cypriots and 833,786 crossings by Greek Cypriot vehicles last year, compared with 1,346,121 people and 822,443 vehicles in 2024.
It said 1,983,610 crossings by Turkish Cypriot people and 748,061 crossings by Turkish Cypriot vehicles took place last year, up from 1,814,617 people and 705,532 vehicles the previous year.
The number of non-Cypriot EU citizens and third-country nationals crossing between the island’s two sides was reported at 2,053,958 last year, compared with 1,777,946 in 2024.
Pergamos and Strovilia data
The report said the Republic’s figures did not include data on people crossing southwards from the Pergamos and Strovilia crossing points, because at both points the north borders the British Dhekelia base.
It therefore cited figures from the bases, which showed that crossings by Greek Cypriots at those points decreased last year compared with the previous year, while crossings by Turkish Cypriots, non-Cypriot EU citizens, and third-country nationals increased.
Vehicle data and contributing factors
The report also said official figures from the Turkish Cypriot police indicated a decrease in the number of crossings made by Greek Cypriot vehicles last year compared with the previous year, but maintained in its conclusions that the overall number of crossings by Greek Cypriots and others increased.
“It was reported that high prices and inflation in the Turkish Cypriot community discouraged Greek Cypriots from crossing the Green Line for personal shopping and encouraged Turkish Cypriots to cross the Line in the other direction,” the Commission said.
“Long queues continued to be reported at the Ayios Dhometios crossing point. The Republic of Cyprus authorities noted that additional human resources had been deployed to facilitate crossings,” it said.
