Nicosia, Cyprus. The Schengen Area is described as a demanding institutional mechanism of the European Union and the wider European space, built on mutual trust and ongoing obligations. Cyprus’s accession is portrayed as a test of institutional credibility, with full implementation still pending.
Schengen as an institutional system
The Schengen Area is presented as more than the abolition of internal border controls, requiring legal certainty, administrative capacity and regulatory consistency as prerequisites for participation. It is described as an autonomous institutional system in which participating states accept extensive and ongoing obligations, including beyond traditional boundaries of national sovereignty.
Participation beyond EU member states
The Schengen Area is not limited to EU member states and includes European Free Trade Association countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. Their participation is cited as demonstrating that Schengen is not simply a by-product of EU membership.
External border controls and rules enforcement
The abolition of internal border controls is described as not implying a relaxation of rules, but presupposing strict and effective control of external borders. It also requires consistent application of rules governing visas, residence and settlement of third-country nationals, and the full and reliable operation of security information systems.
Continuous obligations and evaluation
The Schengen acquis is founded on mutual trust, with each participating state required to ensure its administrative and judicial practices do not create legal or operational gaps affecting the integrity of the area. These obligations are described as continuous and subject to constant European evaluation, including reliable functioning of border authorities, interconnection and proper use of the Schengen Information System (SIS), protection of personal data, independent supervisory mechanisms and effective judicial review.
Cyprus’s accession process
For the Republic of Cyprus, accession is described as a significant test of institutional credibility. Cyprus has been a member of the European Union since 2004, but full implementation of the Schengen acquis remains pending. The formal application for accession was submitted in September 2019, described as a political choice for full participation without seeking exemptions or special arrangements, as Ireland has done.
What steps will you be watching to assess Cyprus’s progress toward full implementation of the Schengen acquis?
