Speaking to journalists on 20 February 2026 ahead of his Brussels tour, Finance Minister Makis Keravnos said Cyprus will use its six-month EU Council presidency to ‘lock in the mobility dividend’ of Schengen accession by aligning infrastructure finance with border-management reforms. Presenting presidency priorities later this week to European Parliament committees, Keravnos will emphasise urban transport connectivity, digital border technology and skills mobility as pillars of post-2027 cohesion funding. A briefing note released by the ministry says Cyprus will push for Cohesion Policy rules that allow regions in accession limbo—such as Cyprus—to fund Schengen-related hardware (e-gates, Entry/Exit System kiosks) from the European Regional Development Fund. Keravnos also wants a carve-out under InvestEU for cross-border commuter rail links that could eventually connect Cyprus to mainland Europe via ferry-rail interoperability. For companies planning long-term assignments in Cyprus, the presidency agenda is a sign that visa processes and transport links may improve in parallel rather than sequentially. If EU co-financing is approved, the island could accelerate installation of biometric gates now scheduled for 2027, shortening queues for third-country assignees. The minister will chair the 27 February General Affairs Council on cohesion, where Cyprus will table a ‘lessons-learnt’ paper calling for faster mobilisation of relocation funds during sudden migration surges. Observers say the move seeks to guarantee that any future asylum-related influx does not derail business travel or cargo flows. A mid-year stock-take is planned for the informal ECOFIN in Limassol in July, giving corporate stakeholders another milestone to watch.
Source: Cyprus Mail
