Political momentum behind Cyprus’ Schengen ambitions received a public boost on Thursday when heads of state and party leaders in the European People’s Party (EPP) declared their support for the island’s full accession. Meeting ahead of the European Council in Brussels, the EPP statement urged the Council of the EU to conclude the matter “without further delay,” noting that the European Commission’s technical report on Cyprus was positive. President Nikos Christodoulides, an EPP affiliate, attended the closed-door session and briefed colleagues on the final technical steps completed in Nicosia. Diplomats present said no delegation voiced objections. While the declaration is not legally binding, it signals that centre-right governments in Germany, Greece, Croatia, Ireland and elsewhere will push for a Council vote, tentatively pencilled in for December. Schengen enlargement requires unanimity, so rallying the EPP family is strategically important: nine of the 27 home-affairs ministers who will vote belong to EPP parties. Business groups in Cyprus welcomed the development, arguing that delay costs the Cypriot economy millions in lost tourism and compliance expenses each year. Attention now shifts to convincing sceptical capitals that Cyprus has robust external-border controls despite its proximity to the Middle East. Nicosia is emphasising the island’s investments in new radar, patrol vessels and asylum-processing reforms, along with an EU-funded returns programme launched this summer.
Source: Cyprus News Agency (CNA)
