United Nations Cyprus envoy Maria Angela Holguin used a weekend interview in daily Politis to call on the island’s two communities to deliver a long-promised package of confidence-building measures, starting with the opening of at least one new crossing point across the UN-patrolled buffer zone. Holguin said that after two years of political stalemate, practical steps that make daily life easier for Greek-Cypriots and Turkish-Cypriots are the only way to rebuild the trust needed for renewed reunification talks. The most tangible of those steps is a new vehicular crossing linking the village of Athienou with Aglandjia on the outskirts of Nicosia—a route that would shorten the drive between Larnaca port, the capital and the north by almost 40 minutes. Business groups on both sides say the extra crossing would cut logistics costs for manufacturers who operate on a bi-communal supply chain and would ease the morning rush for thousands of cross-border commuters who already face long queues at the over-burdened Agios Dometios/Metehan checkpoint. Holguin warned that Cyprus is “technically ready” for full Schengen membership but risks losing EU credibility if it cannot demonstrate control and cooperation along the Green Line. Brussels has made it clear that smoother internal crossings and the deployment of interoperable digital entry-exit systems on both sides will weigh in the Council’s final decision on Cyprus’ accession, now pencilled in for mid-2027. Failure to act could delay Schengen entry and with it the automatic mutual recognition of residence permits that many foreign investors in Cyprus are counting on. For multinational companies that rotate staff between the island’s financial services hubs in Limassol, the energy projects off the south coast and back-office operations in Famagusta, another open crossing would add operational flexibility and reduce the risk of supply bottlenecks. Holguin urged the two leaders to mandate their Technical Committee on Crossing Points to finalise engineering designs and submit a joint funding request to the EU’s Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance before the end of the year. She stressed that donors are ready to pay—“but only if the politicians finally say yes.” Diplomats believe an announcement on the new crossing before the Christmas tourist peak would send a powerful message to travel operators planning 2027 schedules. For now, however, progress depends on whether President Nikos Christodoulides and Turkish-Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman can translate Holguin’s public nudge into a shared political win.
Source: Cyprus Inform
