The European Commission is “closely monitoring the progress in fulfilling the requirements” of Cyprus’ path towards Schengen membership, European Commissioner for internal affairs Magnus Brunner announced on Wednesday.

Considering the situation in Cyprus and the existence of the buffer zone in particular, Brunner, in a response to a question by Cyprus’ former health minister and present MEP Michalis Hadjipantelas, said a first evaluation of the status quo was already underway.

Earlier, Hadjipantelas had inquired about the progress of Cyprus’ Schengen application and potential support to address challenges, particularly regarding control and supervision of the buffer zone.

The commission said that so far, more than €292 million worth of EU funding has been allocated to Cyprus for “border management”, migration and police cooperation under the 2021 to 2027 programming period.

This includes €67.7 million earmarked for the construction of new reception and pre-departure centres in the Limni area, €30 million for enhancing surveillance capabilities at sea borders, and €9.9 million dedicated to reinforcing digital systems such as the Schengen Information System (SIS).

Hadjipantelas emphasised that the commission will continue to work closely with the Cypriot authorities, with the aim of accelerating the evaluation process and supporting the necessary reforms.

On Wednesday afternoon, the European Commission had released its fourth ‘State of Schengen’ report on past developments and the upcoming agenda for the upcoming year.

The report highlighted that, in the 40 years since its establishment, Schengen had “evolved into a robust and comprehensive system” where member states together with the EU were “effectively managing external borders, security and migration in a coordinated manner”.

Highlighting that “all candidate countries must have fully functioning national Schengen governance systems by the time they are admitted to the EU”, the report emphasised that Schengen requirements had become a crucial aspect of the EU enlargement process.

Additionally, it highlights that ‘intensified EU efforts’ have resulted in a decline in irregular crossings at Schengen’s external borders, with around 240,000 detections, the lowest since 2021.

President Nikos Christodoulides had repeatedly underscored the potential benefits of Schengen membership for Cyprus, claiming it would particularly help boost the Republic’s tourism and investment sector. In early 2025, he stated that Cyprus was “in the final stage” of preparation to join the free-movement zone, even suggesting the prospect of accession before mid-2026.

Following the recent Schengen-accession of Bulgaria and Romania, Cyprus and Ireland remain the only EU member states outside the Schengen zone. In Cyprus, the main issue lies in the buffer zone, which serves as the de facto border and complicates matters.

If Cyprus were to join Schengen, the buffer zone, currently patrolled by UN peacekeepers, would be transformed into a tightly controlled boundary potentially increasing tensions.