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President Announces Cyprus Will Join Schengen in 2025, US Visa Waiver Talks Advance · IMI Podcasts

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: President Nikos Cristodolides announced Cyprus would resolve all technical requirements to join Europe's passport-free Schengen zone by the end of 2025.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: He made this declaration at the Beyond Sea and Sun Tourism Conference in Nicosia on January 12th.
• 0:16
  SPEAKER_00: Romania and Bulgaria joined the Schengen area on January 1, 2025, after the European Union lifted internal land border controls.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_00: The European Union had removed air and sea border controls between these countries and other Schengen members in March 2024.
• 0:33
  SPEAKER_00: Christodis said the government has made considerable progress.
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_00: He revealed that his government has, quote, addressed all political concerns regarding the ceasefire line and is now finalizing the technical details required for accession, end quote.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_00: A dedicated team at Cyprus's Ministry of Foreign Affairs leads the accession process.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_00: The island's divided status presents unique challenges for Schengen entry.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: The Green Line Buffer Zone would become the European Union's external border, requiring enhanced passport controls at crossing points.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: European Union officials have indicated that Schengen membership requires modifications to the Green Line regulation governing movement across the island.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_00: The lack of shared land borders with other European Union nations is also a reason for Cyprus's delayed entry into Schengen, according to Charles Sava, managing director of Sava and Associates, who notes that, quote, Cyprus and Ireland remain the last two European Union members to join Schengen, and no surprise here as we do not share a land border with the European Union, end quote.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: The Schengen area allows unrestricted movement for over 450 million European Union and EEA citizens and legal residents.
• 1:48
  SPEAKER_00: It currently includes 25 European Union member states, plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: Cyprus suspended its citizenship by investment program in 2020, but has maintained a permanent residence program, requiring a€300,000 investment.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: If Cyprus joins the Schengen zone, its residence permit holders would be able to travel visa-free throughout its member states.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: The country has also modernized its startup visa program, slashing share capital requirements to 25% and extending residence permits to three years, signaling its commitment to international economic integration.
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: The president's revelation has already boosted interest in Cyprus's immigration programs, according to Sava, who reports a big increase in internet traffic for Cyprus Golden Visa since the announcement.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: The president also announced Cyprus has entered final negotiations for the U.S.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: visa waiver program.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: He says an American delegation will visit soon to discuss implementation.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: If Cristo Dolides plan takes shape and Cyprus becomes a Schengen member, Ireland would remain the only European Union state outside of the Schengen zone.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_00: This episode first appeared as an article by Ahmad Abbas on IMIDaily.com.
• 3:12
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• 3:18
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