Name: EC Midday press briefing of 15/07/2026
Uploaded: 2026-07-15T09:49:56+00:00
Duration: 121 s

EC Midday press briefing of 15/07/2026

15 juillet 2026

Sommaire mis à jour le 15 juil. 2026

Cyprus News Agency asks the Commission to confirm whether the technical evaluation of Cyprus’ readiness to join the Schengen area is finalized and positive, and to outline the next procedural steps and Council discussion timeline. The Commission spokesperson explains that the 2025–2026 Schengen country report, based on December 2025 monitoring, gives a positive assessment of Cyprus’ technical preparedness, has been transmitted to Parliament and Council, will be formally presented to the Council in September, and that the timing and modalities of Cyprus’ full Schengen accession are for the Council to decide, while the Commission clearly supports full accession.

European Commission mer. 15 juil. 2026 Commission européenne

00:01 - 00:27

Intervenant 2

Irini Kostaki for Cyprus News Agency. Can the Commission confirm whether the technical evaluation of Cyprus' readiness to join Schengen area has been finalized and whether it's positive or not? What are the next procedural steps? And has the Commission already transmitted the technical evaluation to the Council and when do you expect the member states to discuss? Thank you.

00:27 - 00:29

Intervenant 1

This is a question for Marcus. Go ahead, Marcus.

00:29 - 01:42

Intervenant 4

Thanks, Irini. So, the Cyprus accession to the Schengen area would be a significant step forward for the country and for the EU as a whole. Yesterday, the Commission adopted the 2025-2026 Schengen country report after receiving a positive opinion of the member states in the Schengen Committee on 26 June. The report is based on the Schengen monitoring activity conducted in December 2025 and it delivers a positive assessment of Cyprus' state of technical preparedness. The Commission will continue to support Cyprus in its efforts to meet the necessary requirements and standards.

This report, so the report that we have adopted yesterday, will be presented to the Council in September. It has already been transmitted to Parliament and to the Council, but the actual presentation to the Council will be in September. And then it is clear that decisions on when and how Cyprus joins the Schengen area lie with the Council. The Commission's position is very clear: Cyprus' full accession to the Schengen area would be strengthening the common framework of shared rules, standards, and responsibilities that underwrite Schengen cooperation.

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