Speaking to reporters on 28 October, President Nikos Christodoulides responded to fresh comments by newly elected Turkish-Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman, who proposed that practical confidence-building issues such as the opening of new crossing points be negotiated in Nicosia rather than in UN-brokered 5 + 1 meetings abroad. Christodoulides welcomed the idea of more local dialogue but stressed that “everyone will ultimately be judged at the negotiating table,” reaffirming the Republic’s readiness for comprehensive talks under UN parameters.
Crossing points along the 180-kilometre Green Line are a critical element of everyday mobility on the island. Roughly 3.2 million crossings—tourists, commuters, and commercial traffic—were recorded in the first nine months of 2025 according to UNFICYP, up 18 % year-on-year. Greek-Cypriot businesses have long pressed for an additional vehicular gate at Pyroi to relieve congestion, while Turkish-Cypriot municipalities favour new crossings at Mia Milia and Louroujina.
Global mobility stakeholders—especially companies posting staff on both sides of the divide—are watching the political choreography closely. A failure to agree on locations or security modalities could freeze expansion plans and keep existing checkpoints operating beyond capacity, increasing wait times that already peak at 45 minutes during rush hour.
Christodoulides signalled flexibility on sequencing, indicating that technical committees could meet “as early as November” to map traffic flows and upgrade CCTV and licence-plate-recognition systems funded by the EU Aid Programme for the Turkish-Cypriot community. He also acknowledged private-sector concerns, noting that the logistics industry loses “an estimated €12 million a year” in fuel and labour costs due to delays at the Ledra Palace and Agios Dometios crossings.
While the statement does not guarantee immediate openings, it revives momentum after last winter’s stalled negotiations. Mobility managers should prepare for incremental improvements rather than a sudden proliferation of gates and should continue advising assignees on documentation requirements, which vary depending on whether travellers present Republic of Cyprus IDs or Turkish-Cypriot-issued documents.
Crossing points along the 180-kilometre Green Line are a critical element of everyday mobility on the island. Roughly 3.2 million crossings—tourists, commuters, and commercial traffic—were recorded in the first nine months of 2025 according to UNFICYP, up 18 % year-on-year. Greek-Cypriot businesses have long pressed for an additional vehicular gate at Pyroi to relieve congestion, while Turkish-Cypriot municipalities favour new crossings at Mia Milia and Louroujina.
Global mobility stakeholders—especially companies posting staff on both sides of the divide—are watching the political choreography closely. A failure to agree on locations or security modalities could freeze expansion plans and keep existing checkpoints operating beyond capacity, increasing wait times that already peak at 45 minutes during rush hour.
Christodoulides signalled flexibility on sequencing, indicating that technical committees could meet “as early as November” to map traffic flows and upgrade CCTV and licence-plate-recognition systems funded by the EU Aid Programme for the Turkish-Cypriot community. He also acknowledged private-sector concerns, noting that the logistics industry loses “an estimated €12 million a year” in fuel and labour costs due to delays at the Ledra Palace and Agios Dometios crossings.
While the statement does not guarantee immediate openings, it revives momentum after last winter’s stalled negotiations. Mobility managers should prepare for incremental improvements rather than a sudden proliferation of gates and should continue advising assignees on documentation requirements, which vary depending on whether travellers present Republic of Cyprus IDs or Turkish-Cypriot-issued documents.
