A major political signal for mobility on the divided island came on 27 October 2025, when newly-elected Turkish-Cypriot leader Tufan Erhürman used his first extended television interview to press for the **immediate creation of additional Green-Line crossing points**. Speaking on the Bayrak channel, Erhürman argued that the existing nine checkpoints are overstretched and generate hours-long queues for commuters, students and business travellers who criss-cross the UN buffer zone each day. New crossings, he said, would provide “win-win results for both sides” by easing daily life for workers and traders while building the trust needed for substantive settlement talks.
Erhürman’s remarks represent the first concrete mobility proposal of his tenure and come only ten days after a joint pledge by the two community leaders to “explore” additional crossings. The Turkish-Cypriot side wants a package that includes openings in Nicosia’s Old City and western Morphou/Güzelyurt, plus upgrades to the Ledra Street pedestrian gate popular with tourists and shoppers. Greek-Cypriot officials have so far responded cautiously, insisting that any expansion must be accompanied by stronger controls against irregular migration through the buffer zone.
For multinational companies with staff on both sides of the island—as well as NGOs, UN agencies and diplomatic missions headquartered in the south—extra checkpoints would cut journey times, lower transport costs and reduce the risk of missed flights out of Larnaca and Paphos. An Ernst & Young relocation survey found that 27 % of expatriate assignees posted to Cyprus cite buffer-zone delays as a top quality-of-life issue. A wider array of crossings would also distribute tourist traffic more evenly, relieving pressure on popular spots such as Ledra Street and Athienou.
Practically, employers should begin mapping alternative commuting routes and reviewing shuttle-bus contracts so they can pivot quickly if and when new gates come online. Immigration advisers note that each crossing has its own operating hours and documentation rules; mobility managers will need to update employee travel toolkits and emergency-contact protocols accordingly. Companies should also watch for any **new security screening or vehicle-permit requirements** that may accompany the openings.
Beyond day-to-day convenience, Erhürman’s initiative could revive dormant confidence-building measures and give the EU fresh leverage in the stalled UN peace process. Brussels funds infrastructure on both sides of the Green Line and is likely to bankroll feasibility studies once a political green light is given. If realised, the project would mark the most significant expansion of free movement on the island since the first checkpoints opened in 2003.
Erhürman’s remarks represent the first concrete mobility proposal of his tenure and come only ten days after a joint pledge by the two community leaders to “explore” additional crossings. The Turkish-Cypriot side wants a package that includes openings in Nicosia’s Old City and western Morphou/Güzelyurt, plus upgrades to the Ledra Street pedestrian gate popular with tourists and shoppers. Greek-Cypriot officials have so far responded cautiously, insisting that any expansion must be accompanied by stronger controls against irregular migration through the buffer zone.
For multinational companies with staff on both sides of the island—as well as NGOs, UN agencies and diplomatic missions headquartered in the south—extra checkpoints would cut journey times, lower transport costs and reduce the risk of missed flights out of Larnaca and Paphos. An Ernst & Young relocation survey found that 27 % of expatriate assignees posted to Cyprus cite buffer-zone delays as a top quality-of-life issue. A wider array of crossings would also distribute tourist traffic more evenly, relieving pressure on popular spots such as Ledra Street and Athienou.
Practically, employers should begin mapping alternative commuting routes and reviewing shuttle-bus contracts so they can pivot quickly if and when new gates come online. Immigration advisers note that each crossing has its own operating hours and documentation rules; mobility managers will need to update employee travel toolkits and emergency-contact protocols accordingly. Companies should also watch for any **new security screening or vehicle-permit requirements** that may accompany the openings.
Beyond day-to-day convenience, Erhürman’s initiative could revive dormant confidence-building measures and give the EU fresh leverage in the stalled UN peace process. Brussels funds infrastructure on both sides of the Green Line and is likely to bankroll feasibility studies once a political green light is given. If realised, the project would mark the most significant expansion of free movement on the island since the first checkpoints opened in 2003.
