Cyprus, which holds the rotating EU Council Presidency for the first half of 2026, is hosting an informal meeting of Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) Ministers from 21–23 January at the Filoxenia Conference Centre in Nicosia. According to the Presidency agenda, ministers will devote a full session to the bloc’s new returns strategy, using Cyprus’ recent surge in voluntary departures as a case study.
The gathering comes at a pivotal moment for Nicosia’s own ambitions to join the Schengen Area later this year. Technical evaluations of border-management systems were finalised in 2025, and political endorsement by other member states is now the main hurdle. By convening EU counterparts on the island, Cyprus hopes to showcase its upgraded border infrastructure – including biometric e-gates and Schengen-connected tablet devices – and to underline its readiness for full Schengen membership.
For mobility planners looking ahead, VisaHQ’s Cyprus desk (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) can already provide up-to-date visa guidance, courier submission options, and real-time alerts on any transition measures, allowing companies and travellers to stay compliant as soon as Schengen rules take effect.
![EU Justice & Home Affairs Ministers meet in Nicosia to debate Schengen and returns]()
Beyond Schengen, ministers will discuss asset-recovery cooperation, the cross-border return of stolen cultural property, and juvenile-justice standards. Parallel meetings of Schengen counsellors will drill down into best practices for incentivising voluntary returns and streamlining readmission agreements with third countries.
For mobility managers, the outcome could influence processing times and documentation checks for travellers moving through Cypriot airports once Schengen entry is secured. Companies should monitor any communiqué for clues on timeline and transitional arrangements, especially regarding Green-Line crossings and ferry connections to neighbouring states.
Accredited journalists must apply via the Cyprus EU Presidency platform; strict credential checks are in place, underscoring heightened security around migration discussions.
The gathering comes at a pivotal moment for Nicosia’s own ambitions to join the Schengen Area later this year. Technical evaluations of border-management systems were finalised in 2025, and political endorsement by other member states is now the main hurdle. By convening EU counterparts on the island, Cyprus hopes to showcase its upgraded border infrastructure – including biometric e-gates and Schengen-connected tablet devices – and to underline its readiness for full Schengen membership.
For mobility planners looking ahead, VisaHQ’s Cyprus desk (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) can already provide up-to-date visa guidance, courier submission options, and real-time alerts on any transition measures, allowing companies and travellers to stay compliant as soon as Schengen rules take effect.
Beyond Schengen, ministers will discuss asset-recovery cooperation, the cross-border return of stolen cultural property, and juvenile-justice standards. Parallel meetings of Schengen counsellors will drill down into best practices for incentivising voluntary returns and streamlining readmission agreements with third countries.
For mobility managers, the outcome could influence processing times and documentation checks for travellers moving through Cypriot airports once Schengen entry is secured. Companies should monitor any communiqué for clues on timeline and transitional arrangements, especially regarding Green-Line crossings and ferry connections to neighbouring states.
Accredited journalists must apply via the Cyprus EU Presidency platform; strict credential checks are in place, underscoring heightened security around migration discussions.
