As Cyprus settles into its six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Nicosia this week became the focal point for EU security and mobility policy. On 4 February the House of Representatives opened the 18th Joint Parliamentary Scrutiny Group (JPSG) on Europol, bringing together legislators from all 27 member states and the European Parliament to review the agency’s work on cross-border crime, terrorism and irregular migration. House Speaker Annita Demetriou told delegates that effective information-sharing is “vital for both security and the credibility of Schengen.”
MP Demetris Demetriou warned that organised crime, cyber-attacks and migrant-smuggling routes through the Eastern Mediterranean pose an “immediate danger” to public safety. Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle presented the agency’s latest intelligence, highlighting a 34 per cent rise in document-fraud cases linked to facilitation of illegal entry via Turkey and the occupied north of Cyprus. One session focused specifically on implementation of ETIAS and the Entry/Exit System, with several lawmakers pressing for real-time access to travel-authorisation refusals so that national police can act quickly at airports and ferry ports.
For companies moving staff around Europe, the meeting signals stricter enforcement ahead. Draft conclusions seen by Cyprus Mail indicate that the JPSG will urge member states to “prioritise operational co-operation against migrant smuggling” and to apply the forthcoming EU Returns Coordinator mechanism swiftly once the Pact on Migration and Asylum is finalised. Mobility managers may see an uptick in exit checks and verification calls when employees transit the Green Line or arrive from high-risk third countries.
![Cyprus Opens EU-Wide Europol Scrutiny Meeting, Spotlighting Migrant-Smuggling Networks]()
For travellers and corporates trying to keep pace with these evolving rules, VisaHQ’s Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) provides concise, real-time guidance on Schengen visas, ETIAS registration and supporting documents—streamlining compliance long before passengers reach the airport.
The gathering also served as a test run for Cyprus’ presidency logistics: more than 250 delegates, support staff and journalists had to be accredited, shuttled and accommodated at short notice—a rehearsal for dozens of councils and conferences scheduled on the island through June. Hermes Airports reported normal operations, but advised inbound participants to allow extra time for badge inspection and meeting-specific screening at Larnaca.
Stakeholders welcomed the emphasis on balancing security with mobility. The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce argued that predictable, technology-enabled border controls are essential if the island is to realise its ambition of joining Schengen in 2027 and expanding its role as a regional business hub. Final JPSG recommendations will be forwarded to the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in March.
MP Demetris Demetriou warned that organised crime, cyber-attacks and migrant-smuggling routes through the Eastern Mediterranean pose an “immediate danger” to public safety. Europol Executive Director Catherine De Bolle presented the agency’s latest intelligence, highlighting a 34 per cent rise in document-fraud cases linked to facilitation of illegal entry via Turkey and the occupied north of Cyprus. One session focused specifically on implementation of ETIAS and the Entry/Exit System, with several lawmakers pressing for real-time access to travel-authorisation refusals so that national police can act quickly at airports and ferry ports.
For companies moving staff around Europe, the meeting signals stricter enforcement ahead. Draft conclusions seen by Cyprus Mail indicate that the JPSG will urge member states to “prioritise operational co-operation against migrant smuggling” and to apply the forthcoming EU Returns Coordinator mechanism swiftly once the Pact on Migration and Asylum is finalised. Mobility managers may see an uptick in exit checks and verification calls when employees transit the Green Line or arrive from high-risk third countries.
For travellers and corporates trying to keep pace with these evolving rules, VisaHQ’s Cyprus portal (https://www.visahq.com/cyprus/) provides concise, real-time guidance on Schengen visas, ETIAS registration and supporting documents—streamlining compliance long before passengers reach the airport.
The gathering also served as a test run for Cyprus’ presidency logistics: more than 250 delegates, support staff and journalists had to be accredited, shuttled and accommodated at short notice—a rehearsal for dozens of councils and conferences scheduled on the island through June. Hermes Airports reported normal operations, but advised inbound participants to allow extra time for badge inspection and meeting-specific screening at Larnaca.
Stakeholders welcomed the emphasis on balancing security with mobility. The Cyprus Chamber of Commerce argued that predictable, technology-enabled border controls are essential if the island is to realise its ambition of joining Schengen in 2027 and expanding its role as a regional business hub. Final JPSG recommendations will be forwarded to the EU Justice and Home Affairs Council in March.
