Economist Mertkan Hamit Warns: ‘A New Crisis Looms—Schengen’

In a social media post, Hamit evaluated the potential effects of the Republic’s Schengen accession, highlighting risks ranging from restricted crossings to deepening citizenship issues.

Hamit pointed out that while the north continues to grapple with property disputes, foreign capital inflows, and construction dynamics, the issue of citizenship rights for children from mixed marriages remains unresolved—indicating that the status quo on the island is rapidly shifting. He noted that Turkish Cypriots remain passive actors in these developments, with public responses remaining largely superficial.

Highlighting President Nikos Christodoulides’ determination to pursue Schengen accession—closely linked to the Republic’s upcoming EU Council Presidency in 2026—Hamit said the move could further entrench existing paradoxes. Although Turkish Cypriots are technically EU citizens, Hamit emphasized that they are already unable to fully enjoy their rights under the current political conditions.

He warned that integration into the Schengen zone could intensify border control at the Green Line, possibly requiring visa-like documents or even halting crossings altogether. This would particularly impact children from mixed marriages and those who hold only TRNC citizenship, he said.

Hamit also cautioned that those without a Schengen visa could be excluded from daily life in the south, with significant implications for freedom of movement, employment, and access to services—potentially leading to social exclusion and human rights violations.

He further warned that the Schengen system could institutionalize the island's de facto division by transforming the Green Line into a digitally enforced border, reinforcing the psychological and physical separation between the two communities.

As presidential elections approach in the north, Hamit criticized the Turkish Cypriot leadership for failing to formulate a policy on the issue and claimed that other political actors have yet to present comprehensive solutions.