The Cypriot Plenary has today ratified the agreement between the Government of the Republic of Cyprus and the Government of the United States regarding the strengthening of cooperation in preventing and combating serious crime, which was signed in Nicosia on 1 December 2015.

The text of the implementing agreement was approved by the Council of Ministers on July 3, 2024.

It is recalled that the agreement is one of the conditions for the inclusion of Cyprus in the US Visa Waiver Program and provides that the parties will be allowed to use the data search powers provided for in the PCSC Agreement for the exchange of information on persons included in the databases referred to in Article 3(5) of the agreement.

The purpose is to determine whether such persons have committed or are committing, are suspected of or are being investigated for, or have been charged with or convicted of serious crimes, and who, because of that criminal activity, constitute a threat to public safety in terms of their entry into the territory of a Party or their application for a visa or other immigration-related benefit.

For purposes of automated searches, the data in the parties’ respective automated fingerprint identification systems intended to be available are to the US Department of Homeland Security all applicable and appropriate records maintained or available in the Automated Biometric Identification System of the Department or its successor, where permitted by applicable US law and policy.

For the Ministry of Justice and Public Order is all applicable and appropriate data held or available in the biometric database of the Automated Fingerprint Recognition System of the Cyprus Police or its successor, where permitted by applicable law and policy of the Republic.