Summary: May 4, 2004: Cyprus / Accession - Council adopts Regulation on the "green line" on 29 April 2004 (Brussels)
FR - DE - DA - ES - PT - NL - IT - SW - FI - EL
The Council adopted today a Regulation (8208/04) on a regime under Article 2 of Protocol 10 on Cyprus of the Act of Accession. The Regulation defines the terms under which the provisions of EU law will apply to the line between the areas in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control and the areas in which it does not ("green line").
At its meeting on 26 April, the Council had mandated its preparatory bodies to expedite discussion on this Regulation, taking due account of its desire to send a signal of encouragement to the Turkish Cypriot community that its future rests in a united Cyprus within the European Union.
The suspension of the "acquis" upon accession, pending a settlement, in the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control makes it necessary to provide for the terms under which the relevant provisions of EU law shall apply to the "green line".
Since this line does not constitute an external border of the EU, special rules concerning the crossing of goods, services and persons need to be established. The regulation is intended to facilitate trade and other links between the areas in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control and the areas in which it does not, whilst ensuring that appropriate standards are maintained.
Regarding persons, the Regulation indicates in particular that, while taking into account the legitimate concerns of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, it is necessary to enable EU citizens to exercise their rights of free movement within the EU and set the minimum rules for carrying out checks on persons at the line.
Concerning the crossing of goods, the Regulation provides that goods may be introduced in the areas under effective control of the Government of the Republic of Cyprus free of customs duties, on condition that they are wholly obtained in the areas not under its effective control or have undergone in these areas their last, substantial, economically justified processing or working in an undertaking equipped for that purpose. The full implementation of these provisions will be subject to specific
rules that take full account of the particular situation in the island of Cyprus, to be adopted by the Commission within two months of the adoption of the Regulation.
The Regulation also provides for review and monitoring mechanisms, including annual reports by the Commission to the Council on its implementation.
At its meeting on 26 April in Luxembourg, the Council, noting the results of the referenda in Cyprus, expressed its strong regret that the accession to the EU of a united Cyprus will not now be possible on 1 May as well as its determination to ensure that the people of Cyprus will soon achieve their shared destiny as citizens of a united Cyprus in the European Union.
With a view to putting an end to the isolation of the Turkish Cypriot community and to facilitating the reunification of Cyprus by encouraging the economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community, the Council on 26 April also invited the Commission to bring forward comprehensive proposals to this end, with particular emphasis on the economic integration of the island and on improving contact between the two communities and with the EU. It also recommended that the EUR 259 million already
earmarked for the northern part of Cyprus in the event of a settlement now be used for this purpose.
Internet: http://ue.eu.int/
| Top |
European Union Member States
Alerts by email
Email this page
Print this page