Turkish Cypriot community

Cyprus joined the EU on 1 May 2004 as a divided island. Turkish Cypriots and Greek Cypriots need urgently to find a solution to the Cyprus problem and thus to end a conflict on European soil that is now more than 40 years old. The EU fully supports the renewed negotiations between the leaders of the two communities, Mehmet Ali Talat and Demetrios Christofias, under the auspices of the UN, to reach a comprehensive settlement leading to the re-unification of the island. The EU will accommodate a Cyprus settlement provided that it allows Cyprus to play its full role as a Member State and that it respects the basic principles upon which the EU is founded – democracy, the rule of law and human rights.

The whole of the island is in the EU. However, in the northern part of the island, in the areas in which the Government of Cyprus does not exercise effective control, EU legislation is suspended in line with Protocol 10 of the Accession Treaty 2003. The situation will change once a Cyprus settlement enters into force and it will then be possible for EU rules to apply over the whole of the island. However, the suspension does not affect the personal rights of Turkish Cypriots as EU citizens. They are citizens of a Member State, the Republic of Cyprus, even though they may live in the northern part of Cyprus, the areas not under government control.

The two parts of the island remain divided by the "Green Line" that separates the government-controlled areas from the rest of the island. The Council approved the Green Line Regulation (Council Regulation No 866/2004) on 29 April 2004 to deal with the movement of persons and goods across the line. While many people move across the Green Line every day, trade across the line remains limited, amounting to approximately € 600.000 per month ¹ .

On 27 February 2006 the EU approved an aid regulation for the benefit of the Turkish Cypriot community aimed at putting an end to the isolation of this community and helping prepare for the reunification of the island ² €259 million was voted in 2006 for this programme which is to be implemented by the Commission (DG Enlargement) over five years.

The main aims are:

1. social and economic development ;

2. infrastructure, in particular energy and transport, environment, telecommunications and water supply;

3. reconciliation, confidence building measures, and support to civil society;

4. bringing the Turkish Cypriot community closer to the Union, through information on the EU, and contacts between Turkish Cypriots and other EU citizens;

5. helping the Turkish Cypriot community to be ready to implement EU rules (acquis communautaire) in case of a comprehensive settlement .

Up to April 2009, contracts have been signed for about 30% of the € 259 million available. It is expected that contracts will be signed for the rest by the end of 2009. Most of the contracts will be completed by the end of 2011. More detail on the aid programme can be found here

Role of the European Commission

The European Commission has several specific responsibilities reflecting the unique diplomatic, political and legal situation in Cyprus. These are in addition to the normal role of the Commission with regard to any Member State.

The Commission stands ready to provide any support to the negotiations aimed at reaching a comprehensive settlement that the two sides might request. The Commission will follow the development of the process closely, and set up the arrangements necessary to ensure that the Commission can respond swiftly as and when required.

The Commission implements directly the aid programme decided by Member States to help the Turkish Cypriots prepare for reunification.

The Commission reports regularly on the implementation of the Green Line regulation.

To meet these responsibilities, the Directorate-General for Enlargement within the Commission set up the Task Force for the Turkish Cypriot community.

¹The Regulation is managed by the DG Enlargement Taskforce which prepares a report each year that is adopted by the Commission and sent to the Council (see Annual report on the implementation of the Green Line Regulation (200 [55 KB] 9) [55 KB] and Technical Annexes [82 KB] )

²See conclusions of the EU Foreign Ministers' meeting on 24 April 2004.