EUROFILE

Fact of the day: EU accession will not only affect Cypriots or EU nationals living on the island. On November 25, 2003, the European Council formally adopted a proposal directive concerning the status of third country nationals who are long-term residents in EU member states.

Third country nationals (originating from outside the EU) who have resided for more than five years in a Member State will be granted a long-term EC residence permit, which affords them a number of benefits and rights. The permit will be valid for 10 years and will be automatically renewable on expiry.

According to the directive, a person who holds a long-term residence permit will be granted a set of uniform rights, which are as near as possible to those enjoyed by EU citizens.

These rights range from access to employment and self-employed activity, to education and vocational training, housing, social protection and assistance (pensions, income support, tax benefits and free health care). They will also get recognition of diplomas and qualifications and enhanced protection against expulsion.

A long-term resident will be granted the right of residence in another member state from the one they originally reside in if they move to a second member state for a period of three months, so long as they apply for a residence permit within that time.
The exercise of this right in another EU state by a long-term resident is subject to compliance with a number of conditions, mostly economic in nature.

This directive has been in force since December 31, 2003, and a report on its application across the union will be prepared by the Commission by the end of 2005.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.