THE EUROPEAN Union yesterday adopted the Green Line regulation for Cyprus, which lays down the regulations concerning the crossing of goods, persons and services. The regulations come into force tomorrow with the island’s accession into the bloc.
The deal, struck by EU ambassadors on Wednesday, was endorsed by EU justice and interior ministers in Luxembourg yesterday and aims to facilitate trade across the divide.
From tomorrow, goods wholly obtained in the northern part of the island can be traded, while rules concerning trade of manufactured goods will be adopted by the Commission in the next two months.
The regulations stressed compliance with European standards regarding public health and food safety – thus banning, for the time being, the movement of animals and animal products. Relevant certificates would be issued by the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce under the authorisation of the Commission.
But while promoting economic development in the north, the EU is seeking to ensure that products from Turkey do not enter the EU market through the occupied areas.
“It will not be enough to put a sticker on for it to become a local product,” said one diplomat.
“This concerns goods that are genuinely produced or transformed in the zone.”
EU ambassador to Cyprus, Adrian Van der Meer, told the Cyprus News Agency yesterday the arrangements were flexible and could be adapted according to future trade patterns.
“It is a much better approach than what we had before, it could stimulate inter-island trade, which can help further links between the two communities, which could lead to further reconciliation and understanding,” Van der Meer said.
He stressed that the Green Line was not the EU’s external border, adding the regulation foresaw that the existing system would continue to exist.
“Turkish Cypriot workers can continue to cross on a daily basis unhampered and people from both communities can meet,” the EU ambassador said.
The leader of the Turkish Republican party Mehmet Ali Talat praised the EU measures as “an important step”.
“At least the Greek Cypriots will not be the sole (internationally recognised) authority because the EU is getting involved.”
According to the regulations, all Cypriots and other EU citizens would be able to exercise their rights of free movement throughout the island while third country nationals would be allowed to cross the line if they possess either a residence permit issued by the Republic or a valid travel document and, if required, a visa.
The Republic would be assigned with carrying out checks on all persons, vehicles and objects in the possession of persons crossing the line, according to the regulations.
The regulations, however, do not cover the event where a tourist wishes to spent time in the north.
Tourists are currently warned at the checkpoints that they cannot stay in the north overnight, though there are no effective checks in place to enforce this.
Special rules apply for persons crossing the line carrying goods for personal use.
According to Article Six, “…goods contained in the personal luggage of persons crossing the line, including a maximum of 20 cigarettes and a quarter of a litre of spirits, shall be exempt from turnover tax and excise duty provided they have no commercial character and their total value does not exceed 30 euros (£18) per person”.
Though not clearly specified, the system currently in place which allows perishables, such as fruit and vegetable, dried nuts and sweets, which are bought for personal use, is expected to remain in place, though – unless otherwise specified tomorrow – it is up to the discretion of individual officers at the checkpoints.
Van der Meer said wholly obtained goods in the north could be traded in the other side of the Green Line as long as they comply with regulations regarding protection and food safety.
“Raw materials can cross from the government controlled area to the north, be processed and return to the south,” he said.
