THE government will continuously meet European Commission officials to discuss the implementation of the Green Line regulation adopted last month. Yesterday’s meeting in Brussels between the two sides raised differences over the issue of direct trade with the north and concern over the imposition of penalties on free movement.
Head of the Presidential Diplomatic Office Tasos Tzionis said yesterday that the first meeting with the Director General of DG Enlargement, Fabrizio Barbaso, had been held in a “very good climate,” since the government was given the chance to explore the issues of movement of persons and goods.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the two sides agreed that the regulation on the demarcation line has been implemented since May 1 without any problems.
Issues on the agenda included the package of economic support for the Turkish Cypriots, Cyprus’ representation in the European Parliament in the event of a solution, Turkish Cypriots’ participation in Community programmes and trade from the occupied north to the rest of the world.
On the issue of movement of persons, the Commission underlined that there should be no obstacles to movement across the line and sought government assurances that European citizens would not be penalised for coming from the occupied north to the free areas.
The government committee responded that there was no intention to impose a penalty if conditions remained as they were today. Cypriot officials also gave reassurances that the government would consult with Brussels before taking any such action.
According to CAN, no difficulties arose during the discussion of the Commission’s 259 million euro aid package for the north.
Practical problems came up over the participation of Turkish Cypriots in Community programmes, which the government still needs to iron out.
However, the two sides reached deadlock over the interpretation of the conclusions of the Council of General Affairs meeting on April 26.
Barbaso said his department concluded from that meeting that the door was open for direct trade between the north and the rest of the EU. The Cyprus government argued that this was not possible since the Council conclusions were of a unifying not divisive character.
The two sides agreed to continue talks and when necessary to send Commission officials to Nicosia for further consultation.
Enlargement Commission spokesman Jean-Christophe Filori agreed that the Green Line regulation had been working without problems to date. However, the spokesman stressed the importance of the issue of freedom of movement for the Commission.
There should be free movement of European citizens within Cyprus, regardless of the point of entry on the island.
According to sources, the Commission was satisfied with the government’s reassurance that they did not intend to use their right to impose administrative penalties under present conditions.
