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Cyprus PIO: News Update in English, 02-10-10Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>Thursday, 10 October 2002CONTENTS
[01] The European Commission gives the go-ahead for Cyprus' EU accessionThe European Commission in its 93-page recommendation report to the European Council entitled 'Towards the enlarged Union' concludes that Cyprus, along with nine other candidate countries (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, the Slovak Republic and Slovenia) should be ready to conclude the accession negotiations by the end of this year, with the aim to sign the Accession Treaty in spring 2003. In the report, which was formally adopted yesterday, 9 October 2002, the Commission states that the ten aforementioned countries have achieved "a high level of alignment with the acquis and have made considerable advances towards ensuring adequate administrative and judicial capacity". "These countries will be ready for membership from the beginning of 2004", the report adds.On Cyprus in particular, the Commission's recommendation report and the separate 2002 regular report on Cyprus, which was also issued yesterday, support that given the country's track record in implementing the commitments it has made in the negotiations,"it will be able to assume the obligations of membership in accordance with the envisaged timeframe". On the Cyprus problem, the Commission hopes to "see a reunited Cyprus acceding to the EU on the basis of a comprehensive settlement, as the best outcome for all concerned", and calls on Turkey to firmly support the efforts to find a solution this year. However, if no solution is reached, "the decisions to be taken in December by the Copenhagen European Council will be based on the principles set out by the Helsinki European Council in 1999". In its conclusions and recommendations on Cyprus, the Commission sustains that "the EU is ready to accommodate the terms of a political settlement in the accession arrangements in line with the principles on which the EU is founded", and that Cyprus' terms of accession "can be adapted to reflect a comprehensive settlement as well as its implications for the application of the acquis throughout the island". The final decision on which countries will be ready to join in the first wave of enlargement will be taken by EU leaders at the Brussels European Council on 24 - 25 October 2002. [02] Cyprus Government expresses satisfaction over EC reportThe Cyprus Government has expressed its satisfaction over the Commission's report, issued on a "historic" and "particularly important" day for Cyprus and its people. At the same time, the Government Spokesman Mr. Michalis Papapetrou noted that no celebrations were in order as yet, since there are other important stops before Cyprus could become a full EU member state.The Spokesman also expressed satisfaction that the hard work done by the Cyprus people, the Government, the Parliament and others has brought the expected results. "These positive results were made possible due to the correct policy followed by the Government, which safeguarded the rights and interests of the Cyprus people as a whole", Mr. Papapetrou added. In addition, the Cyprus Foreign Minister Mr. Ioannis Kasoulides has expressed his full satisfaction about the Commission's positive report for Cyprus. "It is an important step, essential for paving the road for the big political battle until Copenhagen; a battle which I am convinced will be won", Mr. Kasoulides said. [03] Commission President presents recommendation report on Enlargement"The historic project of unifying our continent to ensure peace, stability and democracy in Europe is within our reach, the European Commission President Mr. Romano Prodi said in his speech before the European Parliament yesterday, adding: "I am confident that the European Council will endorse our recommendations and thus pave the way for concluding the negotiations at the end of the year".Presenting the report, Mr. Prodi pointed out that the European Commission had done its job and honoured its commitment to move forward with the enlargement process. Thirteen years after the reunification of Germany, "we have restored the historical unity of the peoples of Europe", he added. The Chief Commissioner called the EU expansion "the new frontier of the European project" and a "political masterpiece", noting that "the cost of enlargement is slight compared with the cost of non-enlargement". He also cited the benefits of enlargement, namely stability, new trade opportunities, a clear geographical shape and the creation of the biggest single market in the world, emphasising that the European public must be informed about the positive aspect of this process. With regard to the ten candidate countries to join in the first wave of EU expansion, Mr. Prodi noted: "their growth rates are higher than ours, their inflation rates and deficits are kept under control and their markets have confidence", adding however that there are still deficiencies that have to be remedied prior to accession. On Cyprus in particular, the Commission President expressed hope that real progress would be made regarding the reunification of the island, "even though the conclusions of the Helsinki European Council do not make it a precondition for entry". He also announced, before the European Parliament, that Bulgaria and Romania have set the year 2007 as a possible accession date. On Turkey, Mr. Prodi referred to the "considerable progress" made in meeting the Copenhagen criteria, adding that "nonetheless, further efforts are needed" for that country to begin accession negotiations. [04] Turkey did not get date to start accession negotiationsThe European Commission notes, in its report, that Turkey has made "noticeable progress towards meeting the Copenhagen political criteria, as well as moving forward on the economic criteria and alignment with the acquis", adding however that "considerable efforts are needed", especially in strengthening democracy and the protection of human rights, in law and in practice.The Commission recommends that the European Union should enhance its support for Turkey's pre-accession preparations and provide significant additional resources for that purpose. Increased financial assistance should be provided from 2004, the Commission supports, in order to enable Turkey to strengthen its public administration, support the adoption of the acquis and carry forward its EU membership bid. Furthermore, Turkey is reminded of its obligations, namely to contribute to the efforts for finding a solution to the Cyprus problem, to move forward with the reform package and to promote the peaceful settlement of border disputes, all of which fall within the framework of Turkey's enhanced political dialogue with the European Union. [05] Cyprus EU Representative briefs Joint Parliamentary CommitteeThe Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the EU, Ambassador Mr. Theophilos Theophilou, briefed the members of the Joint Parliamentary Committee Cyprus - EU, on 8 October in Brussels, about the progress that had been registered in the overall relations of Cyprus with the EU.Ambassador Theophilou told the members of the Parliamentary Committee that "Cyprus and the Union established new links and initiated contacts and cooperation in new areas both in the context of the Association Agreement and of the Accession Partnership". He also referred to the Progress Report on Cyprus, which was issued yesterday by the European Commission, and which confirmed that Cyprus fulfils the accession criteria to join the EU. Mr Theophilou, expressed the satisfaction of the Government of Cyprus for the continuous and harmonious development of relations with the Union and thanked the institutions of the Union, and particularly the European Parliament, for their constructive cooperation and valuable support. He also referred to the progress made by Cyprus in the accession negotiations, which had allowed it to maintain its leading position among the twelve negotiating countries. "With only two chapters still open and requiring further negotiation, Cyprus has come even closer to its target of successfully concluding the negotiations and acceding to the Union", he added. On the Cyprus issue, he noted the lack of progress in the recent talks for a solution to the Cyprus problem, due to the continued negative attitude of the Turkish Cypriot leadership. "As you may recall", he said, "at their meeting of 9 July, the members of the Security Council expressed disappointment because progress remained disappointingly slow and the June target date for agreement had not been met". Mr Theophilou also made reference to the latest round of UN-led direct talks in New York on 3 and 4 October and the creation of two ad hoc technical committees to work on core issues, underlining President Clerides' commitment and determination to exhaust all possibilities towards finding a solution before the Copenhagen European Council. Finally, he stated that Cyprus' accession into the EU would proceed in accordance with the relevant Helsinki decision and added: "This does not mean that the efforts to solve the political problem will cease. They will continue after the accession until a solution is found at long last". From the Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office (PIO) Server at http://www.pio.gov.cy/Cyprus Press and Information Office: News Updates in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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