Cyprus: accession to the European Union and progress in negotiations

The Parliament adopted its resolution, drafted by Mr. Jan Willem BERTENS (ELDR, NL), concerning the regular report from the Commission on Cyprus's progress towards accession even if some difficulties persisted. It calls on the Commission to propose a financial mechanism to replace the financial protocol and calls on the Council to reallocate the remaining EUR 17 million under this protocol to the pre-accession strategy. Like the Commission, the Parliament welcomes the progress made in adopting the acquis but it regrets the difficulties arising from the continued occupation of a part of the island. It particularly criticised the declarations made by certain Member States which oppose Cyprus's accession for as long as it is divided. It invited all the parties in the conflict to participate in dialogue to find a solution to the partition of the island. Lastly, the Parliament called on the Greek government to lift its veto on EU financial assistance to Turkey under the EU-Turkey customs union.�