Cyprus: accession to the European Union and progress in negotiations

The European Parliament adopted the report by Mr Jacques F. POOS (PES, L) on Cyprus's membership application to the European Union. (Please refer to the previous text). Other points taken up include the deterioration in the macro-economic stability of Cyprus - although it satisfies the Copenhagen economic criteria - and the special attention that needs to be paid to certain areas of the acquis, such as the environment. Among the amendments adopted was one, which stresses the importance of ensuring that homosexual rights are properly respected. �