Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2000-10-04-Speech-3-152"
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"en.20001004.7.3-152"2
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".
As a member of the Delegation to the EU-Cyprus Joint Parliamentary Committee, I am pleased to have this opportunity to express my opinion on the progress Cyprus has made in the negotiations for accession to the European Union.
The European Commission’s assessment is very positive. Cyprus meets all the Copenhagen political and economic criteria. To date, 16 out of 31 chapters have been closed and the efforts of the Republic of Cyprus to meet all the criteria are ongoing. Cyprus may therefore look forward to becoming a member of the European Union in the near future, and any objection to this membership on the grounds of the special situation of the island would not be defensible either politically or morally. This is, moreover, made clear by the conclusions of the Helsinki European Council, which affirm, in the final analysis, that solution of the ‘Cyprus question’ is not a necessary precondition for accession. In this connection, I would hope that the talks conducted under the auspices of the United Nations will be able to come to a successful conclusion enabling the Greek and Turkish Cypriot populations to enjoy the advantages of membership of the European Union in the context of a reunified republic.
I would also like to urge that the European Union, through its High Representative for the CFSP, should get involved to a greater extent in seeking a negotiated solution in order to put an end to the partition of the island, in application of the United Nations Security Council resolutions. The European Union does have the capacity to make a key contribution to the security of the Cypriot communities in the context of a peace settlement. It can help resolve the problem of the controlled return of refugees and the repatriation of colonists, and can make a considerable contribution to the development of the northern part of Cyprus, after reunification and after the withdrawal of the Turkish army. It is essential to initiate projects involving both communities and to encourage dialogue between both parts in a new spirit of trust.
The European Union must convince the Turkish Cypriot community, which comprises approximately 89 000 members, that they should get involved unconditionally in the accession talks. It is in their direct interest. Indeed, Cyprus’ accession should benefit both communities and should enable the Turkish Cypriots to make good their economic backwardness. Their per capita income is three times less than that of Greek Cypriots. It is therefore essential for Turkish Cypriots to express their point of view on the accession negotiations. It is not going to be an easy task, given the lack of good will on the part of the Turkish Cypriot side and of Turkey.
Even if recent events in the region do not encourage optimism, the European Union must continue to bring its weight to bear in the talks seeking an overall settlement of the Cyprus question."@en1
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