92000E1587

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1587/00

by Jürgen Zimmerling (PPE-DE) to the Commission

(19 May 2000)

Subject: Effects of the resolutions on Cyprus

On 16 November 1995, and again on 27 March 1996, the European Parliament adopted resolutions on the situation in Cyprus (B4-1387/95(1) and B4-0034/96(2)):

- What effect have these resolutions had?

- What was the Turkish reaction to them?

(1) OJ C 323, 4.12.1995, p. 117.

(2) OJ C 117, 22.4.1996, p. 15.

Answer given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(27 June 2000)

The Honourable Member's question refers to incidents and tensions along the buffer zone between the two communities in Cyprus.

The Commission firmly believes that, following the positive developments at the Helsinki European Council in December 1999 and in the light of the greatly improved relations between Greece and Turkey, along with the designation by the Member States of Turkey as a candidate country, a start has been made towards decreasing political tensions in Cyprus. This summer will see the resumption in Geneva of the proximity talks between the two communities lead by the United Nations. The Commission hopes that further progress towards a lasting settlement of the political problem will be made. Meanwhile, the enlargement negotiations with the Republic of Cyprus are progressing well with 15 of the negotiating chapters provisionally closed. Further initiatives are being taken to set up bi-communal projects following the visit of the member responsible for Enlargement to Cyprus in March 2000. The Commission is of the opinion that the proximity talks and accession process can mutually reinforce each other thereby reducing tensions and incidents as noted in the resolutions of the Parliament cited by the Honourable Member.

The Commission is not aware of any precise reaction from the Turkish authorities to these resolutions.