Protocol sets terms for Cyprus joining the EU
The Protocol on Cyprus, attached to the EU accession treaty signed yesterday by the Republic of Cyprus, provides for the suspension of the acquis communautaire in the areas where the republic does not exercise effective control. It is noted that in the event of a settlement to the Cyprus dispute that suspension will be removed, and the European Council, acting unanimously on the basis of a Commission proposal, will decide on the adaptations to the terms concerning Cyprus’s EU entry with regard to the Turkish-Cypriot community. Finally, the report reaffirms the commitment of the contracting parties to overcome the division of the island on the basis of previous UN resolutions. The full text of the Protocol follows: The High Contracting Parties, Reaffirming their commitment to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, consistent with relevant United Nations Security Resolutions, and their strong support for the efforts of the United Nations Secretary General to that end, Considering that such a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem has not yet been reached, Considering that it is, therefore, necessary to provide for the suspension of the application of the acquis in those areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control, Considering that, in the event of a solution to the Cyprus problem this suspension shall be lifted, Considering that the European Union is ready to accommodate the terms of such a settlement in line with the principles on which the EU is founded, Considering that it is necessary to provide for the terms under which the relevant provisions of EU law will apply to the line between the above-mentioned areas and both those areas in which the government of the Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control and the Eastern Sovereign Base Area of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Desiring that the accession of Cyprus to the European Union shall benefit all Cypriot citizens and promote civil peace and reconciliation, Considering, therefore, that nothing in this Protocol shall preclude measures with this end in view, Considering that such measures shall not affect the application of the acquis under the conditions set out in the Accession Treaty in any other part of the Republic of Cyprus, Have agreed upon the following provisions: Article 1 1. The application of the acquis shall be suspended in those areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control. 2. The Council, acting unanimously on the basis of a proposal from the Commission, shall decide on the withdrawal of the suspension referred to in paragraph 1. Article 2 1. The Council, acting unanimously on the basis of a proposal from the Commission, shall define the terms under which the provisions of EU law shall apply to the line between those areas referred to in Article 1 and the areas in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control. 2. The boundary between the Eastern Sovereign Base Area and those areas referred to in Article 1 shall be treated as part of the external borders of the Sovereign Base Areas for the purpose of Part IV of the Annex to the Protocol on the Sovereign Base Areas of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Cyprus for the duration of the suspension of the application of the acquis according to Article 1. Article 3 1. Nothing in the Protocol shall preclude measures with a view to promoting the economic development of the areas referred to in Article 1. 2. Such measures shall not affect the application of the acquis under the conditions set out in the Accession Treaty in any other part of the Republic of Cyprus. Article 4 In the event of a settlement, the Council, acting unanimously on the basis of a proposal from the Commission, shall decide on the adaptations to the terms concerning the accession of Cyprus to the European Union with regard to the Turkish-Cypriot Community.
