Turkey to accept Cyprus in new customs deal

Date: 28/07/05

Turkey is expected later this week to sign a protocol extending its customs union with the EU to the 10 member states which joined the European Union last May, including the Republic of Cyprus.

The move, which has been described by some as a de facto recognition of the Greek part of the island, continues to cause controversy.

During a visit to London on Wednesday (27 July) Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that there would be no formal recognition of Cyprus before a deal was reached to reunite the island.

His comments may give the Commission's legal experts a clue to the content of a statement which Ankara is expected to make at the same time as it signs the protocol.

The Commission, as well as the Greek Cypriot authorities, have warned that such a declaration may call the protocol into question.

Turkey's signature of the protocol was set as a precondition for opening membership talks by EU member states last year.

The Greek Cypriot authorities continue to describe Turkey's refusal to recognise the country, while being a candidate for EU membership, as "unthinkable".

Turkey's membership negotiations are scheduled to begin in October.

Article anticipates the signature by Turkey of a protocol extending its Customs Union with the EU to the 10 Member States which joined the European Union in May 2004, including the Republic of Cyprus. The signature was expected for 29 July or 1 August 2005 and would come after a lengthy dispute in which Turkey refused to recognise the government of the Greek part of Cyprus. It was expected that Turkey might add a declaration to the protocol, denying the recognition of the Republic of Cyprus. Both the European Commission and the Greek Cypriot authorities, had warned, that such a move could call into question the whole Protocol, which is a precondition for the opening of Turkish EU accession negotiations.