Brussels, Belgium. A European Parliament annual report has called on Turkey to “give the Turkish Cypriot community the necessary space” to chart its own political course. The report was approved by the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee on Wednesday.
Committee approval and rapporteur comments
The report, seen by the Cyprus Mail, was approved by the European Parliament’s foreign affairs committee (Afet) with 44 votes in favour, 10 against and 17 abstentions.
After the vote, the rapporteur, Spain’s Nacho Sanchez Amor, said that “although we see no reason to resume the accession process, given the deterioration in democratic standards and the increasing repression of the opposition and critical voices, there is a window of opportunity to make progress on the rest of the bilateral sectoral agenda”.
He added: “Closer cooperation on foreign policy is essential to achieving further progress on security and defence.”
Calls related to Cyprus and Turkish Cypriot participation
Regarding Cyprus, the report said that Turkey must allow the Turkish Cypriots the space to act within their role as a “legitimate community of the island”, highlighting that Turkish Cypriot political participation is fundamental to the constitution of the Republic of Cyprus.
It urged the European Commission to “step up its efforts to engage with the Turkish Cypriot community” to facilitate a resolution to the Cyprus problem.
The report also called on all those involved to “demonstrate a more courageous approach” in efforts related to the Cyprus problem, and stressed “the need for the EU body of law to be implemented across the island” after the Cyprus problem is resolved.
Concerns over freedoms in northern Cyprus
The report said it “remains concerned by restrictions on freedom of expression and media freedom” in northern Cyprus, where the ruling coalition is attempting to pass an anti-disinformation bill that many have criticised as overly vague in its language and thus open to abuse by those wishing to suppress journalism.
UN efforts and EU envoy appointment
On the Cyprus problem more broadly, the report said it “welcomes the steps taken” by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres towards resuming settlement talks.
It also called on the European Commission to appoint a replacement for its former envoy for the Cyprus problem, Johannes Hahn, who resigned last month.
Reference to Turkish Cypriot leadership election
The report added that the election of pro-federation candidate Tufan Erhurman as Turkish Cypriot leader last October “has contributed to renewed hope for creating a conducive environment for the resumption of settlement negotiations”.
What impact do you think stronger EU engagement with the Turkish Cypriot community could have on settlement talks?
