BRUSSELS - The Committee of Permanent Representatives (COREPER) of the European Union (EU) took measures to ease economic isolation of Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) with changes it made to Cyprus regulations, sources said on Wednesday.
The measures taken by COREPER, comprised of permanent representatives of EU member countries in Brussels, facilitate sale of goods produced in TRNC, which have been subject to embargoes so far, in EU market across the Green Line.
EU Commission Spokesman Jean-Christophe Filori said earlier in the day that COREPER was today discussing the regulations which would enter into force on Saturday.
Filori noted that the regulation was re-arranging movement of people and goods across the Green Line, dividing the north and south of Cyprus.
The EU Council had showed that it would support Turkish Cypriots on Monday, Filori stated.
Filori said that therefore, the Council asked the Commission to prepare a detailed package of proposals.
Preparation of such a package would take some time, Filori pointed out.
Filori said that it was not possible to set the road map for the use of 259 million Euro assistance to be granted to Turkish Cypriots till Friday.
However, they would lay down and announce their proposals as soon as possible, Filori added.
The Cyprus regulation approved by COREPER today is envisaged to be put into practice as of May 1 after being approved by the Justice and Internal Affairs Council in a meeting to be held in Luxembourg on Thursday.
(BRC) 28.04.2004