Brussels, 17/07/2015 (Agence Europe) - European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker thinks that the negotiations on the reunification of Cyprus can end successfully by the end of 2016.
“The next time I will come here will be after the reunification - and I want to be here next year”, Juncker said during a speech to the Cypriot Parliament on Friday 17 July. The day after meetings that were held with the leaders of the Greek Cypriot community, Nicos Anastasiades, and the Turkish Cypriot community, Mustafa Akynci, Juncker said he thought the two political leaders were able to find a solution to the Cypriot issue even if the process is full of obstacles, and provided that the weight of the past is not an obstacle to moving forward (see EUROPE 11348).
Juncker added: “Today, you are at a crucial point in Cyprus' history. After years of mainly negative results, after years of too long discussions, the conditions for a solution are at hand”.
Promising the EU's support to help the countries face the challenges of reunification, Juncker underlined the importance of the economic advantages that a unified island would bring to all Cypriot citizens.
Temporary solution for “halloumi/hellim” cheese. Elsewhere, on Thursday, during the meeting between Juncker, Anastasiades and Akynci, an agreement was found with a view to a protected designation of origin (PDO) for the Greek “halloumi” cheese, and the Turkish “hellim” cheese. The cheese, which is very profitable for the island, will thus be protected from imitations.
The solution is to be found in the designation of an international body - the Bureau Veritas - which will be responsible for the hygiene and quality controls required under Regulation 1151/2012 on quality agricultural products. There were concerns on the Turkish side that the EU might designate a control body situated in the Greek part of the island. The reports from the Bureau Veritas will be sent to the competent authorities of the Republic of Cyprus and the Commission. In order to facilitate the trade of this product, a proposal amending the Green Line Regulation will be adopted by the Commission on the day of publication in the Official Journal of the EU of the official request to register halloumi/hellim cheese as a PDO. (Mathieu Bion and Lionel Changeur)