On Thursday 4 July, the Commission published the annual report on the implementation of the ‘green line’ regulation in Cyprus in 2023 and the annual report on the implementation of the aid programme for the Turkish Cypriot community in 2023 (the ‘aid programme report’), which demonstrate “the EU’s continued support for Cyprus’ reunification”, according to a press release.
Trade across the ‘green line’ in 2023 rose by 9.6% to a record value of €16 million. 7.1 million authorised crossing were recorded in 2023, which represents a steady increase on the 6.1 million recorded in 2022.
The second report concerns the aid programme. “Since 2006, a total of €688 million in EU funding has been allocated to the Aid Programme, which supports Cyprus’ reunification by financing confidence-building measures and supporting the socio-economic development of the Turkish Cypriot community. In 2023, €31.7 million was allocated for this purpose”.
Thanks to this EU funding, “the first three Turkish Cypriot Halloumi/Hellim producers and 15 milk farms were approved under the Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) scheme in 2023. The Commission assisted the Turkish Cypriot community in complying with EU food safety and animal welfare standards, a condition for placement of products on the EU market”, the press release goes on to explain.
Links to the reports: https://aeur.eu/f/cy4 ; https://aeur.eu/f/cy5 (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)