Brussels, 27/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 25 September, Jacques Barrot, European Commission Vice-President and EU Transport Commissioner, said that the European Commission would not be reopening the transport negotiating chapter in the accession talks with Turkey until Turkey lifts its ban on the docking of ships registered in the south of Cyprus.
Barrot said at a press conference on Tuesday, to mark the publication of a Green Paper on Urban Mobility, that he had taken a tough line at the '2007 Cyprus Maritime Conference' in Limassol, Cyprus, which opened on Monday 24 September, and he stressed that it would not be possible to start negotiating on the transport chapter again until the embargo has been lifted. Speaking at the opening ceremony of 2007 Cyprus Maritime Conference on Monday, the Commissioner said: 'EU shipping in general, and Cyprus shipping in particular, has to cope with the handicap of the access to Turkish ports. Please be assured that I will put all my efforts into solving this issue. It is not only a problem for Cyprus; it is a problem for Europe and it is also a problem for Turkey.' Since 1987, Turkey has been banning all ships flying the flag of Cyprus from entering Turkish ports. The EU College of Commissioners decided in December 2006 to suspend accession negotiations with Turkey on eight chapters, including public transport (chapter 4) and to refrain from closing any of the remaining chapters until Turkey meets its Customs Union obligations (see EUROPE 9317). (aby)