The European commission is playing a more active role as regards the harmonisation of Turkish Cypriots with the acquis communautaire in that EU rules and regulations will be effective throughout Cyprus, Kornelios Korneliou, Permanent Representative of Cyprus to the EU in Brussels said on Tuesday.

Asked by Cypriot journalists whether the EU will take a more active role in the negotiations for a Cyprus settlement, the Ambassador said since his election President Nicos Anastasiades called for a more active EU involvement.

The Commission, he added, with the consent of Turkish Cypriots, has a more active role, especially when it comes to harmonising the Turkish Cypriots with the acquis. After a solution, the acquis will be effective throughout the island so they have to prepare, he explained.

In some areas, the EU policies will require a transitional period to take effect.

Korneliou also said that a united Cyprus should work effectively in the EU after a solution and Pieter Van Nuffel, the European Commission President`s Personal Representative to the Good Offices Mission of the United Nations in Cyprus is working towards this goal.

Korneliou referred to the financial aspect, pointing out that EU partners realize that it requires the necessary attention and should be dealt with from now so that it does not become an obstacle to a settlement.

“In some areas we will have longer or shorter transitional periods,” he said, and added that “there is a willingness on the part of the Cypriot government to help prepare the Turkish Cypriots”.

President Anastasiades and Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci are engaged in intensive peace talks to find a negotiated settlement that would reunite Cyprus, divided since the 1974 Turkish invasion.

CNA/GV/EC/MM/2016