The European Commission looks forward to the complete resumption of the Cyprus peace talks the soonest to achieve a completion of the talks, although it acknowledges the attention of the government is directed elsewhere, said Enlargement Commission Stefan Fule.

Speaking during the debate at the plenary of the European Parliament on Turkey’s progress report, Fule said that there should be no taboo in efforts for a general settlement of the Cyprus issue and I hope that the general positive climate will be transformed into an opportunity that will benefit both the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities.

He also said that a solution will contribute significantly to formulating a better business environment and will open the complete economic dynamic of the island as well as its energy field.

Fule expressed the view that the recent developments in the relations of EU-Turkey create the basis optimism that the negotiating chapters will open in 2013.

Cyprus has been divided since 1974 when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. The latest round of negotiations between the two communities (the Greek Cypriots and the Turkish Cypriots) began in 2008 but resulted to a halt in July 2012 when Cyprus assumed the Presidency of Council of the EU.

Accession negotiations with Turkey began in October 2005. Turkey has so far managed to open 13 of the 34 chapters. Only one chapter has opened and closed, the chapter on science. In December 2006, due to the Turkish failure to apply the Additional Protocol to the Ankara Agreement, the European Council decided that eight relevant chapters will not be opened and no chapter will be provisionally closed until Turkey has fulfilled its commitment.

The eight chapters are: Free Movement of Goods, Right of Establishment and Freedom to Provide Services, Financial Services, Agriculture and Rural Development, Fisheries, Transport Policy, Customs Union and External Relations. In addition, France has frozen other five chapters, while Cyprus froze in December 2009 other six chapters.

The last time that a negotiating chapter opened was during the Spanish EU presidency in June 2010. Three more chapters could open but the Commission believes they are too difficult for the current stage of negotiations, while Turkey believes that the cost of opening them is not affordable for now. Turkey, whose troops occupy Cyprus` northern part since 1974 does not recognise the Republic of Cyprus and refuses to normalize relations with Nicosia.