Failure to act on Northern Cyprus damages EU credibility

4.15.43pm GMT Thu 2nd Feb 2006

Sarah met Turk Cypriot leader Ferdi Soyer late last year, when she presented him with a copy of the catalogue from the "Turks" exhibition held in London

London's Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Baroness Sarah Ludford has again urged EU governments to uphold their commitments to end the isolation of Turkish Cypriots. She said:

"EU member states must agree measures proposed nearly 2 years ago by the European Commission to provide financial aid and facilitate direct trade between Northern Cyprus and the rest of the EU."

"Further stalling damages the EU's foreign policy credibility", she added.

She called it 'a missed opportunity' that MEPs failed to approve, in a vote today on foreign policy, an amendment which called for the EU Council to break the deadlock on the two draft regulations.

Sarah Ludford recently challenged the British government to explain what action they were taking to reduce the physical isolation of Turkish Cypriots following a Foreign Office statement last year that it was "examining the feasibility of direct flights."

She commented: "The government's feeble response that they support the idea 'in principle' but are still 'reviewing their policy' is simply not good enough. While Ministers dither, our fellow EU citizens in North Cyprus are effectively cut off from the outside world."

"I also urge that the issue of easing visa requirements should be at least on the table for discussion and negotiation with the Turkish Cypriot authorities."