Return of Famagusta

7.11.2013

Question for written answer E-012622-13
to the Commission
Rule 117
Sophocles Sophocleous (S&D)

If the Cyprus problem, which is a problem of invasion and occupation, is to be resolved, priority must be given to returning the town of Varosha to its legal inhabitants. UN Resolution 550 adopted on 11 May 1984 ‘considers attempts to settle any part of Varosha by people other than it inhabitants as inadmissible’ and ‘calls for the transfer of this area to the administration of the United Nations’.

In a bid to restart talks on the Cyprus question and in a bid to give impetus to Turkey’s accession negotiations, the Cypriot government recently proposed that the enclaved town of Varosha should be returned, as stated in UN Resolution 550, in return for direct trade from the port of Famagusta (without, of course, circumventing the Republic of Cyprus and without raising the question of recognition of the pseudo-state) and that accession chapters should be opened. However, the European Commission appears to be reticent to follow the proposal by the Republic of Cyprus and to fully endorse the Turkish position, which sees the return of Famagusta as part of a global solution rather than as a confidence building measure.

In view of the above, will the Commission say:

What is the Commissioner’s position on the above Security Council resolution?

What are his comments on the fact that both the EU and a candidate Member State have ignored a UN resolution for the past 29 years?

What are his comments on the European Commission’s position on the recent proposal by the Republic of Cyprus that the town of Varosha should be returned on a quid pro quo basis?

OJ C 230, 17/07/2014