WRITTEN QUESTION P-1527/98

by Konstantinos Hatzidakis (PPE) to the Commission

(11 May 1998)

Subject: Full participation of Cyprus in pre-accession procedure

Cyprus is one of the eleven applicant countries taking part in the pre-accession procedure which began with the London Conference. The prospects for full and speedy accession are very good as the country's sound economy, its high standard of public administration and its smoothly running system of democratic government fulfill all the criteria laid down by the Copenhagen Council (June 1993), as the Commission itself also recognizes in Agenda 2000.

Could the Commission, therefore, say what practical measures it will take to prepare the Republic of Cyprus in good time for its future accession to the European Union and what strategy it will pursue in the forthcoming weeks and months to achieve that objective as quickly as possible?

In the light of the conclusions of the Luxembourg Council (12-13 December 1997) concerning a special pre-accession strategy for Cyprus, which expressly provide for the possibility of Cyprus taking part in certain Community programmes using the same method as for the other applicant countries, can the Commission confirm that Cyprus will participate in the Fifth Research and Technological Development Framework Programme at the same time and at the same pace as the other applicant countries?

Finally, will the Commission say what the current situation is regarding the commitment, payment and take-up rate of appropriations under the EU-Cyprus financial protocols? If these appropriations have not yet been taken up in full, what measures has the Commission already taken or will it take to achieve that objective in good time? If there is a risk of losing these appropriations, would it be possible to use some of them, for example, for the participation of Cyprus in certain Community programmes or actions in the same way as for the other countries applying for accession, as expressly set out in the conclusions of the European Council in Luxembourg?

Answer given by Mr Van den Broek on behalf of the Commission

(25 June 1998)

In line with the specific pre-accession strategy for Cyprus agreed in December 1997 by the European Council, the Commission is working towards the participation of Cyprus in several activities and programmes on the same basis as for the Central and Eastern European candidate countries.

As regards Cypriot participation in the fifth framework programme the Commission is presently preparing a communication for a Council decision for the full association of Cyprus and the Central and Eastern European candidate countries with this programme.

Concerning financial co-operation between the Community and Cyprus the state of play of the commitments, payments and take up rate is that the first and second financial protocols are fully committed and disbursed. The commitment and disbursement rates of the third protocol are 77 % and 58 % respectively. The fourth financial protocol signed on 30 October 1995 is presently being implemented. As the protocol expires at the end of this year, the Cypriot government has requested a prolongation of the period of validity of this protocol for one more year. The Commission is launching the necessary procedures to achieve this in good time.

As regards the use, for "acquis" purposes, of financial protocol funds earmarked for projects to facilitate a solution to the problem of the island (12 MECU) or bi-communal projects (5 MECU), that still remain to be committed, the Commission believes that at this stage the original purpose of these sums should be respected given the need to keep open all channels to support bi-communal contacts.