WRITTEN QUESTION P-2731/03 by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission. Framework agreement on customs union between Turkey and the northern part of Cyprus.
Date: 2003-09-10
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: Cyprus, EU relations, Türkiye, agreement (EU), certificate of origin, common tariff policy, customs union, international issue, signature of an agreement, tariff agreement

C 65 E/190

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

13.3.2004

Under this agreement, customs duties were abolished and Turkey is required to apply the Common
Customs Tariff to all imports from third countries.

If, however, the TRNC, according to the definition of the European Court of Human Rights, is not a third
temporarily under Turkish occupation and
country, but a province of
administration, is the Commission not obliged to make sure that all exports to the EU from the occupied
area are accompanied by certificates of origin issued by the island’s recognised authorities?

the Republic of Cyprus,

Can the Commission guarantee that Turkish exports to the EU comply with the signed agreement? If not,
what does the Commission intend to do to ensure compliance with the law?

(2004/C 65 E/207)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2731/03

by Mihail Papayannakis (GUE/NGL) to the Commission

(10 September 2003)

Subject: Framework agreement on customs union between Turkey and the northern part of Cyprus

The Turkish Government has signed a ‘framework agreement’ on customs union with the self-proclaimed
‘Turkish Democracy of North Cyprus’, which is neither an independent state nor a recognised entity under
international law or UN resolutions.

Since the signing of this agreement represents a flagrant violation of the principles of international law, the
UN charter and the Security Council’s decisions and the principles and decisions of the EU and conflicts
with the institutional framework of relations between the EU and the Republic of Cyprus as well as with
Turkey’s application for accession, could the Commission say whether its opinion was sought before the
signing of the ‘framework agreement’, whether that agreement is consistent with the principles and
provisions of the association and customs union agreements between Turkey and the EU, and whether it
considers that it is likely to influence Turkey’s progress towards accession and the evaluation of its
candidature by the competent Community bodies?

Joint answer
to Written Questions E-2679/03 and P-2731/03
given by Mr Verheugen on behalf of the Commission

(1 October 2003)

The Commission regrets the signing on 8 August 2003 of the so called ‘customs union framework
agreement’ between Turkey and northern Cyprus (‘TRNC’). This ‘agreement’ has no legal validity under
international law and was signed without any prior consultation with the Union. The Union has made it
clear to the Turkish Government that ratification of the so called ‘framework agreement’ would be in
breach with the customs union between the Community and Turkey and would not be conducive to a
settlement of the Cyprus problem.

With regard to the fears expressed by the Honourable Members concerning exports from northern Cyprus,
the Commission wishes to underline that in order to benefit from the preferential treatment provided for
by the EC-Cyprus Association Agreement, imports from Cyprus must be covered by origin certificates
issued by the recognised authorities in accordance with the decision of the Court of Justice from 1994
(Anastasiou Pissouri Ltd and Others). The Origin certificates are checked by the customs authorities of the
Member States.
If products covered by irregular certificates were to be released for circulation, the
Commission and Member States could take the appropriate measures at customs level.