Grieks-Cyprioten overwegen procedure bij EU-Hof om Europese hulp aan Turks-Cyprus te blokkeren (en)

The Greek Cypriot government has threatened the Commission with legal action over proposals to establish trade links with the Turkish Cypriot north of the island.

The Greek Cypriot government has said that European Commission proposals for direct trade between the EU and the Turkish Cypriots are politically motivated and is threatening to challenge the matter at the European Court of Justice.

The EU executive approved on Wednesday (7 July) a package of "aid and trade" measures aimed at ending Turkish Cypriot isolation following the rejection of a UN peace plan by the majority of Greek Cypriots last April.

However, Cypriot Foreign Minister George Iacovou said on Thursday that the proposals to have direct trade between Brussels and Cyprus' Turkish-occupied north "was not necessary".

"The fact they [the commission] decided to propose regulations for direct trade indicates the motive was purely political. This was done to satisfy Turkish demands, for clear political reasons," Mr Iacovou said, quoted by AFP.

His concerns were echoed by the Greek Cypriot government spokesperson who said that although the Cypriot government is in favour of measures strengthening the economic development of the northern part, some aspects of the plan risk cultivating "divisionist tendencies".

''The measures which the Commission seems to propose and the statements made by commissioner Verheugen contain positive elements ... but also contain elements which point to and cultivate precisely divisionist tendencies",' Kypros Chrysostomides said, according to the Cyprus News Agency.

The Commission's proposals were also questioned by the Greek and Cypriot Commissioners, who raised concerns that direct trade between the EU and the Turkish Cypriot north could lead to a de facto recognition of the breakaway state, Ekathimerini reported.

Responding to these fears, Enlargement Commissioner Günter Verheugen stressed on Wednesday that trade facilitation with the northern Turkish Cypriot part will not lead to its recognition by the EU.

But added that contacts with the Turkish Cypriot people - of which a majority voted in favour of a referendum to reunite the island but which was rejected by the Greek Cypriots - are "unavoidable".