Toespraak eurocommissaris Füle tijdens officieel bezoek aan Cyprus (en)

During my first visit to Cyprus I was keen not only to meet the political leaders but also to get in touch with the business community on the island. I am glad that it was possible to arrange this roundtable with the Chambers of Commerce from both sides of the Green Line. Allow me just a few remarks before we start our discussion.

I am deeply convinced that the political leaders can bring about a settlement with the support from within their communities. You as people shaping the economy, you as Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot entrepreneurs, can do a lot to prepare for a settlement and reunification of the island. By engaging in trade across the Green Line, you make important steps towards deepening economic interaction on the island across the divide. This helps create more economic convergence throughout the island.

Entrepreneurs are usually pragmatic people. Pragmatism is what is needed to strengthen the ties between the two communities. Economic co-operation not only increases prosperity but helps remove all kinds of barriers including those in the minds of the people, which are often the most difficult obstacles to overcome. Trade promotes contacts between people and it fosters increased understanding of the other person. I would like to encourage you to continue this path and to be creative in finding ways to intensify this co-operation even more.

The latest Green Line Report indicates that Green Line Trade is no longer growing. I hope that this is a temporary phenomenon. We should aim at an increase of 20% per year as has been the case in previous years. I encourage you to take every opportunity to achieve this goal.

The EU provides support to SMEs in many ways. Greek Cypriot companies can profit from the regular programmes and the Enterprise Europe Network. It helps small business to make the most of the European marketplace. In the Aid Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community we have just started horizontal support for SMEs including in the sector of Information and Communication technologies.

Settlement and reunification offer an enormous potential for economic growth. Whether it was the German reunification 20 years ago or the reunification of Europe which was achieved through the fifth enlargement in 2004/2007 we could witness a significant economic boost which economists like to call the “reunification dividend”.

In order for this to happen in Cyprus in a balanced and stable way the leaders need to pay attention to designing and implementing a framework that includes sound institutions for economic management and fiscal stability. The anxieties on both sides of the Green Line need to be taken seriously. It is important that you as business community start developing already now a shared vision of the challenges for the economy after reunification. A vision which sees Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot SMEs as an essential driving force in producing convergence. This cannot be done overnight. Time will be needed not only for healing the wounds of the past but also for reuniting the economy.

There is no viable alternative to a settlement. You as business people know this best and I count on you to promote a solution within your community. The European Union expects the Cypriots to find a solution after so many years of de facto division. We also expect Turkey to be forthcoming and I pass this message whenever I meet with my Turkish counterparts.

I want to reassure you that the European Union will mobilise all resources to help Cyprus to implement a settlement successfully. This will include significant funding to reduce existing economic disparities within the united Cyprus.

I would therefore now like to hear your ideas and concerns relating to the Green Line Trade or your visions for the future.