The European Parliament’s committee on legal affairs is today (2 September) expected to examine a non-binding legal opinion on opening EU trade links with the Turkish-occupied part of Cyprus. 

The opinion, from the Parliament’s legal service, is expected to share the view of an earlier opinion from the Council of Ministers, that direct trade would imply recognition of the northern part of Cyprus as a separate legal entity.

The non-binding opinion was requested by MEPs on the committee after they were tasked by the Parliament’s political group leaders with studying the legal basis of the European Commission’s long-stalled proposal to ease links with northern Cyprus.

The Cypriot government has been blocking the Commission proposal at the Council since 2004, but the Lisbon treaty has given MEPs a say in the matter.

EU membership

This controversial issue has bounced between the Parliament’s conference of presidents, the leaders of the political groups, the international trade committee and the legal affairs committee. Now, once MEPs in the legal affairs committee give their view on whether the plan complies with EU law, the issue will return to the trade committee for a final vote.

If MEPs support the direct trade regulation, Turkey’s bid for membership of the EU could be unblocked. In retaliation for the EU refusal to trade with the Turkish-occupied northern part of Cyprus, Turkey has for years refused all access to its territory by any ships or planes from Cyprus. The EU has frozen accession talks in eight policy areas until Turkey drops this blockade.