Vol. 472 No. 2
95 Mr. R. Burke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the Government's and the EU's response to comments made by Turkish Foreign Minister Tansu Ciller on 23 October 1996, on the issue of Turkish and Cypriot accession to the EU in which she stated that Turkey would only accept Cypriot accession to the EU if undertaken in parallel with Turkish accession. [22843/96]
The Commission's positive opinion on Cyprus's application for membership of the European Union was issued in July 1993. In March 1995 the Council committed the Union to open accession negotiations with Cyprus six months after the conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference, and in the light of its results. The European Councils at Madrid and Florence confirmed and reiterated this commitment. The Council remains committed to finding a solution to the division of the island of Cyprus based on a bizonal, bicommunal federation. It hopes that accession negotiations will help to promote such a solution.
The Commission's opinion on Turkey's application, delivered in December 1989, while raising questions of a political and economic nature, stressed the fundamental Community interest in intensifying relations with Turkey. The entry into force of the final phase of EU-Turkey Customs Union on 31 December 1995, the signing in July last of a Free Trade Agreement on products covered by the ECSC Treaty, and Turkey's membership of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership established by the Barcelona Declaration, have all helped the development of EU-Turkey relations.
