Cypriot officials have rejected demands from the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus to hand two seats in the next European Parliament to MEPs hailing from the breakaway northern part of the island, which has so far only been recognised by Ankara. EurActiv Turkey contributed to this article.
A group of Turkish Cypriots living in London have warned they are putting the matter before the European Court of Justice, asking for the cancellation of the European elections in Cyprus if their demands are not met.
Mehmet Bayramoglu and Münir Tatar want the EU to give two of the six Cypriot seats to Turkish Cypriots, so the northern part of the divided island is represented in the European Parliament.
The government of Cyprus strongly resisted the calls. Any move that aims to withhold two Cypriot seats in the EU assembly during efforts to solve the Cyprus problem would not be constructive, Cypriot Foreign Minister Marcos Kyprianou stated on 26 March.
“The way these seats are distributed is a matter of internal legislation of each member state and not an EU matter,”‘ Kyprianou noted, recalling that during Cyprus’ accession to the EU in 2004, it was agreed that different provisions could be made should the Cyprus issue be resolved.
Given that UN-led negotiations on Cyprus are not expected to conclude before the June European elections, Kyprianou said that the poll should be held under Cypriot legislation, which authorises Turkish Cypriots to vote and even apply for Parliament – but only if they register in the southern part of the island.
An EU Council decision adopted in 2004 sets the number of EU elected representatives in Cyprus at six. However, it adds that elections shall not be held in the northern part of the island, where “the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control”.
In the event of the entry into force of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, the Council states that the term of office of the elected MEPs from Cyprus shall end, and extraordinary European elections shall be held throughout the whole of Cyprus.
Cypriot officials told EurActiv that almost 80,000 Turkish Cypriots, who have acquired the new identity card of the Republic of Cyprus and are eligible to register as voters, have also the right to be included on the special electoral list for the European Parliamentary elections.
The government of the Republic of Cyprus has even simplified identification formalities, allowing voters to participate on polling day by merely presentating their Republic of Cyprus identity cards, an official added, stressing that Turkish Cypriots in possession of the new identity card could register as voters, stand as independent candidates or register political parties.
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