Written question asked by Andrew Dismore (Labour) on Wednesday, 7 November 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 12 November 2007. It was answered by Jim Murphy (Labour) on Thursday, 29 November 2007 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Northern Cyprus: Economic Situation

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the ability of the Turkish Cypriot economy to comply with standards required by the EU acquis communitaire; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: The Government have not made such an assessment. The history of the EU demonstrates the power of trade to promote economic prosperity and political reconciliation. The preliminary findings of the World Bank report from 2006 on the economy in northern Cyprus, were that the external constraints on access to EU markets for the Turkish Cypriot community were one of the two biggest constraints to economic development in northern Cyprus. I would endorse the conclusion that the long-term welfare of all Cypriots is in jeopardy if steps are not taken to ensure the convergence of living standards on the island. That is why we remain committed to supporting the Turkish Cypriots and the EU Commission in economic and regulatory reform, particularly through the aid regulation, and to supporting the EU presidency in its efforts to find a way for the Turkish Cypriots to trade directly with the EU.

Secondary information