News: Mehmet Davulcu
European Union (EU) Coordination Center President Erhan Erçin said that, through the EU Financial Aid Program, they had managed to establish a structural relationship with the EU, even if not a legal one. Appearing as a guest on the Öğlen Ajansı program, Erhan Erçin answered Cem Kar’s questions. Erhan Erçin also provided information about the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus’s Acquis Alignment Program (MUP) book, saying that it served as a roadmap to the EU.
Our small size is an advantage Erçin said that full alignment with the EU takes countries an average of eight to ten years, and that being a small community was an advantage for us. He said that this meant the adopted laws could be implemented very effectively and that, as a result, they aimed to achieve full alignment across most of the legislation within three years. He also said that, in addition to the 12 chapters, they had discussed opening another five or six chapters with EU officials in the coming days, and that they would develop these chapters further. Erçin said this was particularly troubling to the Greek Cypriot side. He said that, if there were no solution, the state in the north would, in a sense, have achieved full alignment with the EU acquis, adding, “so this poses a major risk for them.”
A structural relationship has been established Erçin also said that they had begun work on EU alignment together with the opposition, and that the draft program had been sent to all parties and members of parliament. He said Europeans were also troubled by the two seats allocated to Turkish Cypriots in the European Parliament being occupied by Greek Cypriots, and that their work on this issue was continuing without interruption. Erçin said that, through the EU Financial Aid Program, they had managed to establish a structural relationship with the EU, even if not a legal one. Despite not being recognized, he said, officials in their ministries were able to seek advice by phone or email from their counterparts in Brussels or in another country about their day-to-day work. Erhan Erçin also said that this was a clear indication that the isolation was being eased.