Barroso says no final decision on direct trade regulation has been taken yet

A final decision by the European Commission regarding the Direct Trade regulation will be taken in pace with the European Parliament’s final decision on the subject, EC President Jose Manuel Barrroso notes.

Responding to a question posed by Cypriot MEP Eleni Theocharous, Barroso says he takes note of the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee decision.

It should be noted that the aforementioned decision is based on the European Parliament Legal Service opinion and supports that the regulation’s legal base, article 307 (2), is incorrect, since it regards the occupied territories of Cyprus a third country, under accession to the EU. The EP decision stipulates, however, that, according to Protocol 10, the Republic of Cyprus has entered the EU in its entirety, with the EU acquis suspended in the northern part of the island, due to the prevailing condition, i.e. Turkey’s occupation.

Protocol 10 also stipulates that in order for the suspension to be lifted, a unanimous decision is required, and not a special majority as provided for in article 307. Moreover, the European Parliament is not regarded as the competent institution.

Under these conditions, Theocharous asked President Barroso to withdraw the EC regulation and submit a new one, in line with the EU’s legal framework.