"EU ministers to discuss Turkish Cypriot direct trade
The stalled regulations to open up trade for Turkish Cypriots and to grant EUR 269 mln in aid will be on the agenda of the EU General Affairs and External Relations Council that convenes today, although there is little hope that an agreement will be reached.
The two regulations, designed essentially to reward Turkish Cypriot for voting in favour of reunification of the divided island, have been on ice for over a year. Greek Cypriots have blocked the direct trade regulation and the Turkish Cypriots have been reluctant to accept the financial aid regulation without the direct trade regulation.
The direct trade regulation would allow Turkish Cypriot goods to be exported at preferential rates to the EU. Implicit in the regulation is that exporting from ports and airports in the north which have been declared illegal by the (Greek Cypriot) Republic of Cyprus government would not present a problem to (other) EU states."
More:Financial Mirror