OPEK and GLOPOL common declaration

OPEK and GLOPOL, express their strong concern on recent decisions regarding the implementation of the Green Line Regulation, without prior consultation with the European Commission and the Turkish Cypriot Community.

The two civil society organizations underline the fact that the Green Line Regulation is an EU law which is in force since 2004 with key aims of political importance:

A. To facilitate crossings, contacts and cooperation between the two Communities and individuals as well as to support confidence building and reconciliation with the aim of supporting a comprehensive settlement

B. To avoid creating obstacles that might result to a “hard division line” equivalent to a permanent border that separates people and countries.

Based on these 2 key aims GLOPOL and OPEK decided to challenge any measure directly or indirectly affecting negatively the daily life of Cypriots as well as other citizens of the EU and third country nationals.

They take also note that decisions already taken unilaterally should be discussed by the Leaders of the Communities in the presence of the European Commission in order to avoid any further confusion and mistrust. The relevant Technical Committees shall reconvene and provide further support.

OPEK and GLOPOL believe that all necessary legal instruments to address challenges such as issues related to asylum and migration, already exist in the Regulation for the Green Line.