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Cyprus President in Brussels for EU summit

14/12/2006

Discussions at the European Council, which begin Thursday, are set to focus on the future of Europe.
Cyprus President Tassos Papadopoulos is in Brussels to represent the country at the two day meeting, accompanied by his Foreign Minister and high ranking government officials.
The 25 leaders will debate issue relating to enlargement, the ability of the Union to absorb new members, immigration and changes in the decision making process with regard to home affairs and justice.
According to diplomatic sources, it is highly unlikely to see the conclusions relating to Turkey’s accession course open for debate at the two day meeting, given that there was unanimity on the text at Monday’s meeting of EU foreign Ministers.
The most likely scenario is that the heads of state will approve the agreed conclusions and there will be a brief reference in the final conclusions, to be adopted on Friday at the close of the summit, to the effect that the conclusions the foreign ministers had agreed on have been adopted.
The same sources believe that Turkey is unlikely to put forward in writing a proposal it presented to the ministers on Monday, to open one of its ports and one airport to Cyprus, in exchange of direct trade between the island’s Turkish occupied areas and the EU.
Today 8 chapters in Turkey’s accession negotiations have been frozen, in addition to another 7 which have not opened, due to Cypriot objections.
The general consensus is that no attempt will be made to open any chapters before the end of the year.
The summit begins Thursday afternoon with a first working session which will be followed by separate working dinners of the leaders and the foreign ministers.