Substantive negotiations between the Republic of Cyprus and Britain regarding the British Bases in Cyprus after Brexit will begin on the 11th of October, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ioannis Kasoulides has told the House Committee on Foreign and European Affairs.
Kasoulides said that Ambassador Minas Hadjimichael is appointed as head of the negotiations on behalf of the Cypriot side.
The Foreign Minister confirmed that the European Commission has agreed that no steps will be taken unless there is agreement from the Republic of Cyprus and gave Cyprus the green light to enter into bilateral negotiations.
This is the only exception to the bilateral negotiation with Britain, always in consultation with the negotiating team of European negotiator Michel Barnier. When there is a conclusion, the agreement on the UK bases will be incorporated into the Treaty, he said.
According to the Minister, what is being sought is to safeguard the same rights that Cypriot nationals enjoy under the current regime – where the acquis was also applicable in the British Bases – according to Protocol 3 of the Accession Treaty of Cyprus to the EU.
The Minister also said that Brexit will affect mostly Cyprus, Ireland, Malta and probably the Netherlands as well.
As regards the Cyprus issue and the EU – Turkey relations, Kasoulides said that Brexit will be a positive development.
He pointed out that the UK is the second biggest commercial partner of Cyprus and the first in terms of services and investments.
Kasoulides added that the UK plays an important role in issues of mutual interest, such as maritime affairs.
Regarding the efforts to attract businesses in Cyprus, Kasoulides said that a campaign is being held in the framework of the cooperation between the Ministry of Finance and the Cyprus Investment Promotion Agency and that presentations are made in the UK.
Of course, he added, Cyprus will not be able to compete with Frankfurt or the Netherlands, but it would be a positive development if it could attract a number of businesses.
The UK has retained two military bases in Cyprus when the island gained its independence from British colonial rule in 1960.