"The New TRNC Custom Pact Could Hurt Turkey’s EU Bid"

Echoing similar comments from Greek Cypriot leaders and some EU officials, a Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) statement said that the pact could endanger Turkey’s recent progress on EU accession in its sixth and seventh harmonization packages. Greek Cyprus is due to officially join the EU next May, and there has been little progress of late in peace talks with its northern neighbor, the TRNC. The Cyprus issue remains one of the last contentious thorns in Turkey’s EU accession.