Citrus finally to trade across the Green Line

Trade still minimal

After a plans that date back more than two years, Turkish Cypriot citrus producers finally got the go-ahead to trade citrus fruits across the Green Line under the rules of the EU Green Line Regulation.

Citrus fruits had to pass EU phytosanitary tests before they could trade.

Government Spokesman Kypros Chrysostomides said that the Regulation “provides significant opportunities to Turkish Cypriots as it allows the movement of citrus, which constitute one third of their total annual exports, in the customs territory of the Community without being subject to any duties.”

However, total trade across the Green Line to date has been minimal. The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce told the Financial Mirror that since the Green Line regulation entered into force in August 2004, less than CYP 1 mln has been traded across the Green Line by only around 30 traders, compared with exports from northern Cyprus amounting to CYP 65-70 mln per year. None of these traders appears to have exported through Limassol, as was the plan envisaged by Greek Cypriots.

“The aim of the regulation was to improve the economic situation of northern Cyprus so if you look at the figures I don’t think it is enough to improve the economic situation,” said a spokesperson for the Turkish Cypriot Chamber. (Photo from Sunvil sunvil.co.uk)