President of the European Union Committee of the Regions (CoR) Luc Van den Brande has said that the Committee is preparing an opinion to address the Cyprus question at local level, but reserved the right to say more at the next plenary session of the CoR in April.
He pointed out that the direct talks between the leaders of the two communities in Cyprus offer a window of opportunity to end the division of the island, noting at the same time that the European Union has a role to play in the resolution of the problem.
A confederation, he added, “is not a long-term or even a mid-term approach” and stressed that the solution in Cyprus has to be a compromise.
In an interview with CNA, on the occasion of his recent visit here, Van den Brande said that the CoR was created in 1994 by the Treaty of Maastricht with the aim “to raise the voice of local and regional people in the European Union”.
“In April we will commemorate fifteen years since the establishment of the CoR”, he noted.
He added that CoR is a consultative body composed of representatives of regional and local authorities of the 27 EU member states, noting that it is consulted by the European Commission and the Council of Ministers on a wide range of areas that have local or regional implications, such as economic and social cohesion, the environment, health, culture, education and transport.
He pointed out that CoR role will evolve over time so as to take part in the co-decision legislative procedure of the EU, adding that he is making efforts to enhance the institutional capacity of the CoR by widening the inter-institutional relation with the European Parliament.
He said that, in future, the CoR must be consulted by the European Parliament on all issues that are important for regions and municipalities. He, also, added that EU rotating presidency should also ask CoR for its opinion.
In addition, he said that the CoR has created three networks to promote the involvement of regional and local authorities in the process of building Europe and to give them a stronger voice within the European Commission, Council and European Parliament.
The three networks are the Lisbon Monitoring Platform, the Subsidiarity Monitoring Network, and Expert Group on European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation. He added that two weeks ago he proposed a fourth network on Energy and Climate change.
He stressed the importance to establish a multilevel governance model in the European Union to actualize the main motto of his presidency which is “Let’s build Europe in partnership”.
Asked about his impression on local authority in Cyprus, he said that “my first feeling and approach is that there is real power at local level and real responsibility is given to local authorities”.
Referring to his visit to Ledra Street, said that the opening of Ledra Street contributed to building confidence and showing the world the strong commitment of the two communities in Cyprus to reach a solution.
A reception area in the CoR building in Brussels was named “Open Ledra Street” during an event held last October in Brussels to mark the re-opening in April 2008 of Ledra Street in the center of Nicosia, which was closed four decades ago and became the symbol of the divided island. Representatives from both communities of the island were present at the event.
“I was impressed to walk down Ledra street and see that there is a real divided, not only a capital, but a country”, he said and noted that “everybody has to contribute to end this division”.
He emphasised the important role that local and regional authorities can play in breaking down barriers and contribute in building confidence between local communities.
“Talking with Greek Cypriots and Turkish Cypriots it seems to me that they want to be together. I cannot imagine that there will not be a possibility to solve this problem”, he added.
Asked what else the CoR can do to contribute to building more bridges between the two communities, he said that “I am reflecting on practical measures and approaches to take a further step to sustain what local people are doing here “.
Further on this issue, he said that CoR, being part in the Euro-Mediterrenean Partnership, could invite people from Cyprus to get involved in the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (EMRLA).
Van den Brande has defined EMRLA as a “permanent body for dialogue, exchange and cooperation”, which would “represent local and regional authorities in the bodies of the Union for the Mediterranean, while promoting local democracy, multi-tiered governance and decentralized democracy”.
He said that the Commission for External Relations (RELEX) of the CoR is preparing an opinion on “how we can deal at local level with the Cyprus question”.
The CoR organises five plenary sessions a year, where its 344 members vote on reports, known as opinions, issued in response to proposed legislation. Cyprus is represented at the Committee with 6 members.
Referring to the recently adopted opinion on City Diplomacy prepared by the Cypriot member and Municipal Councillor of Nicosia Eleni Loucaides, he described it as an “innovative opinion” and “a brand new approach” on how local authorities can really contribute to forging alliances, to facilitate dialogue and prevent conflicts.
Asked about the role of the EU to the resolution of the Cyprus problem, he said that “ EU has a role to play, but of course we have to give room and space to the leaders of the two communities to negotiate”.
“The Union has to contribute in the efforts to solve the problem and there is a real responsibility for the Union”, he added.
He expressed the hope that a solution to reunify the divided island will be found soon, adding that a confederation solution “is not a long term or even a mid term approach”.
In conclusion, he said that “it will never be the optimum, it has to be a compromise”, noting that “there is a window of opportunity that cannot be missed”.
Cyprus President Demetres Christofias and Turkish Cypriot Leader Mehmet Ali Talat have been engaged in talks, under UN auspices, since last September with a view to fining a mutually agreed settlement that will reunite the country that has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.
