The Commission does not recognize “the self-declared state in the northern part of Cyprus or its so-called judicial system,” a spokesperson for the European Commission told the Cyprus News Agency (CNA), adding that the Commission is concerned about the reported prosecution of five Greek Cypriot citizens.

Asked by CNA how the EU intends to address the issue of the unlawful detention of the five Greek Cypriots by the occupying regime, the spokesperson said that the European Commission is actively engaging with many stakeholders on the ground and is in constant contact with the United Nations.

“The European Commission expresses concern over the so-called prosecution of the five Greek Cypriot citizens in the northern part of Cyprus. The Commission is actively working with many actors on the ground and remains in continuous contact with the United Nations,” the spokesperson stated.

The EU, the spokesperson added, “does not recognize the self-declared state in the northern part of Cyprus nor its so-called judicial system.”

Furthermore, the spokesperson emphasized that the EU “recalls that disputes over property, including related criminal charges, are a central element of the ongoing political tensions” and that “the settlement of the property issue is a key element of the overall settlement process.”

Finally, the Commission’s spokesperson stressed that the EU “remains fully committed to a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, within the framework of the UN, in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and in accordance with the principles on which the Union is founded and with the acquis.”