European Parliament
President.
Question No 4 by Alexandros Alavanos 
Subject: Customs union between Turkey and the occupying regime in northern Cyprus
A few days ago, a framework agreement on customs union was signed between Turkey and the occupying regime in northern Cyprus. Given that Turkey is not entitled to conclude trade agreements without the approval of the European Union, not to mention the fact that the signing of such an agreement with Denktash's self-styled 'state' is tantamount to provocation vis-à-vis the European Union and the Republic of Cyprus, which is to join the EU in 2004, does the Council believe that the signing of this agreement represents a positive contribution by Turkey to efforts to resolve the Cyprus question, as it undertook to do on the basis of the Helsinki Agreement and the European Union/Turkey Association Agreement?

