§ Lord Kilclooneyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What progress has been made to establish an office of the European Union in northern Cyprus since the referendum on the Annan plan. [HL3178]
§ Baroness Symons of Vernham DeanPreparations are well under way. This is a matter for the European Commission, but we hope such an office will be open as soon as possible.
The Commission is working hard to ensure that 259 million euros structural funds earmarked for the north of the island can be disbursed at the earliest possible opportunity. If alternative, temporary measures to administer these funds effectively can be put in place, it may be possible to start disbursement before the Commission office is fully operational.