Intergovernmental Conference EU - Cyprus, 10.11.98

On the 5th October 1998 the EU Council of Ministers considered the position papers submitted by Cyprus for the first seven chapters of the accession negotiations.

The Austrian Presidency called a meeting of the EU-Cyprus Intergovernmental Conference, at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs, on 10th November 1998 and reached agreement with Cyprus on 5 of the 7 Chapters. The Chapter on Telecommunications and Information Technology was considered «still open for further negotiation», while the chapter on the Common Foreign and Security Policy was agreed to remain under «constant consideration».

The other 5 Chapters (Culture and Audio Visual Policy, Science and Research, Education, Training and Youth, Small and Medium Size Enterprises, and Industrial Policy) have been agreed by both parties, on condition, however, that the two overall negotiating principles established are upheld namely that the views of both sides do not predetermine their positions on other Chapters and that whatever agreements are reached cannot be considered final until such time as the whole negotiating process is completed.