The European Commission approved on Friday an economic aid of €38.1 million euros to encourage the economic growth of the Turkish-Cypriot community. The aid aims to develop the infrastructure in the occupied areas, to promote the economic and social growth and to bring the T/C community closer to the EU.

This decision falls within the framework of the financing regulation (389/2006) approved in February 2006 and provides for the granting of €259 million to the T/C community.

The second part of the aid will be adopted before the end of 2006.

Enlargement Commissioner, Olli Rehn stated that this decision is one more step on behalf of the EU to terminate the isolation of the T/C and facilitate the reunification of the island. Mr. Rehn also urged the EU member states to adopt the Commission’s proposal for a direct trading between the EU and the occupied territories.