LOC18:15
15:15 GMT
BRUSSELS, July 25 (KUNA) -- The European Commission on Monday adopted the 2022 Annual Action Programme for the Turkish Cypriot community worth 33.4 million euro (USD 34 million).
The programme includes support for economic development, green energy, environment and food safety, EC said in a statement.
EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, said: " Today we adopt a new set of projects seeking to support economic development, reconciliation and confidence building measures including substantial assistance for the implementation of the Halloumi/Hellim (Cypriot cheese) as a protected designation of origin package. "
"I am confident that this will contribute to efforts for a reunification of Cyprus, which is the ultimate goal of our programme," she said .
Only Halloumi/Hellim produced in Cyprus according to the product specification is now allowed to use the registered name, bringing clear economic benefits to the island , she noted.
Cyprus is divided since 1974 into a northern Cypriot area, administered by the self-declared Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, and the southern Greek area which was admitted as an EU member state in 2004.
All UN efforts to reunite the island have failed till now. (end)
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