EU-OSS FAQs

The EU One Stop Shop for Supporting Green Line Trade and Businesses is a project that has been established by the European Commission, in cooperation with and supported by the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI/KEBE), and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (TCCC/KTTO) to:

  • Support Green Line trade for the benefit of both Cypriot communities
  • Promote business cooperation across the Green Line
  • Inform the key stakeholders and the general public about the legal aspects of Green Line trade and its processes.
  • Work to increase the quality standards in line with the EU acquis to facilitate trade and protect consumers

The objective of the EU OSS is to contribute to increasing Green Line trade through the provision of technical assistance, information and support to traders and businesses involved in or with potential to engage in Green Line trade.
The key pillars of EU OSS are:

  • Pillar 1: To increase awareness on Green Line trade, the opportunities for such trade and procedures that this trade might entail
  • Pillar 2: Create knowledge that supports Green Line trade, including of the EU standards to which such trade needs to adhere .
  • Pillar 3: Provide hands on consulting, advice and guidance to traders and businesses that facilitate trade, or are exploring trade facilitation
  • Pillar 4: Create cooperation activities to bring together the interested stakeholders of all communities of Cyprus

We are open to cooperation with any organisation or stakeholder that would like to work with us, the European Commission, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI), and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO) to promote trade and business cooperation across the Line.

It is EU law. The official name is “Council Regulation (EC) No 866/2004 of 29th April 2004 on a regime under Article 2 of Protocol 10 to the Act of Accession”. It entered into force on 1 May 2004. The Green Line Regulation lays down special rules concerning goods, services and persons crossing the line between the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control and the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which it does not.

Green Line trade is the trade between the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the government of the Republic of Cyprus exercises effective control and the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which it does not. Rules for Green Line trade are specified in the Green Line Regulation.

Yes. Green Line trade is regulated by the Green Line Regulation (“Council Regulation (EC) No 866/2004 of 29th April 2004 on a regime under Article 2 of Protocol 10 to the Act of Accession).

The Green Line Regulation sets out detailed rules for trade from the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which the government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control into the areas of the Republic of Cyprus in which it does. In simple terms, from the Turkish Cypriot community to the Greek Cypriot community.

The Regulation also contains provisions in Article 5 permitting trade in the opposite direction.

We believe that for a healthy growth of mutual trade between the two communities, commercial bridges must be built in both directions. The EU OSS provides basic guidance and support for inquiries about trade in both directions in cooperation with the Chambers of Commerce .

According to the GLR goods allowed to cross are those wholly produced or obtained in the areas of the Republic of Cyprus not under the effective control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus or which have undergone their last substantial economically justified processing or working in those areas. Crossing takes place through approved crossing points. Imported goods are not allowed to cross. Live animals and animal products, except sea water fish and honey, are not allowed to cross.
These are the basic provisions. However, additional conditions for each product, such as quality standards, might be applicable. The economic operators are expected to know the requirements for their products in the EU market.

Important note: It is the responsibility of both Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot economic operators to comply with the domestic requirements including registration of their companies, chamber memberships and local permits. Additional requirements might be required before any consignment. For more information about the domestic requirements, the economic operators are strongly encouraged to consult the relevant Chamber.

  • Obtaining an accompanying document from the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce on presentation of a relevant invoice. The accompanying document must identify the producer, consigner (seller) and buyer. It also must set out the amount and value of trade specified in an invoice. The accompanying document must be signed and stamped by the Chamber. The invoice must be attached to the accompanying document.
  • Goods together with accompanying document and invoice reach the crossing point where they are checked by the custom officials.
  • There may be additional checks at the crossing point and if there is a problem the goods may be returned, confiscated or destroyed.
  • Until any additional checks are completed the goods are not allowed to be placed in the market.
  • All the Turkish Cypriot products must comply with EU and domestic regulations and requirements, standards and specifications.
  • Independent phytosanitary experts appointed by the EU Commission, deployed under the technical assistance and information exchange instrument (TAIEX), and operating in coordination with the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, shall inspect all goods consisting of plants or plant products at the stages of production, of harvest and of marketing, to ascertain that EU rules are upheld. All Turkish Cypriot producers must contact the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce before initiating any production.

Only goods that either are wholly obtained in the areas not under effective control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus or goods which have undergone their last, substantial, economically justified processing or working in an undertaking, equipped for that purpose in the areas not under the effective control of the government of the Republic of Cyprus can be traded from these areas to the areas of the RoC under government control.
Imported goods, regardless of the origin, are not eligible. Just to give you an idea, some of the goods that are currently crossing are construction materials, chemical products, containers and vegetables. Considering that the trade from the Turkish Cypriot community is less than 1 percent of goods purchased by the Republic of Cyprus economy from other countries, there is a big potential for more trade to take place.