Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Protocol No 10 on Cyprus of the Act of Accession 2003, and in particular Article 4 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

The European Council repeatedly underlined its strong preference for accession by a reunited Cyprus. As yet, a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem and the reunification of the island have not been reached.

According to Article 189 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, the European Parliament consists of representatives of the peoples of the States brought together in the Community. The Members of the European Parliament are elected by direct universal suffrage in accordance with Article 190 of the Treaty establishing the European Community, Article 108 of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community and the Act concerning the election of the members of the European Parliament by direct universal suffrage, annexed to Council Decision 76/787/ECSC, EEC, Euratom^f1, as amended by Council Decision 2002/772/EC, Euratom^f2 (hereafter ‘the 1976 Act’).

The members of the European Parliament for the next term covering the period 2004-2009 will be elected in the elections to be held on 10-13 June 2004. Pursuant to Article 11 of the 2003 Act of Accession, the number of representatives elected in Cyprus from the start of the 2004-2009 term shall be six. Elections for this 2004-2009 term will, however, not be held in the part of Cyprus in which the Government of the Republic of Cyprus does not exercise effective control.

In order to guarantee the representation and the electoral rights of all Cypriots, in the event of a comprehensive settlement, it is necessary to provide for an early ending of the mandate of the representatives of the people of Cyprus in the European Parliament elected in June 2004 or in subsequent elections and to hold extraordinary elections in the whole of Cyprus for the remaining term of the European Parliament,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: