Trade across the Green Line increased by 9.6% between 2022-2023 to pound 16 million, crossings by people increased to 7.1 million in 2023 from 6.1 million in 2022, while irregular migration decreased by more than 50%, according to the annual European Commission report on the implementation of the Green Line Regulation, published on Thursday. As stated, in 2023 the number of Green Line crossings increased further, with crossings of Turkish Cypriots and of EU nationals (other than Cypriots) and third country nationals exceeding the numbers recorded in 2019 before the outbreak of the pandemic. According to data from the Cyprus Police, during the reporting period, 1,609,488 crossings (previously 1,372,564) by Greek Cypriots and 1,032,029 crossings (previously 871,898) by Greek Cypriot vehicles were recorded from the areas of the RoC under the effective control of the RoC government to the areas of the RoC not under the effective control of the RoC government. In the same period, 1,373,353 crossings (previously 1,111,529) by Turkish Cypriots and 532,206 crossings (previously 453,880) by Turkish Cypriot vehicles were recorded from the areas of the RoC not under the effective control of the RoC government to the government-controlled areas. At the same time, CYPOL figures for 2023 indicated a decrease in the number of migrants who irregularly crossed the Line from the areas not under the effective control of the RoC government to the government-controlled areas. In 2023, 6,793 irregular migrants crossed the Line in this way; the equivalent figures for 2022, 2021 and 2020 were 16,627, 9,812 and 4,857 respectively. The main countries of origin of irregular migrants were Syria (2,199), Nigeria (990), Afghanistan (726), Cameroon (407) and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (402). It is added that of the 6,793 irregular migrants, 90% (previously 92%) applied for international protection in the Republic of Cyprus. The country of origin with the highest number of applicants was Syria. In terms of trade, it is stated tha t in 2023, the value of trade across the Line increased by 9.6% rising from EUR 14,647,241 in 2022 to EUR 16,046,304 in 2023, while the value of goods for which accompanying documents were issued increased by 5.7% from EUR 16,697,514 to EUR 17,644,400. Building and construction materials remained the most traded item, followed by furniture, plastics and mosaics and marbles. Overall, while welcoming the increase in trade during the reporting period, the Commission is of the opinion that trade across the Green Line could increase still further, continues the report, adding that the Commission considers that removing the obstacles to trade would help to increase trade across the Green Line and welcomes positive developments towards this direction, while also expressing the hope that the work of the two Chambers to enhance contacts between the two business communities will lead to increased economic ties. The European Commission also published today its annual report about the aid programme to the Turkish Cypri ot community. As stated, between 2006 and the end of 2023, EUR 688 million was programmed for operations under the Aid Regulation, with the amount committed in October 2023 for the 2023 annual action programme being EUR 31.7 million. The Commission also says it continued its long-standing support to the Turkish Cypriot community to help it meet EU standards in food safety and animal health and in the prevention, detection and elimination of animal diseases, with grants worth EUR 3.5 million having been dispersed to a total of 53 farmers, cooperatives and food business operators in 2023, increasing their efficiency and productivity. It is added that key food safety and crisis preparedness activities, which have implications for Green Line trade and the Halloumi/Hellim PDO scheme, continued to be implemented, as a result of which, in March 2023, the first Halloumi/Hellim produced in the Turkish Cypriot community was certified as PDO compliant, while by the end of 2023, three Halloumi/Hellim cheese producers and 15 farms in the Turkish Cypriot community had been certified and attested respectively under the PDO scheme. It is further noted that the Committee on Missing Persons, supported by the Aid Programme through a contribution agreement with the UNDP, continued its field and laboratory work. By the end of 2023, of the total of 2,002 missing persons, it had exhumed 1,186 sets of remains, of which 1,044 were identified genetically and returned to their families. It is added that in 2023, a new EUR 2.6 million contribution agreement was signed to provide funding for the Committee's operations in 2024. Overall, in 2006-2023, the EU has contributed EUR 38.5 million to support the activities of the Committee on Missing Persons, accounting for 80% of its total funding for this period. Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third. Repeated rounds of UN-led peace talks have so far failed to yield results. The latest round of negotiations, in July 2017 at the Swiss resort of Crans-Montana ended inconclusively. Source: Cyprus News Agency