During the Copenhagen European Council (12th – 13th December 2002) Cyprus officially confirmed the successful completion of the accession negotiations and was invited to join the European Union on 1st May 2004.

In a statement announcing the accession of Cyprus to the EU, the President of the Republic of Cyprus Mr Glafcos Clerides, stressed: “We have long anticipated this historic day. Today is a landmark in the process of the unification of the European continent and the stepping stone towards a brighter common future”.

The European Commission has facilitated the accession negotiations, organising the acquis communautaire into 31 Chapters. Cyprus begun its accession negotiations with the EU in March 1998 and has successfully completed them during the Copenhagen European Council in December 2002, where it officially confirmed the closure of the last three outstanding chapters, of Agriculture, Financial and Budgetary Provisions. The chapter of taxation was also closed and the Government of Cyprus has announced the new tax changes (these are explained in our Fact Sheet no.9 – Cyprus Tax Reform).

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