The decision to freeze negotiations on eight of the 35 accession chapters, recommended by the European Commission and endorsed by the EU foreign ministers last week, is in response to Turkey’s refusal to fully comply with Ankara’s extended customs union with the bloc.

Turkey has refused to open its ports and airports to Greek Cypriot traffic till such time as the EU moves to ease the international embargo on the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The chapters or areas in which negotiations are to be suspended mainly cover trade and transport.