The European Union and the Cyprus Problem: Powerless to Help?

Abstract

This paper examines the role of the European Community/Union (EC/EU) in the effort to resolve the problem of the division of Cyprus. It focuses on the latest bid by the EU to achieve progress by linking the development of its relations with Turkey and the Republic of Cyprus with movement towards a reunification of the island. As events have shown, this effort was destined to fail, given the unwillingness of the EU to grant full membership to Turkey, without which Turkey will not even consider a rethinking of its strategic objectives regarding Cyprus.

In the long-term, however, the EU remains well placed to help create a new, more promising relationship between Greeks· and Turks, if only it can find a way to push Turkey towards democratisation.