Cyprus, Malta and the European Union : lessons for the future

Abstract

Cyprus and Malta. Islands. Small Sovereign states . Mediterranean fortresses for much of their long colonial history. Achieved independence from Britain in the 1960s. With strong trade union movements, especially in the heavily unionised public sector. With booming economies registering high and steady rates of economic growth and with low rates of unemployment. Geared towards the provision of services, particularly tourism. No wonder that it seemed a matter of course for them to apply to join the European Union, just two weeks apart from each other in July 1990. Similarly, it seemed only natural for the E.U. to place the applications in the same basket and to nurture them together all along the tortuous route of deliberation.