Analysis of the Cypriot European Union accession

Abstract

For Cyprus, accession to the European Union has long been a goal. The close ties which the island has enjoyed with European powers such as Great Britain and Greece has made Cyprus a nation of European nature, and it is this which is fundamental in judging the Cypriot application. For a state of European nature to be excluded from the Union is an action which is unacceptable to many. However due to the internal problems which Cyprus continues to face, the question of whether their accession to the European Union will take place, is one which is reaching a crucial point. With date of possible accession rapidly approaching, a decision concerning the ability to access must soon be reached, and it is this question which is at the very heart of the following work. The Cypriot ability to comply with the European Union standards enshrined in the "acquis communautaire" is in little doubt. Although minor transitional periods and derogations have been requested, their ability to fulfil the requirements would make the island an ideal state to become a part of the expanded European Union. Would were it not for the Turkish occupation of the north of the island. Since the 1974 invasion there has been little cooperation between the Republic of Cyprus and the self-proclaimed 'Turkish Republic ofNorthern Cyprus'. With United Nations negotiations between the two sides achieving little save for the continuation of the division, the possibility of any side bringing an end to the conflict has seemed to be far from probable. However the impetus that the possibility of European Union accession has brought to the conflict has seen greater discussion than at any previous point since the Turkish invasion and subsequent United Nations negotiations. With Turkish Cypriot leader Rauf Denktash threatening to integrate the occupied north into the Turkish mainland should the accession take place, and the Turkish threat that their reaction would have "no limits"\ the European Union is now deeply involved in a conflict over which its members are divided. With Greece as a European Union member and the recognition of Turkey as a candidate country, the issue of Cyprus has become a fundamental upon which the future of European integration may depend. This work will argue that the Cypriot accession to the European Union should take place, not only because of the European nature and future of the Island, but as a masked attempt to reconcile the sides. Reconciliation through accession will allow the Turkish Cypriot people to determine their own future, away from the grip of the Turkish military and Mr Denktash, and to once more live as a unified Cypriot island. Can military occupation and threat hold up the future of the European Union? Will Turkish interests prevail over Turkish nationalism? Will the European Union be able to withstand the internal pressures and allow the accession to take place? These are all fundamental aspects of the Cypriot accession which may, or may not end with a European Union incorporated unified Cyprus. Only time will tell.