Jean Monnet Center at NYU School of Law



Title|Previous|Next

Introduction

This paper seeks to chart the relations between the EU and Cyprus. Given the EU accession negotiations taking place with the Greek Cypriot Administration, the future is difficult to predict, but what is certain is that a number of legal and political issues will come up that in this author's opinion will need urgent answers. Some of them are dealt with here. Does the current application for membership make sense without a solution to the Cyprus problem? Will accession of `Cyprus' be possible before solving the question of the division of the island? Accession of the Republic of Cyprus is one possibility, stalemate another. The fact is, that the negotiations are being conducted without official representation of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC). If the Republic of Cyprus were to accede unilaterally, what form could this take, and what would be the consequences? Should we be more concerned about this than we are? What sort of solution would be realistic? What are the avenues whereby it could be obtained? Three scenarios are dealt with in this paper: the continuation of the present situation, namely the absence of a settlement with the entry of the Republic of Cyprus into the EU being imminent; EU membership of a federal, or unitary, Cyprus and finally, a Cyprus confederation within the EU. It will be argued that the latter option is the best. It will also be argued that it is not entirely unrealistic.


Top|Title|Previous|Next

 


This site is part of the Academy of European Law online, a joint partnership of the Jean Monnet Center at NYU School of Law and
of the Academy of European Law at the European University Institute.
Questions or comments about this site?
Email Enfellows@exchange.law.nyu.edu