The European Union and the Cyprus problem: a story of limited impetus

This article discusses the role of the European Union (EU) in the Cyprus problem before and after accession in 2004. It is argued that, before 2004, Brussels provided limited incentives to the Greek Cypriots to contribute to resolution but, on the other hand, triggered a pro-solution/ EU trend amongst the Turkish Cypriots. On the contrary, in the post-accession era, the EU’s aptitude to contribute to a solution has further decreased: Greek Cypriots remain with inadequate EU-induced motivation to pursue resolution, while the pro-solution/ EU feelings of the Turkish Cypriots have receded, also due to Brussels’ failure to fulfill their expectations. While most of the literature on Cyprus has focused on the pre-accession period, the article offers a much needed insight into the EU’s role before and after Cyprus’ EU entry. The article draws on a variety of data, including a series of elite interviews conducted in Belgium and Cyprus

The financial crisis and Cypriot foreign policy : (re) Europeanisation

This article seeks to investigate the impact of the Eurozone crisis on the foreign policy of member states, taking Cyprus as a case study. Drawing on the debate on Europeanisation of national foreign policies, it is argued that Cypriot foreign policy, despite the general frustration caused by the financial crisis within broader society, has actually undergone a further (re) Europeanisation. This is explained in the main by the change in government and leadership, from the ideologically left leaning, pro-European but policy critical Christofias administration to the (centre) right leaning, pro-European and Western oriented Anastasiades government. This article therefore explores the dynamics of (re) Europeanisation of Cypriot foreign policy in the financial crisis and demonstrates how Cypriot foreign policy elites have actually adapted a more rather than less EU-centric approach to foreign policy issues and actions

Europeanisation, Sovereignty and Contested States:the European Union in Palestine and northern Cyprus

Combining the literature on sovereignty and Europeanisation, this article investigates the engagement and impact of the European Union (EU) on contested states (states lacking recognition) through a comparative study of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Palestine. We find that characteristics of contested statehood mediate EU engagement and impact: the lack of international recognition limits EU’s engagement but encourages development promotion, international integration and assistance of local civil society. Lack of territorial control limits engagement, but ineffective government offers opportunities for development promotion and state-building. As such, and in addition to offering a rich empirical account of two prominent contested states, the article contributes to the discussion of international engagement by developing an innovative conceptual framework for understanding EU’s impact on contested states—a topic neglected within a literature dominated by conventional statehood or conflict resolution themes but very important given extensive international engagement in contested states—and related conflicts

Book review: the case of Cyprus: a still divided country further integrates into Europe

Next month, Cyprus will undertake the Presidency of the Council of the European Union marking a momentous occasion in the country’s history. The unresolved dispute between Cyprus’s Greek and Turkish constituents, however, continues to overshadow progress made on other fronts. George Kyris values the timeliness and well-structured essays featured in An Island in Europe although he feels parts of the book would have benefited from an even closer analysis of EU integration from the Turkish-Cypriot perspective. An Island in Europe: The EU and the Transformation of Cyprus. Lindsay, J. K., Faustmann, H. and Mullen, F. (eds.). April 2011

Book review: An island in Europe: the EU and the transformation of Cyprus

Next month, Cyprus will undertake the Presidency of the Council of the European Union marking a momentous occasion in the country’s history. The unresolved dispute between Cyprus’s Greek and Turkish constituents, however, continues to overshadow progress made on other fronts. George Kyris values the timeliness and well-structured essays featured in An Island in Europe although he feels parts of the book would have benefited from an even closer analysis of EU integration from the Turkish-Cypriot perspective. An Island in Europe: The EU and the Transformation of Cyprus. Lindsay, J. K., Faustmann, H. and Mullen, F. (eds.). April 2011