ABSTRACT

This chapter analyses how the European Union (EU) has become one of the parties to the Cyprus issue, how it has shifted its approach regarding the Greek Cypriot membership from the 'requirement of a political settlement for membership' to 'membership without settlement being a precondition'. It also analyses what role Greece has played in these developments by 'Europeanizing' its Cyprus policy, how the shift in the EU's Cyprus policy and the subsequent Greek Cypriot membership have obstructed Turkey's membership bid, and how the Cyprus issue has impacted Turkey–EU relations. The chapter discusses how the Cyprus issue has played the main role in the worsening course of Turkey–EU relations and considers whether it is as responsible for the current deadlock in the accession negotiations as is perceived by many. It concludes that the EU political unwillingness to accept Turkey as a member state is largely responsible for preventing a solution to the Cyprus issue.