ABSTRACT
This chapter seeks to focus on the legislative process and the administrative steps taken by the Cypriot authorities to harmonise laws and practices with the Justice and Home Affairs (JHA) acquis. It examines the political implications of the sui generis status of Cyprus in view of its membership and participation in the area of freedom, security and justice. The chapter analyses the multidimensional legal and political issues raised during the accession negotiations of Cyprus with the European Union (EU) in the field of JHA. In the general context of EU enlargement, Cyprus has great geostrategic importance, since it will become a portal for the expansion of the Union to the Mediterranean and the Middle East. The chapter discusses the extensive reforms currently introduced at legislative and administrative level for the transposition of the JHA acquis. However, the JHA acquis has implications for both: legislation (Nomos) and politics.
