On Sunday, Denmark will be handing over the presidency of the Council of the European Union to Cyprus. This means that, in a few days’ time, the leadership of an EU institution will shift from far north to the southernmost location since the EU’s inception.

... the Cypriot presidency... (is)... a crucial opportunity for solution-focused dialogue- David Casa

Before the Lisbon Treaty, the member state occupying the presidency of the Council of the EU would also have its head of state chair the European Council (terms easily confused). But the European Council now has its own President, chosen by the heads of state for a period of five years. The reason behind this decision was that of ensuring continuity.

The presidency of the Council of the EU, on the other hand, rotates between member states on a six-monthly basis and presiding countries are tasked with formulating priorities, setting the agenda for meetings and ensuring fruitful dialogue and cooperation between the Council of the EU and the other EU institutions.

In practice, the country occupying the presidency has a unique opportunity to bring forward issues that are of national significance. In addition, the presidency increases the member state’s visibility with numerous meetings also taking place within the member state in question.

While all eyes will be set on Cyprus during the second half of 2012, the challenges that the forthcoming presidency is likely to bring with it are starting to manifest themselves.

The Republic of Cyprus joined the EU in 2004 as a de facto divided state. The country was split in 1974 after Turkey invaded the northern part of the island. Ever since, the so called “Green line” has separated the Greek Cypriot community in the south from the Turkish Cypriot community in the north of the country. Under the auspices of the United Nations, the two sides have been engaged in talks for years now, yet, they have, so far, been unable to agree on a comprehensive settlement, let alone reunification.

Looking at the situation through the lens of the EU adds a further layer of complexity to the conflict.

The entire Republic of Cyprus is a member of the EU. Nonetheless, EU legislation does not apply in the whole country. This is down to the fact that the government of Cyprus does not exercise effective control over the Turkish Cypriot region and, therefore, the rules of the EU have been suspended in this part of Cyprus. This highlights the urgent need for the two sides to resolve their conflict because EU legislation cannot extend to the northern part of Cyprus until a settlement is reached.

Ahead of Cyprus’ imminent EU presidency, the long-standing conflict on the island has once again come under the spotlight as tensions have been building up between the parties concerned.

Turkey, for instance, holds a vested interested in a settlement of the problem. As one of the EU’s candidate countries, the division of Cyprus has long been a thorn in Turkey’s relations with the EU. The country began its entry negotiations for EU membership in 2005 but the outcome of the accession talks hinges on the successful resolution of the Cyprus problem.

It is, thus, hardly surprising that Turkey has leveraged this situation of heightened attention in order to push for a resolution of the conflict. It has announced that it would freeze its ties with the EU presidency during the time that Cyprus is at the helm of the EU. In addition, it has threatened to annex the north of Cyprus, a territory that technically belongs to the EU, should the two sides be unable to reach an agreement before July 1.

Cyprus, in turn, has pointed to the little progress made during the reunification talks. The country, hence, announced that it would put these talks on hold during the six months of its presidency in order to focus all its attention on its European duties.

Meanwhile, the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Štefan Füle, has warned against a cessation of reunification talks. During a recent visit to Cyprus, he addressed the political parties that represent both the Greek and the Turkish Cypriot communities. In his address, he highlighted the fact that dialogue between the two parties was the sine qua non for a comprehensive settlement and the reunification of Cyprus.

He stressed the fact that the Cypriot presidency of the Council of the EU could actually increase the chances of a successful resolution of the conflict in Cyprus. He therefore appealed to both communities on the island to use the current sense of urgency as a driving force towards a solution that benefits both parties as well as the entire EU.

The upcoming months will certainly show whether the Cypriot EU presidency can provide new means of overcoming the divide on the island. Rather than adding to the already existing problems, it is in the interest of all parties concerned to approach the Cypriot presidency as a crucial opportunity for solution-focused dialogue. Hopefully, this will support the Cypriot communities in their endeavour to, finally, put an end to this decade-long conflict on European soil.

Mr Casa is a Nationalist member of the European Parliament.

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