cypriots turkey — cypriots turkey — Just 13 per cent of Cypriots are in favour of Turkey joining the European Union, according to a recent Eurobarometer survey released on Tuesday. This stark statistic reflects a significant divergence in sentiment compared to the broader EU population.
The survey revealed that a substantial 84 per cent of Cypriots oppose Turkey’s accession to the bloc, while the remaining three per cent are undecided. This level of opposition is markedly higher than the EU average, where 37 per cent support Turkey’s entry and 55 per cent oppose it.
Cypriots turkey: Comparing Support for Other Candidate Nations
When it comes to other nations vying for EU membership, the attitudes of Cypriots shift dramatically. Serbia stands out as the most favoured candidate, with 72 per cent of Cypriots supporting its accession, while only 19 per cent are against it. This is a stark contrast to the EU as a whole, where 47 per cent of people support Serbia’s membership and 43 per cent oppose it.
Georgia follows closely behind, with 58 per cent of Cypriots in favour of its potential membership. Support for Georgia is shared by 46 per cent of the EU population. Moldova, another candidate, has garnered 55 per cent support among Cypriots, while 48 per cent of people across the EU back its accession.
Mixed Feelings on Other Former Yugoslav States
Cypriots have a more nuanced view on other former Yugoslav states. The support for Montenegro’s accession matches the EU average at 51 per cent. Bosnia and Herzegovina sees similar figures, with 50 per cent of Cypriots in favour and 48 per cent across the EU.
However, there is less enthusiasm for North Macedonia and Kosovo, where only 44 per cent and 40 per cent of Cypriots, respectively, support their accession. This is below the EU averages of 48 per cent and 43 per cent. Notably, Kosovo’s status is complicated by the fact that the Cypriot government does not officially recognise it.
Cypriot Political Voices on EU Enlargement
The discourse surrounding Turkey’s potential EU membership has sparked varied political opinions in Cyprus. Recently, former finance minister and current Disy MP Harris Georgiades expressed that Turkey’s accession process could compel it to undergo democratic reforms. His comments were made during an interparliamentary summit in Copenhagen, highlighting a belief that engagement could lead to positive change.
The summit also saw a heated exchange between Turkish politician Hulusi Akar and Elam member Geadis Geadi regarding historical and political grievances. Akar defended Turkey’s military actions in Cyprus in 1974, framing them as necessary interventions to protect Turkish Cypriots from perceived threats. In contrast, Geadi vehemently opposed this narrative, stating that no nation has the right to occupy another’s sovereign territory and questioned Turkey’s suitability for EU membership given its historical actions.
As the discussions continue, the sentiment among Cypriots remains largely against Turkey’s accession to the EU, reflecting deep-rooted political, historical, and cultural complexities that define their relationship with the country.
