What Has Gone Wrong with the EU’s Structural Foreign Policy towards the Turkish Cypriot Community?

The Cyprus conflict has consequences not only for the Cypriots but also for the international community. After the Annan Plan, the EU has become involved in the resolution of this conflict. Endeavouring to encourage Turkey and Turkish Cypriots to produce a quick solution, the EU advocated that the Cyprus problem should not hinder the accession of the Republic of Cyprus into the EU. However, in 2004 75.83% of Greek Cypriot community voted against the Annan Plan. Even if Turkish Cypriots supported the Annan Plan (64.90%), the Republic of Cyprus entered the EU representing the whole island. The European Commission reacted by agreeing to ‘reward’ Turkish Cypriot community’s ‘yes’ by a financial assistance package, easing trade between the two sides, lifting the isolations on Turkish Cypriots, and helping the Cypriots to solve the conflict. However, it has faced major difficulties in implementing these policies.