Stuck in the Middle: Constructing Maturity and Restoring Balance in RoC-EU Relations

Until 2004, the Republic of Cyprus (RoC) was part of the Non-Aligned Movement. Its membership ceased in 2004, with the country joining the European Union on 1 May 2004. Since the accession, the RoC has elevated its status in the international scene. It has joined an organisation that shares common values, free market attributes, and freedom of movement, among others. Nonetheless, despite its rising status in the international scene, RoC foreign policy is at a cul-de-sac. With regional and international political developments unravelling, RoC foreign policy is constantly reshaped, yet some areas remain static and contained. As a result, further maturity is hindered. Using an empirical approach via foreign policy analysis, this paper seeks to understand and explain an unevenly developed foreign policy pursued by the RoC in relation to the EU. It highlights areas of cooperation over security, energy, and the economy, as well as the style of diplomacy used to bridge the East and the West through the country’s EU membership. Despite the progress in some fields, such as the RoC’s new strategic approach towards framing its energy and security within the EU, RoC membership in the Union creates a great illusion in overcoming the Cyprus problem. The persistence of the Cyprus problem is an important impediment that inhibits further growth, preventing RoC foreign policy from reaching a fuller potential.