Cyprus
- The Presidential Palace in Nicosia. (Photo: European Commission)
Cyprus has a population of 0.77 million, and an area of 9,251 km2.
It has been a member of the EU since May 1st 2004 and has had an Association agreement since 1972.
It applied for membership in 1990. It obtained the possibility of EU membership at the summit in Copenhagen in December 2002. In May 2004 it became a member of the EU.
Cyprus now has 6 out of 785 seats in EU Parliament and 4 out of 345 votes in the Council.
The EU Constitution proposes a distribution of seats in the EU Parliament based on the principle of "degressive proportionality". This will give Cyprus 6 out of 750 seats after 2009.
Notes
- In 1974, the island was invaded by Turkey, which still occupies the northern part.
- In 2004 the UN plan for a peaceful unification of the island has been rejected through a referendum by the Greek part of Cyprus.
- The citizens of the Turkish part however, have accepted the plan.
- Now, although the entire Island is officially member of the EU, the acquis communautaire only applies to the Greek part.
- In order to become full member of the EU, the Turkish part will need the consent of the Greek cypriots.
Links
http://europa.eu.int/comm/enlargement/cyprus/index.htm
http://www.europarl.eu.int/enl....../applicants/cyprus_home_en.htm
