4 ms·

Why can't they leave the EU?

• OGinparadise 14y ago
  Number 1 reason: Turkey http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_invasion_of_Cyprus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkish_invasion_of_Cyprus ! Being in EU offers them protection from Turkey and bragging rights ("we're Europeans...a civilized country..." Turkey occupies roughly half of the country and has more soldiers than Cyprus has inhabitants. If they left EU, in addition to the huge mess created, they would lose whatever protection EU membership offers them. A tiny country, in a strategic location and surrounded by enemies needs a big brother. Just this week: "“The idea of the Greek Cypriot Administration of Southern Cyprus (GCASC) to offer the natural resources of the island as collateral for a solidarity investment fund or any other borrowing scheme to be established due to its current economic crisis, ignoring the inherent rights of the Turkish Cypriots who are co-owners of the Island, is a dangerous manifestation of the illusion of being the sole owner of the Island, which may lead to a new crisis in the region,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday." http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_24/03/2013_489666 http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_24/03... Number 2 reason: Integration with EU, such as travel, bank deposits, pensions etc etc. decoupling would mean a huge mess. Number 3: If the left, their banks and econ would collapse anyway, so they still lose with no possible upshot.
  • deleted 14y ago
    [deleted]
  • seanhandley 14y ago
    It's more like a third than a half. And letting the banks fail would do the island more of a favour in the long run since continued propping up just facilitates more wealth redistribution through huge, unmanageable debts to the IMF. Not the first (or last) time the tiny nation of Cyprus has been given the shakedown by the big boys :(