Twenty Years of Cyprus in the EU
Cypriots Must Claim a Voice in EU Policy Making
How many of us Cypriots understand how European regulations - that impact our daily lives – are decided?
Who shapes them and influences them? And why are they initiated – what purpose and goal do these regulations aim to serve?
How much does Cyprus input into the process of EU regulation? We are takers of the regulation – but to what extent are we input givers?
As European citizens, we are ahead of European Parliament Elections (2024) and just over two years away from Cyprus’ Presidency of the EU (the first half of 2026). This is a good moment to understand how Europe regulates and claiming a voice in Brussels is a positive step for Europe and for Cyprus.
A recent Eurostat survey amongst European citizens indicates that Cypriots are 4th to last in Quality of Life happiness amongst others – how can we take control of our lives and shift the happiness horizon if we don’t take charge and participate in the framework that determines how we live and operate? Now is the moment to understand more of what determines our wellbeing, claim our voice and be proud of our contribution to European policy making.
The notion that our voice is weak because we are a small nation in Europe holds little merit as it undermines the value we bring to Europe and Europe’s value to Cyprus. Every member state of the EU has equal vote and its citizens have equal rights to shape regulation and decision-making. It needs to be a constructive vote and voice, one that builds relationships, encourages coalitions with other countries and citizen groups on issues and topics that are good for the EU and good for Cyprus, a vote that mitigates risks and resolves conflicts.
To achieve this constructive role in the EU in ways that benefit us as Cypriot Europeans, it requires Cypriots to be engaged stakeholders with a diverse perspective and understanding of the world around us not only of the realities we live in our country.It also requires multi stakeholder dialogues, exchange of ideas, transparency of thought, the premise of any democratic society.
Brussels (the home of EU institutions) thrives on bottom-up (from stakeholders and citizens) analysis, views and positions that infuse and inform policy making. This input to European decision making, comes from national discussions amongst business, institutions, academics, scientists, citizens, not only from governments. To produce constructive ideas that Cypriot stakeholders can champion in Brussels, it requires that conversations and deliberations in our country are informed by analysis – based on academic, scientific, public opinion research.
In most countries whether small or large in size - new or old member states on issues of national relevance – as example – in Poland on agriculture policy, Ireland on financial services, Estonia on technology and cybersecurity, Germany or Austria on fiscal discipline, the convener for, or initiator for, these stakeholder dialogues are think tanks - platforms that produce and inform a position with analysis and evidence. Until now, think tank culture in Cyprus is narrowly focused (primarily on political affiliation). This moment offers a wide margin of opportunity to widen the presence of think tanks, their reach, and their impact through the involvement of academia, business, and citizens in urban and rural centres as well as of other like-minded European think tanks from other capitals and regions. Learning from each other is a most important benefit in being part of the European family. This is the right moment to do so.
The other component that is important to capture is the culture of “claiming a voice” in Brussels. Cyprus has been a member state of the EU for almost 20 years.
Shaping regulation in Europe cannot be the privilege of large member states or coalitions of special interests. It must be the privilege of well documented, evidence-based positions by small and large member states and regions and the impact on citizens, environment, industries. It must be about the merits of impact on us the citizens and on Europe’s overall well being. It would be great to see Cypriot entrepreneurs, startups, established businesses, academics, scientists, citizen groups be visible as trusted interlocutors with policy makers in Brussels, offering views, solutions, partnerships on issues that are European and Cypriot.
Shaping regulation in Europe cannot be the privilege of large member states or coalitions of special interests. It must be the privilege of well documented, evidence-based positions by small and large member states and regions and the impact on citizens, environment, industries.
How can we claim our voice? By being inquisitive and understanding the enlightened self-interest of others, understanding the drivers of policy initiation and policy making and how those match the self-interest and wellbeing of Cypriots. Building bridges of interests and progress can only come from being informed, open to possibilities, having the courage to voice a view. Every opinion matters in Europe, there is no right or wrong provided it is based on evidence for the wider good.
