Perspectives on EU and US policies in the

Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East

A round-table discussion organized by the Research and Development Center – Intercollege on April 15, 2005 dealt with “Perspectives on EU and US Policies in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East”.

Assistant Professor Guy Harpaz of the Department of International Relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, said that, despite the fact that the EU has achieved a great deal, it has not yet proved convincingly that it presents a solid political entity on the international scene. He also pointed out that, in relation to Israel, the EU seems to follow a pro-Arab policy while it is the US that adopts a pro-Israeli attitude. Guy Harpaz was particularly critical with regard to the EU: while it quite rightly characterizes the occupied areas in Israel as “occupied”, it does not do the same for Cyprus, while it backed a Plan which in essence would have legitimized the results of the Turkish invasion and occupation.

In his presentation titled “The US, the EU, Turkey and the Cyprus Question” Professor Andreas Theophanous underlined that Cyprus is proving to be a litmus test for the credibility and the intentions of the EU. It is inconceivable, he pointed out, for a member country of the EU to have guarantor powers, one of which, namely Turkey, is not even a member!  A. Theophanous noted that it is important to be understood that Turkey itself is being tested in Cyprus. How could a country aspiring to become member of the EU continue to occupy territory of a member country of the Union?  Theophanous also pointed out that the objectives of the Republic of Cyprus could coincide with broader objectives of the EU, the USA and the international community.