Newsroom
President Nikos Christodoulides has called for a reassessment of the British Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus, describing their continued presence as a colonial legacy that should come to an end.
In an interview with the British newspaper The Observer, published on Saturday, Christodoulides said the relationship between Cyprus and the United Kingdom had changed significantly since independence in 1960, making it appropriate to revisit the arrangements governing the bases at Akrotiri and Dhekelia.
“We need to put an end to this colonial legacy,” he said, stressing that his position should not be interpreted as hostility towards Britain. He added that the British government had not ruled out discussions on the issue, although Nicosia would not conduct negotiations publicly.
“We have various options, but out of respect for the British government, we will not negotiate publicly,” the President said.
The interview also addressed Britain's future relationship with the European Union, with Christodoulides expressing strong support for the country's eventual return to the bloc, ten years after the Brexit referendum.
He said all 27 EU member states would welcome Britain's re-entry, arguing that the main obstacle was not coming from Brussels. He even suggested that he would welcome the UK's full return as early as next week.
Christodoulides argued that renewed EU membership would benefit both sides, strengthening Europe's position during a period of international uncertainty while giving Britain greater support in tackling challenges such as irregular migration.
He pointed to Cyprus' experience as an example of the practical benefits of EU cooperation, claiming that irregular arrivals had fallen by 90% with European assistance, while migrant returns had risen by 85%.
Despite his support for British membership, the President acknowledged that an immediate application or referendum would be politically difficult for the current UK government. He expects relations to develop gradually, with London potentially securing arrangements that bring it closer to the EU without formally becoming a member again.
However, he ruled out a return based on Britain choosing only the advantages of membership. Any future arrangement, he argued, would have to involve meaningful participation rather than selective access to EU benefits.
His comments come as Britain and the EU pursue renewed cooperation in several areas, including youth mobility, university tuition fees for European students in the UK, agricultural trade and emissions policies.
The two sides are expected to discuss their relationship further at an EU-UK summit in Brussels on November 20.
Public opinion in Britain has also shifted since the Brexit vote. A YouGov poll cited by The Observer found that almost six in ten Britons now regard leaving the EU as a mistake. Support for rejoining stands at 55%, while 34% oppose a return.
