Analysis: Little bit of Britain set for European spotlight

By MICHAEL THEODOULOU
Published on 25/06/2012 00:00

YOU can imagine it as a trick question on Mastermind. Which European Union country takes over the bloc’s rotating presidency from Denmark next month with a lavish ceremony on a British military base?

Britain? Far too obvious.

It is Cyprus, a former British colony facing the humbling prospect of seeking an EU bailout – or a hefty loan from Russia – just as it was preening for its proud moment in the European spotlight. The formal handover bash takes place on 5 July at a spectacular amphitheatre at Curium.

It so happens Curium is located within Episkopi, a sprawling British military base next to RAF Akrotiri.

The politically-charged venue means, bizarrely, that Cyprus’s six-month EU presidency will be launched on what is technically British, rather than Cypriot, territory. Even more quirkily, the amphitheatre is not even on EU soil.

Although a member, Britain ensured its two “sovereign base areas” on the holiday island were excluded from the EU when Cyprus joined in 2004.

The SBAs, however, joined Cyprus in adopting the euro in January 2008. The measure was taken for the shopping convenience of Britain’s 4,000 servicemen and their 7,000 dependants on the island. Curium was chosen for the handover ceremony primarily because its setting is spectacular.

Before becoming president four years ago, Demetris Christofias, the EU’s only communist leader, once described the SBAs as “colonial bloodstains”. But, like previous presidents, he has since made clear that while Cyprus remains divided with 35,000 Turkish troops stationed in its northern half, he has no intention of picking a fight with Britain.

Even so, Christofias said last month Curium was chosen to send both cultural and “political” messages. The latter, effectively, is that whatever Britain says, the amphitheatre is still “the territory of the Cyprus Republic”.

He said: “at this moment the dissolution of the bases is not one of our priorities”. But he added, “at a later stage naturally we will look at it and say ‘what are the English doing here and holding on to Cyprus Republic territory?’”

Britain retained sovereignty over prime swathes of military real estate at Akrotiri-Episkopi on the island’s southern coast and at Dhekelia in the east when Cyprus won independence in 1960.

Together, the bases cover 98 square miles.

The main opposition right-wing DISY party has made clear it has no problem with the choice of Curium for the EU presidency handover.

Averof Neophytou, DISY’s deputy leader, told The Scotsman. “The history of the ancient theatre of Curium overshadows any modern day political or other technicalities.”