Resolution of 18th Congress (16-19/11/95)

1. As it is known, AKEL has, for many years now, been placed, through Congress decisions, against the idea that Cyprus should pursue accession to the European Union.

This position of AKEL was assumed as early as the beginning of the 1960s in opposition to the pursuit of President Makarios' Government to secure the status of association with the EEC, which would subsequently develop into a Customs Union. AKEL claimed then that the association with the EEC, for political and economic reason, should be avoided and that, instead, Cyprus should aim for an equitable commercial treaty.

The essence of the position taken then by our Party remained the same to date and for approximately the same reasons. AKEL opposed both the implementation of the second phase of the association agreement, the Customs Union, as well as the decision of the Vassiliou Government to submit an application for accession to the EEC.

The main argumentation of the Party for the position it assumed had three main axis:

a) The international political options that Cyprus had, i.e. the non-aligned policy and her dependence on the support of the USSR and the other ex-socialist countries, came into conflict with the character of the EEC which constituted, apart from an economic union, the political extension of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Europe.

b) Given the economic situation then in existence, accession to the EEC would have put the Cyprus economy in an unfavorable competitive position vis-a-vis the economic EEC giants, which would have resulted in the shrinking of the industry and agriculture of Cyprus.

In the social and economic field we pointed out the danger of the loss of gains won by the people of Cyprus, something that would have been imposed by the EEC supra-national centers through their various directives. We also foresaw the danger of serious negative effects in the social and economic field, such as unemployment, under-employment etc.

c) Given the facts that existed at the time, our view was that possible entry to the EEC came into conflict with our long-term ideological orientation within the framework of the world balance of forces as it then existed.

2. The appraisal and views of AKEL about the character of the European Union as an advanced form of capitalist political and economic integration have not changed. Today, however, the objective situation in the world and particularly in the European continent have changed radically. This change forces us to re-examine the position of our Party vis-a-vis a possible accession of Cyprus to the EU, so that our stand will take into account the current objective reality and will respond more convincingly to the problems of today.

The new realities concern mainly the serious re-arrangements that have taken place in the world as a result of the dissolution of the USSR and of the socialist community in Europe, the serious weaknesses of the Non-Aligned Movement, which has, at least for the time being, significantly limited its world intervention, the fact that Cyprus' Customs Union with the European Union has almost been completed, and the fact that the application for accession to the EU has been submitted and that it already constitutes one of the basic elements that make up the developments concerning the Cyprus problem. Having in mind the fact that the rest of the political forces in Cyprus have sided very strongly in favor of accession, and the position that the question has now reached, it appears that the basic question of essential practical significance has now shifted away from a "yes" or a "no" to accession and now concerns the question whether accession is possible and how, and under what terms and conditions such accession might be achieved.

New realities have also emerged in the area of the EU itself which has now been quite enlarged and consists of 15 states, while the majority of European countries, including some of the ex-socialist states, as well as Turkey, have either submitted or intend to submit an application for accession.

3. It is a fact that our Party has never been against the idea of a European union on an equitable and democratic basis. At a time, however, when there were two Europe's, which bitterly struggled in all fields, the EEC, because of its nature and character, in no account could have played such a unifying role.

The political resolution of the 17th Congress of AKEL said, "Our position is not a refusal for Cyprus to take part in the procedures for the creation of a common European home. However, we do not equate the ideas of a common European home with the EEC. We believe that the non-aligned Cyprus can contribute more actively to the building of the common European home".

AKEL supported the idea of a common European home in which all European countries, on the basis of equality and mutual respect, would proceed voluntarily to create collectively worked-out mechanisms for common security, economic co-operation and development, the protection of the environment etc. The dissolution, however, of the socialist community and the way this was done, has left very little hope for such a vision. The prospect of European convergence has today very few alternative routes. For the overwhelming majority of the left-wing forces in Europe, the target of a progressive and democratic transformation of the EU, a transformation that would approach more and more the long term target of the "Europe of the peoples", appears necessarily, at least for the foreseeable future, the only prospect.

4. In view of the possible start of accession negotiations with the European Union, AKEL sets the use of this course as one more battlefront in the direction of a just solution to the Cyprus problem as its primary target.

Although we still have serious reservations about the "acquis communautaire" which generally moves in a conservative direction, especially in the social and economic fields, we, nonetheless, detect elements which, if properly utilized during our accession course through steadfast and responsible handling, may work positively in the political struggle we are waging. Such elements are:

a) The possibility of exercising pressure on Turkey for a solution in view of the fact that Cyprus is trying to approach the European Union more closely, but also because our problem will be moved, in a more determined way, to the decision making centers of the European Union.

b) The fact that possible accession will reinforce the feeling of security in both communities and will render Cyprus less vulnerable to Turkish and other unilateral actions.

c) The fact that the nature of the "acquis communautaire" may strengthen the unifying elements both in the course to a solution and after the solution of our problem, not, of course, as an alternative course in opposition to a correct solution, but as an element that will strengthen its viability.

d) The fact that the usefulness of Cyprus' accession to the European Union constitutes a point of convergence and agreement with almost all Turkish Cypriot political forces, despite the existing differences as to how and when such entry will take place.

5. AKEL is decidedly against the logic of accession at any cost, which, may not only neutralize the positive elements that can be utilized but it may also create huge dangers leading in a negative direction.

Remaining attached to the logic of accession as an aim in itself, given the correlation of forces in the European Union as well as the sensitivity of its main partners in the question of propping Turkey, may render our own side an easy prey to the pressures for concessions on principles concerning the Cyprus problem or even to the entrenchment of the partitioning status quo, to the degree that correct and decisive handling fails to take place.

6. As regards the Cyprus problem, the basic preconditions, in our view, that must be kept so that Cyprus may proceed to accession, are the following:

a) Possible accession, either before or after a solution, must clearly apply to the entire territory of the Republic of Cyprus and not only the free areas.

On no account must we accept an unsatisfactory solution of the Cyprus problem based on concessions of principles by the Greek Cypriot side on the false belief that, with our entry to the EU, the solution will be adjusted to the so-called "acquis communautaire".

b) Cyprus' prospect of accession must be independent of the procedure for Turkey's accession and it must not appear in the negotiations as one of two chapters of the same question because, in this way, our own side is forced to contribute to the easing of political pressure on Turkey.

7. AKEL believes that the course of accession of Cyprus to the European Union can have positive results only to the extent that it strengthens the efforts for a solution to the Cyprus problem within the framework of the UN, based on the resolutions of the International Organization and on the high-level agreements.

The right sort of handling and a consistent and constructive attitude on the Greek Cypriot part towards the initiatives of the UN Secretary-General in such a way that if they do not succeed Turkish intransigence will be taken down is the surest way to strengthen Cyprus in her course for accession to the EU. This will also avert the real dangers of our side becoming a prisoner of this course.

8. AKEL finds the desire expressed by the Turkish Cypriot political forces to have a say in the course for Cyprus' accession to be justified and welcome, since possible accession will influence their own future too. The government of Cyprus must be ready to support participation to the extent that it may be achieved without direct or indirect recognition of the pseudo-state. From the moment, however, that the Turkish Cypriot leadership obstructs the solution of the Cyprus problem, its position that to enable Turkish Cypriot participation in the pre-accession procedures accession procedures must start after the solution to our problem, cannot be accepted.

9. In the social and economic field the treaty for accession to the EU must be the result of substantive and dynamic negotiations so that a substantial transition period of adjustment may be secured and so that serious economic and social achievements for the people of Cyprus may not be put in danger. We are particularly sensitive to :

a) Securing trade union rights and workers' achievements (such as Cost of Living Adjustment, Social Insurance Fund, etc.).

b) Securing the independence and the democratic framework within which the Co-operative movement functions.

c) Securing the social character of the businesses of general utility and more generally of the social role of the state.

d) Protection and support of certain sensitive sectors of production (industry, agriculture) as well as of the producers' income.

AKEL rejects the practice pursued to-date by the government and the Employers' organizations who, in the name of harmonizing our economy with the European Union, selectively promote those social and economic measures which serve their interests and their own socio-economic philosophy. What must prevail in the period until accession and even after it, is the struggle to maintain and extend the gains of the people of Cyprus, and not their "voluntary" limitation in the name of accession. This selective anti-popular policy aims to lead Cyprus to the accession negotiations with conditions and requirements that favor not the people of Cyprus as a whole by Cypriot capital.

10. The re-examination of AKEL's position as regards the course of accession for Cyprus to the EU in no case means that the Party abandons its long term goals for a qualitative social transformation. "Our Concept of Socialism", as adopted by the 17th Party Congress, constitutes our social vision for which our party will continue steadfastly to struggle.

11. having in mind the complexity of the development taking place in the European Union today as well as the extent of the "acquis communautaire" and the government options, our Party will work hard through its various departments for further elaboration and specialization of its proposals on the issues of the European Union, especially the preconditions and the demands that Cyprus must seek in the framework of the accession negotiations in the interests of the working class strata and of the people of Cyprus in general.

12. The political dimension of the course of accession and its contribution to the struggle for a just solution of the Cyprus problem remains for AKEL the primary and dominant issue. It is clear for our Party that its final stand on any accession agreement, will be made having as its basic criterium whether or not this agreement helps and does not contradict a just and viable solution of the Cyprus problem on the basis of principles. We shall not hesitate to oppose any process or agreement that would, from our point of view, move in a different direction. A decisive role in our final stand will be played by the context of this agreement with regards to the social and economic issues and the degree of implementation of the preconditions we have set.

13. In the light of the new world facts, having as our main guideline the concern for the safeguarding of the security of the Republic of Cyprus and of our people as a whole, and taking into account that the Turkish Cypriots too are in favor of accession to the EU, the 18th Congress of AKEL decides to alter our Party's present position on the Cyprus - EU relations and formulate it as follows:

On the precondition that the EU would help the correct resolution of the Cyprus problem, that the whole of Cyprus accedes to the European Union and important social and economic achievements of our people would be safeguarded, AKEL would be prepared to speak in favor of Cyprus' accession to the European Union.

AKEL believes that the Cypriot people should have the final say on the possible accession of Cyprus to the European Union.

The 18th Congress decides the establishment of a specialized department/bureau of the C.C. on issues concerning Cyprus and the EU, aiming at the study of European facts and developments of accession course and the better preparation of our Party for an essential intervention to this course from the point of view of the interests of Cyprus and the working people.