CANDIDATE STATES: Malta and Cyprus have adopted very different approaches to accession. Michael Jansen reports
While laidback Malta does not want to be left out of the European club, strongly motivated, divided Cyprus sees membership as a way to ensure its security, achieve reunification between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot sectors of the island and secure economic prosperity.
These very different approaches are reflected in the attitudes of the two peoples and the progress the two countries have made on harmonisation with the 30 chapters of EU law. Many Maltese are not convinced that joining Europe is in their best interests.
The opposition Labour party, which has the support of 46-47 per cent of the electorate, opposes accession on the ground that EU structures are not suitable for small states.
The ruling Nationalist Party, which is propelling the country into the EU, faces both a referendum on membership and a general election next year.
Thus, EU accession has become a highly politicised partisan issue.
Maltese hesitancy contrasts sharply with the strong support Greek Cypriots of all political hues give to acccession.
A poll taken at the end of last month showed that 75 per cent of the public backs EU membership.
Furthermore, an analysis of the 22 per cent who oppose revealed that wrong impressions and inadequate information were to blame for negativity.
Maltese political divisiveness has contributed to the island's cautious approach to harmonisation, while the geographic division of Cyprus has given impetus to the accession process.
Malta has completed 25 chapters, Cyprus, a leader, 28.
This week Malta closed the environment chapter.
Competition and state aid, customs and taxation have to be settled before Malta joins the four frontrunners.
None of the candidates has completed the chapters on agriculture and finance, still being negotiated.
The positions adopted by the two governments over one issue in the environment chapter is very revealing.
Cyprus risked an angry popular backlash by capitulating to EU demands for a ban on trapping songbirds, consumed as a delicacy in the Eastern Mediterranean. Malta held out for postponement of the prohibition until 2008 so that the country could establish a captive breeding programme to meet demand.
Although the Maltese have gone a long way on the accession road, they could still opt out of joining the EU by voting against membership in the mandatory referendum and for Labour in the general election.
Cyprus firmly committed itself to the EU route 30 years ago when it signed an association agreement with the aim of protecting the island's trade with Britain.
After Turkey invaded and occupied the northern 37 per cent of the island in the summer of 1974, Greek Cypriots came to believe that the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the republic would be guaranteed if it was within the safe walls of Europe. Since the lack of a settlement jeopardises Turkey's own application for EU membership, Greek Cypriots argue that Ankara should be prepared to reach a deal.
However, during intensive negotiations begun last January, the Cypriot President, Mr Glafkos Clerides, and the Turkish Cypriot leader, Mr Rauf Denktash, who is strongly backed by Europhobe hardliners in Ankara, have achieved no progress.
The EU has decided that accession will be facilitated by but not depend on a politicial settlement.
That policy still holds, in spite of Turkey's threat to annex the north if Cyprus joins the EU ahead of a settlement.
While Malta's accession process has been relatively painless on the economic front, Cyprus has made many sacrifices since it signed association and joint customs agreements.
Malta expects net gains, Cyprus hopes to recoup some of its losses.