A new research report by academics Yücel Vural and Maria Hadjipavlou argues that practical, citizen-driven measures could ease the everyday effects of Cyprus’ long-standing division, even without a comprehensive political settlement.

The report published by the Association for Social Research and the Cyprus Academic Dialogue with support from the British High Commission is based on focus group discussions with 66 participants from both communities, across eight meetings – six mono-communal and two bicommunal – held in early 2026 in Nicosia, the Famagusta district, Astromeritis and Lefka.

Bottom-up approach needed

The authors point to decades of stalled negotiations shaped by zero-sum thinking and the blame game, raising the question of what can be done if leaders fail to agree. While supporting a negotiated settlement, they stress the need for a parallel bottom-up approach involving civil society, noting that public consent will be essential for any future agreement.

Participants identified persistent daily challenges, translating them into concrete demands addressed to the other community. These demands, the report stresses, come directly from citizens rather than political elites.

They were compiled into separate Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot lists and evaluated by the other side as acceptable, conditionally acceptable or unacceptable.

A key finding is that many demands are seen as reasonable and achievable without major political breakthroughs. Addressing them could reduce barriers, ease daily difficulties and foster trust.

The report concludes that incremental, step-by-step measures at grassroots level could help reshape attitudes, improve conditions for future negotiations, and guide international actors in supporting targeted confidence-building initiatives.

Turkish Cypriot demands

Turkish Cypriot demands focus on greater access to the Republic of Cyprus’ economic, institutional and legal framework and equal treatment overall. Economically, they seek access to social security, healthcare, banking, employment in public institutions, and EU funds, as well as fewer trade barriers under the Green Line Regulation. They want to open Tymbou (Ercan) Airport and the Famagusta Port to international traffic while emphasising equal labour conditions, investment rights, and market access.

In peacebuilding, they call for acknowledgment of past suffering, removal of hostile narratives in education, stronger anti-racism measures, common policies on disaster response and shared institutions (e.g. media, care homes for the elderly and museums). Language and education demands centre on bilingualism, Turkish-language inclusion, and access to EU schemes. They also request more and easier crossings, improved telecommunications, and reduced bureaucracy. Politically, they seek restoration of constitutional rights, including voting, representation (including in the European Parliament), and citizenship for mixed marriages. On security issues, they call on the Cyprus Republic to avoid signing military agreements and granting bases to foreign states. Another demand is “to take actions against Türkiye's assimilation policies implemented through population transfers to Cyprus”.

Greek Cypriot demands

Greek Cypriot demands prioritise confidence-building, reunification steps, and human rights restoration. In peacebuilding, they call for removal of the flag on Pentadaktylos, while stressing bicommunal engagement, youth interaction, school exchanges, joint student field trips, support for missing persons investigations, and resumption of negotiations. They call on the Turkish Cypriot side to give “systematic messages addressed to all Cypriots, and particularly to Greek Cypriots”.

They also advocate implementation of the EU acquis in the north, cultural protection, religious freedom, Greek-language promotion, preservation of heritage, and promotion of shared identity. On mobility, they seek more crossing points, fewer restrictions, and improved communication links. Economically, they favour joint business initiatives and practical support for cross-community economic activity. Human rights demands include Varosha’s return under UN administration, resettlement rights, and protection of cemeteries and property. Security concerns centre on substantially reducing Turkish troop presence. Overall, Greek Cypriot expectations emphasise steps toward reunification, normalization, and safeguarding displaced persons’ rights.

Cross-communal evaluation

The cross-communal re-evaluation shows significant convergence, with both sides demonstrating flexibility on previously contentious issues when framed through confidence-building mechanisms.

Greek Cypriot (G/C) responses to Turkish Cypriot (T/C) demands were largely positive but often conditional. Core conditions related to reciprocity (e.g. on property rights), legality, and security concerns (e.g. troop withdrawal, effective state control). Some T/C demands were rejected as impractical or incompatible with the current legal framework, particularly where the Republic of Cyprus lacks control in the north or where proposals conflicted with economic or legal realities.

Conversely, Turkish Cypriot responses to G/C demands were overwhelmingly accommodating, with no demand broadly rejected. However, some were conditionally accepted, especially those linked to security (e.g. troop reductions), territorial issues (Varosha), and resettlement, often tied to progress in a comprehensive solution.

The re-evaluation phase demonstrated the strongest potential for compromise. T/C participants showed openness to an immediate partial reduction of Turkish troops, while G/C participants accepted a structured model for opening Tymbou Airport under Republic of Cyprus registration, EU regulations, and bicommunal oversight.

Overall, the exercise highlights that mutually acceptable “interim arrangements” and phased approaches – linked to trust-building and eventual settlement – could bridge longstanding divides on key sovereignty and security issues.

Conclusions

According to the report, participants on both sides appear to prioritise the process of reaching a solution over fixed end-models, focusing on practical steps that improve daily life and build trust. Turkish Cypriot demands largely reflect needs for economic integration, political participation, and ending isolation, while Greek Cypriot demands emphasise human rights, normalization, and peacebuilding. Both sides show strong empathy and awareness of each other’s concerns, often using reciprocity to frame compromises. There is broad support for economic cooperation and more crossing points, and notable flexibility on security issues, including phased troop reduction.

“The prevailing belief among political elites and the media that the most difficult aspect of the Cyprus problem is the security issue needs to be re-evaluated and rethought,” says the report.

Overall, the findings reveal significant grassroots convergence and readiness for pragmatic, incremental confidence-building measures.

Recommendations

Key recommendations focus on institutionalising bicommunal cooperation and advancing practical, trust-building measures. Priority is given to creating a formal structure linking political actors and civil society, and promoting joint action on symbolic issues like Varosha and Tymbou airport within international frameworks. Both sides are urged to move away from maximalist positions and support economic integration, including trade expansion and property remedies. Emphasis is placed on confidence-building steps such as opening crossing points, reducing bureaucracy, enhancing bilingualism, and encouraging youth interaction. Finally, gradual security de-escalation, cultural heritage protection, and respect for human rights are identified as essential pillars for progress toward a federal solution.

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