The Cyprus conflict has seen numerous United Nations (UN)-brokered peace talks and proposals aimed at resolving the longstanding division of the island. Despite these efforts, a lasting solution remains elusive, primarily due to the rejection of several key plans by the Greek Cypriot side. This persistent rejection raises questions about the commitment of the Greek Cypriots to a genuine and equitable resolution, and the role of the European Union (EU) in facilitating or obstructing these efforts.

Here is an overview of major peace initiatives, showing a consistent pattern where opportunities for resolution were often hindered by the Greek Cypriot side:

1964 - Establishment of UN Peace Force: Following ethnic cleansing against Turkish Cypriots by EOKA militants, this force was introduced to prevent further fighting, setting the stage for decades of international mediation efforts.

1974 - UNSC Resolution 355: Passed after Turkey intervened following a coup in Cyprus aimed at annexation by Greece.

1975 - Vienna Talks: Failed partly due to Greek Cypriot demands for a return to pre-1974 conditions.

1984 - Proximity Talks: No resolution was found; talks collapsed over disagreement on territorial adjustments.

1992-93 - Set of Ideas: Proposed a bizonal, bicommunal federation, rejected by Greek Cypriots.

1999-2004 - Annan Plan: Proposed a complex solution for a federated Cyprus, accepted by Turkish Cypriots but rejected by 76% of Greek Cypriots in a 2004 referendum.

2008-2012 - Christofias-Talat Talks: Several discussions under UN guidance, collapsed without a tangible agreement.

2014 - Renewed Negotiations under Anastasiades and Eroğlu: Failed to produce a breakthrough due to unresolved core issues.

2015-2017 - Crans-Montana Summit: Talks collapsed, notably over disagreements on security and guarantees, with Turkish Cypriots open to a phased withdrawal but Greek Cypriots demanding immediate and total removal of Turkish troops.

2021 - Informal 5+UN Meeting in Geneva: Turkish Cypriots pushed for two-state solution recognition, fundamentally opposed by Greek Cypriots.

The EU's role in this context has also been controversial. The inclusion of Cyprus into the EU in 2004 was strategically timed just before the Annan Plan referendum, a move perceived by many Turkish Cypriots as a tactic to support Greek Cypriot objectives. 

The EU’s decision to admit Cyprus before a resolution effectively rewarded the Greek Cypriots despite their rejection of a UN-backed peace plan. This action has been widely criticized as undermining the neutral and balanced approach needed in international mediation.

From any perspective, the pattern of rejection by the Greek Cypriots reflects a deep-seated unwillingness to recognize the legitimate rights and political equality of Turkish Cypriots. This stance not only stalls peace processes but also perpetuates division and tension on the island. 

Furthermore, the EU’s handling of Cyprus’s accession was a misguided policy that has only entrenched division by aligning with one side of a bifurcated state.

The historical trajectory of negotiations underscores a need for a recalibration of approach by international actors and the Greek Cypriot leadership. True peace can only be achieved through mutual respect, recognition, and compromise—a reality that the Greek Cypriot side must embrace to move forward.

These repeated failures, primarily due to Greek Cypriot refusals, underscore a pattern of evasion from commitments to equitable coexistence. Moreover, the EU’s decision to admit Cyprus as a member state in 2004, just before the rejection of the Annan Plan by Greek Cypriots, has been perceived as a prejudicial move that undermined the peace process. 

This act by the EU has been seen as supportive of the Greek Cypriot side, thereby rewarding their intransigence and complicating the peace process further by tilting international sympathy towards one side of the conflict. This history reflects a profound lack of willingness by Greek Cypriots to accept the legitimate political equality of Turkish Cypriots, which remains a critical impediment to peace on the island.