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As the countdown to March 29 looms, there is more evidence of governments in Europe fretting about the effects of Brexit.



It may be the European Union’s easternmost member state but Cyprus, as a former British colony – and locale for strategic military bases - has some of the strongest ties with the UK. With less than 50 days to Brexit, the spectre of a possibly chaotic withdrawal from Europe has put officials increasingly on edge.

The government spokesman, Prodromos Prodromou, told the Guardian:

Britain tops our tourism market and if the economy slips into depression nobody knows the effect it will have on numbers coming to Cyprus. Then there are students, about a third of the total number currently abroad are in the UK. They are OK but it is far from sure what the future status of others will be. And in terms of trade most of our exports, starting with Halloumi, go to Britain. Right now nothing is clear ... the British government doesn’t seem to know what it wants.

Of course Cyprus has also benefited from Brexit. Last month, the British ferry and shipping operator, P&O, announced it was transferring registration of all its UK vessels to the Mediterranean island.

