The election last year of Demetris Christofias, the Greek Cypriot leader, opened a window of opportunity to resolve the Cyprus problem. Yet the past 20 months have seen only gradual progress towards building a consensus. Physically, a new Green Line crossing in the heart of Nicosia has been a dramatic advance. But politically the roadmap of the Cyprus problem seems, at times, as much of a maze as ever.

Against this backdrop, is it possible that a European Union deadline for Turkey in December or the approach of Turkish Cypriot elections in the spring will trigger a renewed push for a solution.?