Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus

The Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia are two military bases that were retained by the as part of its sovereign territory when the  gained independence in 1960. Even if both Cyprus and the United Kingdom are members of the European Union, the base areas technically remain outside the EU. Besides British military personnel and their families, only Cypriot nationals are allowed residence on the base areas. Cypriot nationals residing inside the base areas gained rights as citizens of the Republic of Cyprus, when it was established in 1960.