Several days earlier, in response to polls, he said Greek Cypriot leaders had "cheated" their way into the EU by suggesting they were in favour of a settlement, then leading a campaign for its rejection as the voting date approached.
Nekoliko dana ranije, reagirajući na rezultate istraživanja javnog mnijenja, Verheugen je izjavio kako su čelnici ciparskih Grka "varali" na putu ka EU, ističući kako se zalažu za postizanje sporazuma, a potom, kako se približavao referendum, vodili kampanju za njegovo odbijanje.