The need for the European Union to take concrete action against Turkey, beyond mere statements of condemnation, was emphasized on Wednesday by Cypriot Members of the European Parliament Loukas Fourlas, Costas Mavrides, and Geadis Geadi, during the plenary debate at the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the conclusions of the European Council meeting of October 15 and 16, which focused on competitiveness, the next European budget, Ukraine, and migration, in the presence of European Council President António Costa.
READ ALSO: Turkey Returns to the Spotlight: The Memorandum with Libya Is Based on International Law | AlphaNews
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
U-19 Youth Cup: The schedule for the first phase
DISY and European People’s Party (EPP) MEP Loukas Fourlas, condemned the ratification of the Turkish-Libyan memorandum on maritime delimitation, which he described as “null and void,” arguing that it violates Greece’s sovereign rights.
He welcomed the immediate condemnation by the three European institutions following the joint statement by the Cypriot and Greek delegations in the EPP, emphasizing, however, that “condemnations are not enough. Action is now needed.”
Mr. Fourlas also questioned why the EU allows Turkey to organize conferences in Antalya while failing to recognize the President of the Republic of Cyprus. Criticizing the possibility of European officials participating in events attended by a Turkish Cypriot representative, he accused Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of attempting to promote him “through the back door,” describing such practices as unacceptable.
For his part, Costas Mavrides, a Member of the European Parliament representing DIKO and the Group of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), emphasized that European citizens demand security, affordable housing, and a decent standard of living, underscoring the need for adequate funding for cohesion policy and special attention to the islands and remote regions.
He pointed out that European defense and security must be ensured comprehensively and not selectively, arguing that the policy of appeasement in the Eastern Mediterranean has, as he put it, Turkey’s “neo-Ottoman policies.”
Referring to the threats against Cyprus and Greece, he spoke of illegal occupation, the instrumentalization of migration, and the threat of war, calling for concrete European action. “Have you ever proposed any sanctions against these neo-Ottoman policies?” he asked, addressing European leaders.
The MEP from ELAM and the European Conservatives and Reformists Group (ECR), Geadis Geadis, denounced the issuance of a new Turkish NAVTEX, which, according to him, challenges the sovereign rights of EU member states, as well as the approval of the Turkey-Libya memorandum by the Libyan House of Representatives.
He accused the Union of treating violations by Russia and Turkey differently, stating: “Occupation in Ukraine—Sanctions. Occupation in Cyprus—Words.”
Addressing the President of the European Council, António Costa, he stated that “Europe is Greece; it is the Aegean. It is also Cyprus,” calling for consequences for Turkey, specifically economic sanctions.
Different Approaches by Political Groups
In the statements by the political groups, EPP President Manfred Weber welcomed the agreement with China in the automotive sector, while expressing concerns about the proposed cuts in the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), particularly in the areas of agriculture, defense, and border protection.
He called for the repayment of NextGenerationEU to be financed through new own resources rather than through budget cuts, while reaffirming the EPP’s support for Ukraine.
S&D Group Chair Iratxe García Pérez argued that Europe needs a stronger budget and greater solidarity to address challenges in housing, energy, social protection, and defense. At the same time, she criticized the rhetoric of the Right and the Far Right on immigration, calling for respect for the rights of asylum seekers and safe, legal channels.
On behalf of Patriots for Europe, Kinga Gal criticized the European Council’s decisions on migration and the economy, opposing the increase in the Commission’s resources and powers through the new MFF. She called for greater protection of external borders, farmers, and the regions.
Nicola Procaccini, speaking on behalf of the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), argued that the EU must revise aspects of the Green Deal and the Emissions Trading System (ETS), reduce bureaucracy, and strengthen border protection. She also advocated for maintaining funding for agriculture and the regions in the next budget.
The President of Renew Europe, Valérie Agay, expressed support for the European Council’s guidelines on competitiveness and energy, emphasizing the need to address the rising cost of living. She also warned of the danger of a “new Yalta,” with Europe being divided into spheres of influence between the U.S. and Russia, and called for stronger European support for Ukraine.
Special European Council Meeting in November on the Budget
Concluding the discussion, the President of the European Council, António Costa, emphasized that addressing the cost of living—particularly housing and energy—is a key European priority.
He announced that he would present a new, detailed negotiating package for the MFF 2028–2034, to be discussed at an extraordinary European Council meeting on November 26 and 27, with the aim of reaching an agreement in December.
Mr. Costa emphasized that the new European budget must be approved by the end of 2026 so that it can take effect in January 2028, while reiterating the need to support cohesion, agriculture, housing, and collective European defense.
Source: KYPE
