Two Cypriot MEPs challenged European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to clarify the EU's defense stance regarding Turkey.
Key facts
- •Loucas Fourlas asked if Turkish aggression against Cyprus or Greece would trigger the EU's mutual defense clause, Article 42.7.
- •Geadis Geadi alleged that Turkish aircraft were harassing civilian flights near Larnaca and Paphos airports.
- •Ursula von der Leyen stated that the EU needs a new security strategy because current systems were designed for a different world.
- •The proposed EU emergency security protocol would allow member states to coordinate a response to incidents that threaten national security.
- •Von der Leyen plans to collaborate with EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on the new security framework.
Cypriot members of the European Parliament Loucas Fourlas and Geadis Geadi have demanded stronger EU defensive measures against Turkey. Their remarks followed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s State of the European Union address, in which she pledged to defend every square meter of EU territory. The MEPs argued that the EU's current approach toward Turkish actions in Cyprus is inconsistent with these stated commitments.
Calls for clarity on mutual defense
Loucas Fourlas of the Disy party questioned whether any future Turkish aggression against Cyprus or Greece would trigger Article 42.7 of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU's mutual defense clause. He stated that he was not seeking a favor but rather the enforcement of what he described as self-evident protections. Fourlas criticized von der Leyen for omitting Cyprus from her speech while discussing the defense of other regions.
Allegations of airspace harassment
Geadis Geadi of Elam challenged the practical application of the EU's defense pledges, citing reports of Turkish drones and fighter jets harassing civilian flights near Larnaca and Paphos airports. He accused Turkey of endangering the lives of thousands of passengers and urged the Commission to move beyond rhetoric. Geadi criticized what he termed the hypocrisy of maintaining a partnership with Turkey in light of these provocations.
Proposed security strategy updates
In her address, Ursula von der Leyen acknowledged that current EU institutions and decision-making processes have not kept pace with modern security realities. She announced plans to work with foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to develop a new European security strategy. This includes a proposed 'counter-hybrid playbook' and an emergency security protocol intended to function as an EU-level mechanism to flank NATO’s Article 4.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Cyprus Mail.
